When foreigners ask how Chengdu suddenly became a 21-million-person metropolis, the answer usually starts with transport. Over the last decade, the city built a second international airport, doubled its metro length, and turned itself into the rail hub of southwest China. Traveling in and out has never been easier, and the network keeps expanding.
Two airports: TFU and CTU
Chengdu now has two international airports:
- Tianfu International Airport (TFU): opened in 2021, 50 km southeast of the city, designed for 60 million passengers. Most international long-haul flights and many domestic trunk routes land here.
- Shuangliu International Airport (CTU): the older airport, 16 km from the center, mostly domestic flights and some regional international services.
Metro Line 18 connects Tianfu to the city center in roughly 50 minutes. Taxis and Didi take 60-90 minutes depending on traffic.
The metro: fast, clean, bilingual
Chengdu Metro operates more than a dozen lines and over 500 km of track, making it one of the ten longest metro networks in the world. Trains run from about 6:15 to 23:00. English signs, bilingual announcements and QR-code tickets make it usable for tourists. Single rides cost ¥2-15 depending on distance. A single-card or app QR works across the system.
High-speed rail
- To Chongqing: about 1 hour on the fastest trains.
- To Xi\\\\\\\\「an: about 3 hours through the Qinling Mountains.
- To Guiyang: about 3 hours.
- To Kunming: about 5-6 hours.
- To Beijing: about 7-8 hours overnight or daytime.
Main stations are Chengdu East (Chengdudong) for most high-speed services, Chengdu South for the southern direction, and Chengdu Station for older lines. Book tickets on the 12306 app (a Chinese ID or passport registration is required).
Local buses, taxis and bikes
Buses cover every district but are slower and less tourist-friendly. Taxis start at around ¥8-9. Didi is cheaper, safer and shows the price upfront. Shared bikes (HelloBike, Meituan) are everywhere and ideal for flat central distances under 3 km.
Practical Information
- Airport transfer: Budget ¥100-150 by taxi from TFU to the center; metro Line 18 costs ¥10.
- Metro tips: Avoid 8-9:30 and 17:30-19:00, when commuter trains are packed.
- Rail tips: Bring your original passport to board; digital tickets are checked at the gate.
- Long-distance buses: Useful for mountain towns such as Danba or Songpan; depart from Chadianzi or Ximen stations.
- Tips: Download both Amap and the Chengdu Metro app before you travel; together they cover almost every journey.
Airport Transfers and Inter-Airport Travel
TFU and CTU are not close; the drive between them is 60 to 90 minutes in traffic. If you have a connecting flight that switches airports, build in at least three hours. Metro Line 18 connects TFU to the city center in about 50 minutes and to South Railway Station. From CTU, Metro Line 10 reaches downtown in 30 minutes. Official taxi queues at both airports charge by meter; ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal building.
- Buy metro tickets at vending machines with English screens or use a QR on the Chengdu Metro app.
- Allow extra time during morning and evening peaks for any airport trip.
- Porters are available curbside for about 10 to 20 yuan per bag.
- TFU has a hotel and transit hotel inside the terminal for late arrivals.
- Check which airport your airline uses; some domestic codeshare flights switch between TFU and CTU.
