TFU is about 50 km out. The metro is the default answer; the exceptions are late arrivals, heavy luggage and families.
Tianfu International Airport opened well outside the basin for capacity reasons, and that distance is the main cost of landing there. The good news: Line 18 was built for exactly this run, and it is fast, cheap and predictable.
Not sure which airport you land at? Most international flights use TFU; our Chengdu hotel guide explains the TFU vs CTU split.
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 18 | 40–50 min to the south of the city | ¥10–12 | Default choice; predictable; lifts at both ends |
| Taxi / ride-hail | 50–60 min | ¥150–200 | Late arrivals, families, heavy luggage |
| Airport bus | 60–90 min | ¥15–25 | Fixed routes to Chunxi Road and the rail stations |
| Pre-booked car | 50–60 min | fixed, roughly ¥200+ | Name-sign pickup after a long flight |
Line 18 trains divide into expresses and all-stopper services; expresses shave about ten minutes. From the Line 1/18 interchange you can reach Chunxi Road, Wenshu Monastery or Kuanzhai Alley with one more change.
If you land after 23:30, the metro is gone. Options in order of cost: night airport bus where scheduled, taxi or ride-hail from the official rank, or sleeping one night at the Joyhub hotel inside the terminal and taking the morning metro in.
Metro gates take Alipay and WeChat QR codes. Taxis are metered; keep about RMB 200 in one of the apps. Avoid unlicensed touts at arrivals.
About 50 kilometres from Tianfu Square. The metro covers it in roughly 40 to 50 minutes; a taxi takes 50 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.
No. Services run from early morning until around 23:30, with airport expresses roughly hourly through the day. If you land after the last service, use a taxi, a pre-booked transfer, or the Joyhub hotel inside the terminal.
Metro Line 18 has luggage space near the doors and lifts at the airport station, so it is manageable. But if you land late, travel with kids, or have more than two large cases, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is worth the RMB 150-200.
Most international arrivals use Tianfu (TFU); Shuangliu (CTU) is closer to the city but handles fewer international routes. Check your booking - the difference changes your transfer plan entirely.
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If your flight lands late or you are travelling with a family, a fixed-price car removes the only stressful hour of the trip.
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