Getting from Chengdu airport
into the city without the stress

Metro Line 18 runs directly from Tianfu Airport to Chengdu South Railway Station (火车南站), and it comes in two flavours: an express service that barely stops, taking about 35 minutes, and a stopping service that calls at every station and takes 40–50 minutes. The fare is the same either way — ¥10–11. The one thing to know: Chengdu South isn't quite the city centre. From there you transfer to Metro Line 1 for the last few stops to Tianfu Square, which puts you within walking distance of Chunxi Road, People's Park and Kuanzhai Alley. Even with the transfer, it's far faster and cheaper than a taxi, especially in traffic.

Tianfu Airport runs several express bus routes straight into key points around the city. The two that matter most to visitors are Line 1, which heads to Chunxi Road in the heart of the shopping district, and Line 4, which runs to Chengdu East Railway Station. The fare is a flat ¥15 by day, rising to ¥25 late at night (roughly 23:30–06:00). The appeal is that you don't have to haul luggage up and down to change metro lines — it's a single ride. Worth it if your hotel is near one of the stops, so check which route lands closest to you before you go, as timetables and stops can change.

A metered taxi from Tianfu Airport into the city centre runs about ¥150–200 and takes 60–75 minutes in normal traffic, because TFU is roughly 50 km out. A far destination or a late-night run can come in higher, so it's worth checking before you go. During peak hours — roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30 — that journey can stretch out further. The taxi rank is clearly marked inside the arrivals terminal. The one rule: use only the official rank. People will approach you in the arrivals hall offering a flat rate; decline without engaging and walk straight to the rank. Confirm the driver starts the meter before you pull out of the airport.

DiDi is China's dominant ride-hailing app and works in broadly the same way as Grab or Uber. The fare from TFU to the city centre is comparable to a metered taxi — roughly ¥150–200 — but you see the price before you confirm, which takes the uncertainty out of it. Payment goes through Alipay or WeChat Pay, so there's no cash to handle. The pickup point at the airport is a designated zone separate from the taxi rank, so follow the DiDi signs or check the in-app map once you've booked. Download and link your payment method before you land; airport Wi-Fi can be slow at peak hours.

Line 19 connects both airports without a change, taking around 30 minutes on a direct service for a fare of ¥10. A stopping service can take up to ~50 minutes. It's cheap and immune to traffic, making it the smartest option for an inter-airport transfer.

Expect ¥200 or more, and plan for 60–90 minutes depending on traffic. During rush hour (roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–20:00) the expressways back up significantly. If your onward flight has a fixed departure time, build in a minimum buffer of 3–4 hours for the transfer, including re-check-in and security.