COMPARE BEFORE YOU WALK
Transport cost and time at a glance
These are practical budgets, not guaranteed quotes. The destinations differ, so choose the route that best connects with your hotel rather than comparing time alone.
USD equivalents are approximate, using USD 1 ≈ RMB 6.67 on 29 Oct 2026. China fares and fee thresholds are set in RMB; your bank may use a different rate or charge fees. Rate reference.
about USD 1.50 (RMB 10) to South Railway Station (火车南站); about USD 1.65 (RMB 11) to Chunxi Road (春熙路) · around 70–90 minutes to Chunxi Road (春熙路) with transfers.
about USD 4.65–5.10 (RMB 31–34) for second class · about 29–36 minutes onboard; fares and departures vary by train and date.
about USD 2.25 (RMB 15) daytime / about USD 3.75 (RMB 25) overnight · about 80 minutes or longer in traffic.
Allow roughly USD 22.50–45.00 (RMB 150–300) · platform estimate varies by destination, demand, vehicle type, tolls and any return-trip surcharge; check the final in-app quote.
01 · ARRIVALS AT T1 AND T2
Choose the terminal you arrive at
Both terminals have clear bilingual signs to the GTC. Select your terminal for the arrival steps and matching photos.
Terminal 1 · International and regional arrivals
Follow Arrivals / Exit, complete immigration, collect your baggage, and follow signs to the GTC. Fingerprint collection is only needed when directed by staff.
Terminal 2 · Domestic arrivals
Follow Arrivals / Exits to baggage claim. There is no immigration step on a domestic arrival; after collecting your bag, follow the bilingual signs to the GTC.
02 · FIND THE GTC
GTC is clearly signposted from both terminals
GTC means Ground Transportation Center (交通中心). T1 and T2 both use prominent bilingual signs; after baggage claim, follow the GTC symbol and continue until the signs separate the metro, railway, bus, taxi and ride-hailing routes.
Terminal 1 · Find the GTC
Terminal 2 · Find the GTC
03 · RECOMMENDED · METRO
Tianfu Airport is served by both Metro Line 18 and Line 19
For central Chengdu, choose Line 18 toward South Railway Station (火车南站)
Use Terminal 1 & 2 of Tianfu International Airport (天府机场1号2号航站楼) station. Direct Line 18 trains reach South Railway Station (火车南站) in about 33 minutes; regular services take roughly 44 minutes. The current single-ride fare is about USD 1.50 (RMB 10) to South Railway Station (火车南站) and about USD 1.65 (RMB 11) to Chunxi Road (春熙路) (including onward metro travel).
For Shuangliu Airport (双流机场) or western connections, check Line 19
Line 19 also serves the airport. Its direct train reaches Shuangliu Airport Terminal 2 East (双流机场2航站楼东) in about 30 minutes; the all-stops journey takes about 46 minutes. The current fare to Shuangliu Airport Terminal 2 East (双流机场2航站楼东) is about USD 1.50 (RMB 10). Other Line 19 services run toward Jinxing (金星) or Tianfu Airport North (天府机场北); check the destination and stopping pattern on the platform display. For CTU arrivals, open the Shuangliu Airport guide →
Terminal 1 · Metro and high-speed rail signs
Terminal 2 · Metro and high-speed rail signs
Line 18 toward South Railway Station (火车南站): 05:58 direct / 06:03 all-stops first; 23:03 direct / 23:33 all-stops last. Line 19 toward Shuangliu Airport Terminal 2 East (双流机场2航站楼东): direct trains 06:30–22:30; all-stops toward Jinxing (金星) 06:08–23:38. Services toward Tianfu Airport North (天府机场北) continue later. Times are station departures; check the live display for the exact train.
Take Line 18 to South Railway Station (火车南站), transfer to Line 1, then change at Sichuan Gymnasium (省体育馆) to Line 3 for Chunxi Road (春熙路). Budget about USD 1.65 (RMB 11) in total.
Use the Chengdu transport QR Code inside Alipay or buy a single-journey ticket at the station. The fare is distance-based; the amount appears at purchase. Set up the QR Code before landing if possible. See the tested Alipay transport steps →
04 · FAST WHEN THE TIMETABLE FITS
High-speed rail reaches Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站) in about half an hour
Tianfu Airport Railway Station (天府机场站) is inside the GTC. Current city-bound departures mainly serve Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站). At the time of checking, direct journeys took about 29–36 minutes and second-class fares were roughly about USD 4.65–5.10 (RMB 31–34).
A train leaves soon
It is fast and convenient if your hotel connects easily from Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站).
Departures are limited
You need a specific ticket and the timetable changes by date. The metro is more flexible after an uncertain arrival time.
Search Tianfujichang (天府机场) to Chengdudong (成都东) in Railway 12306. Station names may appear in pinyin. Keep your passport ready because railway travel uses real-name ticketing. Open the Railway 12306 guide →
05 · 24-HOUR BACKUP
Take Airport Bus Line 1 to Chunxi Road (春熙路)
The downtown airport bus is useful after the metro closes or when you want a direct ride to central Chunxi Road (春熙路). Follow the cyan Airport Bus icon and use Gate G01 at T1 or Gate G03 at T2.
Airport Bus Line 1 runs between Tianfu Airport (成都天府国际机场) and Chunxi Road (春熙路), with intermediate stops subject to current operations.
24 hours a day, generally every 10–30 minutes and departing when full. Allow about 80 minutes, longer in traffic.
about USD 2.25 (RMB 15) from 06:00 to 23:30; about USD 3.75 (RMB 25) from 23:30 to 06:00. Confirm the price shown at purchase.
At the boarding area, scan the posted QR Code to buy through WeChat or Alipay; this flow may require a mainland Chinese mobile number. If it does not work, pay exact RMB cash when boarding. Carry small notes and do not expect change.
If QR Code purchase fails or you do not have a mainland Chinese mobile number, pay exact RMB cash when boarding. Show Chunxi Road (春熙路) to confirm the destination, carry small notes and do not expect change.
06 · RIDE-HAILING
Both terminals currently use the P1 parking-building pickup area
The upgraded ride-hailing area serves passengers arriving at T1 and T2. Current DiDi guidance leads to Tianfu Airport – T1 – P1 Car Park Building – L1 – Ride-Hailing Pick-up Area. The captured Visual Guide estimated about a 10-minute walk from its selected exit; your route depends on the arrival exit and live airport arrangement.
Metro Line 18
Fixed signs, predictable route, low fare and no need to locate a particular car.
Your situation requires it
Consider it for a group, heavy luggage, mobility needs or a destination poorly served by metro.
In DiDi, tap the airport pickup card marked Visual Guide. The app supplies the current photo route for the selected exit. The sequence below is a captured example; follow the live app and airport signs if they differ. See where to tap in the DiDi guide →
1Follow the arrows straight ahead, then turn left.
2Walk to the marked point and turn left.
3Continue straight through the hall.
4Go straight, then turn right at the ride-hailing sign.
5Continue into P1 along the marked route.
6Take the escalator down to L1.
7Arrive at the P1 L1 ride-hailing pickup area.
The P1 pickup area uses colour and number zones, and vehicles may be directed by license-plate ending. Use the location shown in the live order, message the driver from the app, and match the complete plate. Budget roughly USD 22.50–45.00 (RMB 150–300) to central Chengdu, but use the live quote because traffic, demand, tolls and surcharges vary.
Metro departure times are the published airport-station schedule and can change; fares are distance-based. High-speed rail fares and departures vary by date. Chengdu airport assignments can change too: Shuangliu Airport's current notices list regional flight transfers between CTU and TFU. Tianfu is about 50 km from central Chengdu in a straight line, according to the airport operator's location and hub overview. Airport bus ticket channels, route and fare: Tianfu Airport (成都天府国际机场) transport information and Airport transport and railway details. Live train tickets: Railway 12306. Metro station schedule checked October 28, 2026: Tianfu Airport T1 & T2 station timetable (data updated October 27, 2026).
FAQ
Tianfu Airport arrival questions
How do I know whether my flight uses Tianfu or Shuangliu?
Check the airport code on your booking: Tianfu Airport (成都天府国际机场) is TFU and Shuangliu Airport (成都双流国际机场) is CTU. Most international flights use Tianfu, but some regional routes also use Shuangliu. Tianfu is about 50 km from central Chengdu, so allow more time for the city transfer.
What does GTC mean?
Ground Transportation Center (交通中心). Follow this sign after baggage claim to reach the metro, railway station, airport buses, taxis and ride-hailing routes.
Is metro or high-speed rail faster?
A high-speed train can reach Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站) in about 29–36 minutes, but you must wait for a scheduled departure and buy a railway ticket. Metro Line 18 is more frequent and is the better default for most arrivals.
What time does metro Line 18 run from the airport?
At the airport station, Line 18 toward South Railway Station (火车南站) runs from 05:58 (direct) / 06:03 (all-stops) to 23:03 (direct) / 23:33 (all-stops). Line 19 direct trains to Shuangliu Airport Terminal 2 East (双流机场2航站楼东) run 06:30–22:30; the all-stops trip takes about 46 minutes and costs about USD 1.50 (RMB 10). All-stops trains toward Jinxing (金星) run 06:08–23:38. Check the live display for the train pattern.
Is there transport after midnight?
Yes. Airport Bus Line 1 to Chunxi Road (春熙路) operates 24 hours. Overnight fares are higher than daytime fares.
Can a foreign visitor buy an airport bus ticket?
Yes. Scan the posted QR Code at the boarding area to buy through WeChat or Alipay; the mobile flow may require a mainland Chinese phone number. If it fails, pay exact RMB cash when boarding and do not expect change.
Can I use a ride-hailing car from Tianfu Airport?
Yes, but it is not our first recommendation for a new visitor. Pickup is restricted to designated areas and most drivers communicate in Chinese. Use the metro unless your luggage, group or destination makes a car clearly better.