Chengdu Airports: Transport, Transfers between Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU) and Terminals

Chengdu is home to two international airports: Shuangliu Airport (CTU), the city's historic main hub, and the impressive new Tianfu Airport (TFU), which opened in 2021.

Depending on your airline and destination, you might find yourself arriving at one airport and potentially departing from another!

To ensure you're fully prepared, Trip.com has put together a comprehensive guide to Chengdu Airport just for you. It's the perfect way to plan your trip and find out everything you need to know about connections between the two airports and the city centre!

The 2 Airports in Chengdu: Which One to Choose?

Before you plan your connecting flights and transfers, here's everything you need to know about the two airports in Chengdu:

How to Get from Shuangliu (CTU) to Tianfu (TFU)

This is the most common scenario: you arrive at CTU from abroad and your connecting flight departs from TFU. It's a bit of a hassle in practice, but don't worry, you have three options.

Option 1: Take the Metro line 19 (recommended)

Chengdu's Metro Line 19 offers a direct link between the city's two airports. It's the most convenient and reliable way to travel between CTU and TFU.

How to use Metro Line 19 to travel between the two airports

• At Shuangliu T2: Simply follow the signs for the "Metro" down to the station on the basement level (B1);
• Take Line 19 towards Tianfu International Airport (天府国际机场) – just be sure not to hop on Line 10, as it departs from the same platform!
• Arriving at TFU: The line serves both T1 and T2 at Tianfu Airport, so be sure to hop off at your specific departure terminal;
• Allow a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes between landing at CTU and reaching your departure gates at TFU.

Option 2: Airport shuttle bus (Night Line 5)

Shuttle bus line 5 connects the two airports at night, when the metro isn't running.

📌 This option is specifically designed for travellers with very late or very early flights. For daytime transfers, the Line 19 metro remains the faster and more frequent choice.

Option 3: Taxi or private car

For travellers with lots of luggage or those in groups, a taxi or private car offers a direct transfer between the two terminals.

📌 Use DiDi (the Chinese equivalent of Uber) for a fixed price and to avoid being ripped off. If you're travelling in a group of two or three with lots of luggage, a taxi is a really attractive option!

How to Get from Tianfu (TFU) to Shuangliu (CTU)

For the return journey (TFU → CTU), the same options apply as for the trip in the other direction.

📌 Good to know: The terminal at TFU airport is huge. If you're taking the metro from TFU to CTU, make sure to get to the station early: it can be a 20-minute walk from some departure gates to the metro entrance. Allow at least 3 hours and 30 minutes between landing at TFU and your departure from CTU.

How to Get from Shuangliu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu City Centre

Take Metro line 10

Line 10 is the most convenient way to get from CTU Airport to the heart of Chengdu. Here's a quick summary of everything you need to know:

By shuttle bus

The second option is the shuttle bus. Three bus lines connect the city centre with Shuangliu:

Night buses run until 05:30 (25 CNY) and stop at Chunxi Road and the Wuhou Shrine.

By taxi or DiDi

How to Get from Tianfu Airport (TFU) to Chengdu City Centre

Tianfu is located 62 km from the city centre, so the journey takes a bit longer. Here are the options available to you:

Take the Metro line 18 (Express)

The Express Line 18 is the quickest way to travel from TFU.

By high-speed train

A little-known but incredibly useful option for getting from TFU to the city centre quickly is the high-speed train. Here is everything you need to know:

By shuttle bus

From TFU, there are several bus lines running around the clock into the city:

📌 Daytime bus routes cost 15 CNY, while night services (after 23:30) are 25 CNY.

By taxi or DiDi

Check Chengdu Airport Terminal Maps

Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) – Terminal Guide

Terminal 1 (T1):

Terminal 1 primarily handles international flight routes and is also the terminal closest to Metro Line 10. Here's the essential information, broken down by level:

• Level 1 (Arrivals): Baggage reclaim, taxi rank (Gate 2/5), access to Metro Line 10 (B1), currency exchange, SIM card kiosks;
• Level 2 (Departures): Check-in desks (A-D for domestic flights, E-F for international flights), security control, and gates 1–12 (domestic) and 101–108 (international).

Terminal 2 (T2):

Terminal 2 is larger and better equipped with restaurants and shops. You can reach it from T1 either by the free shuttle (5 minutes) or on foot (15 minutes).

• Level 1 & 2 (Arrivals): Baggage reclaim, access to metro lines 10 and 19, taxis and buses;
• Level 3 (Departures): Check-in (domestic flights), security check, gates;
• Level 4: Shopping area and offices.

🛬 Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) – Arrival and Departure Guide

Arrivals

• Follow the signs for "Baggage Claim" / "取行李" (T1: Level 1, T2: Levels 1 and 2);
• For international flights: clear passport control and customs (T2 only for international flights);
• Transport options from arrivals:
• • Taxis: Located right outside the arrivals area (T1: Exits 2 and 5; T2: designated taxi ranks)
  • Metro: Take line 10 (for T1 and T2) or line 19 (for T2 only) to reach the city centre.
  • Shuttle buses: Stops located directly in front of both terminals

Departures

• Check your terminal before departure (T1: some international and domestic flights, T2: most international flights);
• Check-in:
• • T1: Domestic and international counters (Level 2)
  • T2: Domestic Check-in (Level 3)
• After security: check your departure gate (T1 has fewer shops; T2 offers a wider selection of restaurants and shops)

Tianfu Airport (TFU) – Terminal Guide

Tianfu is one of China's largest airports. The terminals are connected by a complimentary Automated People Mover (APM) train, which whisks you between them in just 2 minutes.

Terminal 1 (T1) – International flights:

• Level 1: Baggage reclaim, meeting point, taxis and buses;
• Level 2: Immigration, customs, access to the APM train to T2 (free of charge, 2 minutes);
• Level 3: international gates, duty-free, lounges;
• Level 4: Check-in (68 counters), security screening, and a comfortable business area.

Terminal 2 (T2) – Domestic flights:

• Levels 1-2: Baggage reclaim, access to metro and bus services;
• Level 3: Check-in, security, and gates;
• Level 4: Restaurants and shops (a wider selection than in T1).

Important tip for Tianfu: It can take a good 20 minutes to walk from security to some of the gates. We recommend allowing at least 3 hours for international flights and 2 hours for domestic flights.

🛬 Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) – Arrival and Departure Guide

Are you landing at TFU?

• International (T1): Passport control on Level 2 → Baggage reclaim on Level 1;
• Domestic flights (T2): Head straight to baggage reclaim (Levels 1 and 2);
• Transport: Simply follow the signs for the underground or taxis (available at both terminals).

Are you flying from TFU?

• International (T1): It's best to arrive 3 hours early – the walk to the gates is really long!
• Domestic flights (T2): Arrive 2 hours early – there's a much better selection of restaurants and shops once you're through security.

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