Chengdu Airport Metro — CTU & TFU Guide
Shuangliu (CTU) + Tianfu (TFU) airports to Chengdu city — Updated 2026
Chengdu has two airports — Shuangliu (CTU), the older one 17 km from the city, and Tianfu (TFU), the new mega-hub 51 km south-east. CTU connects via Metro Line 10(¥5, 30 min). TFU uses Metro Line 18 — a 140 km/h express that reaches Tianfu Square in 36 minutes for ¥9. The two airports are 69 km apart with no direct link, so always confirm your terminal before booking transport.
Line 18 — Tianfu Airport (TFU) Express, 140 km/h
| Station | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tianfu Airport North (TFU T2) | 0 min | Terminal 2 — Sichuan Airlines + Air China |
| Tianfu Airport South (TFU T1) | +3 min | Terminal 1 — China Eastern + most others |
| Sancha | ~12 min | Express section — 140 km/h |
| West Station | ~24 min | High-speed rail (Wenjiang, Dujiangyan) |
| Hi-Tech | ~30 min | Tech district — Line 1 transfer |
| Section 5 Tianfu Square Road | ~36 min | Chengdu CBD — Lines 1 + 7 + 18 |
Line 10 — Shuangliu Airport (CTU)
| Station | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shuangliu Airport T2 (CTU) | 0 min | Older airport — domestic + regional intl |
| Shuangliu Airport T1 (CTU) | +3 min | Domestic |
| Jinhua | ~10 min | Southern residential |
| Huafu Avenue | ~16 min | Transfer to Line 1 |
| Taipingyuan | ~25 min | Transfer to Lines 3 + 7 |
| Sichuan Gymnasium | ~30 min | Central southern Chengdu — Lines 3 + 7 |
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Metro vs Rail vs Taxi
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 18 (TFU) | ¥9 | 36 min | Tianfu airport — 140 km/h express, the modern option |
| Line 10 (CTU) | ¥5 | 30 min | Shuangliu airport — cheapest, older but reliable |
| High-speed rail (TFU → city) | ¥15–25 | 20 min | Less frequent — only 8 daily departures |
| Taxi (CTU) | ¥60–100 | 30–50 min | Door to door — CTU is closer to city |
| Taxi (TFU) | ¥180–260 | 60–90 min | TFU is 51 km from city — expensive |
| Didi (ride-hail) | ¥55–250 | CTU 30–50 / TFU 60–90 | English app, transparent fares |
FAQ
Which Chengdu airport am I flying into — CTU or TFU?+
Chengdu has two airports. Shuangliu (CTU) is the older airport, 17 km south-west of the city, mostly domestic + some Asian routes. Tianfu (TFU) opened in 2021, sits 51 km south-east, and handles most new international routes including Air China, Sichuan Airlines long-haul, and China Eastern. The two airports are 69 km apart with no direct connection — check your booking. International travellers to Europe/US typically use TFU; Asia regional often uses CTU.
How do I take Line 18 from TFU?+
Both Tianfu Airport terminals have their own Line 18 station — Tianfu Airport North (T2) and Tianfu Airport South (T1). Follow purple Line 18 signs from Arrivals (5–10 min walk to platform). Three classes: Standard ¥9 (regular cars), Express ¥18 (premium cars, fewer stops). The line hits 140 km/h between Sancha and West Station. Total journey to Tianfu Square (CBD) is 36 minutes. Trains run 06:30–23:00, every 8–12 minutes peak.
How do I take Line 10 from CTU (Shuangliu)?+
Both CTU terminals have a Line 10 station — Shuangliu Airport T1 and T2. Follow signs to Floor B1 (basement). Line 10 connects to the city in about 30 minutes for ¥5, with key transfers at Huafu Avenue (Line 1 → CBD), Taipingyuan (Lines 3 + 7), and Sichuan Gymnasium (city southwest). For Tianfu Square, transfer at Huafu Avenue to Line 1 northbound. Trains run 06:00–23:00 every 6–10 minutes.
Can I transfer between CTU and TFU by metro?+
Yes but it is slow. Line 10 from CTU south to Xinping → transfer to Line 18 north-east to TFU. Total about 2 hours, ¥14. Faster option: Line 10 to Huafu Avenue → Line 1 to Tianfu Square → Line 18 to TFU. ~90 min, ¥14. Even faster: taxi between airports (¥180–250, 90–120 min). For a tight connection (under 4 hours), always taxi. There is also a dedicated inter-airport coach (¥30, 90 min, hourly).
How do I pay for the Chengdu Metro?+
The Tianfu Tong (天府通) is the local transit card — ¥20 deposit, top up at any station. Alipay and WeChat Pay work at gates via QR code. Single-trip tokens are available at vending machines (foreign Visa/Mastercard accepted at machines). All payment methods work on Line 10, Line 18, and the regular metro network. Note: Line 18 Express cars require a separate ticket — you cannot upgrade at the gate.
How do I get to Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, or other Sichuan attractions?+
Jiuzhaigou Valley: fly Sichuan Airlines or Air China from CTU/TFU to Jiuhuang Airport (JZH) — 50 min flight. Or train CTU → Chengdu East → bullet train to Jiuzhaigou Station (7 hours). Mount Emei (Leshan Buddha): bullet train from Chengdu East to Emeishan station (1 hour, ¥66) — accessible from Line 18 via Chengdu East transfer. Dujiangyan: high-speed train from West Station (30 min, ¥15). The Sichuan high-speed rail network is one of the densest in China.
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