TFU / Airport to city
Chengdu Tianfu Airport
to central Chengdu
Tianfu’s Metro Line 18 links the airport with Chengdu South Railway Station, while airport buses serve named city destinations. Choose the service that leaves the easiest final trip to your hotel.
Compare your options
- 4 options
- Night arrivals
- Official sources
01 / Choose your journey
Which transfer suits you?
Comparison point: Chengdu South Railway Station / Kuanzhai Alley. Line 18 ends its city-bound journey at South Railway Station; the selected daytime bus serves Kuanzhai Alley. Neither fare should be treated as a door-to-door quote to every Chengdu hotel. Include the onward journey, terminal walk and waiting time.
- Metro Line 18 + onward connection
- Cost
- Check station farePer person to the final selected station
- Journey
- Train and connection dependentDirect and ordinary services make different stops
- Airport bus Line 2
- Cost
- CNY 15Published per-person fare to Kuanzhai Alley
- Journey
- Traffic dependentWaiting and the final hotel walk are extra
- Metered taxi
- Cost
- Metered totalPer vehicle; confirm any additional road charges
- Journey
- Traffic dependentAllow for the airport taxi queue
- Prebooked private car
- Cost
- Provider quoteConfirm the total vehicle price
- Journey
- Traffic dependentMeeting time and road conditions vary
Reference fares and journey estimates from the official sources below, checked 11 November 2026. These are not live quotes. All times are local to Shanghai.
02 / The details
Your transfer options
01 / A rail journey into Chengdu
Metro Line 18 + onward connection
Chengdu Metro operates Line 18 between the Tianfu airport station and South Railway Station, with both direct and ordinary stopping patterns. Follow the train destination and service type before boarding.
Chengdu South Railway Station · 火车南站, then onward
- Follow Metro / 地铁 signs after baggage claim into the airport’s ground transport centre, GTC.
- Choose the Line 18 service toward South Railway Station and check whether it is direct or ordinary.
- At South Railway Station, follow the route to the station nearest your hotel rather than assuming you are at your final destination.
When it runs: Use the station’s current departure display and confirm the last onward city connection before choosing your route.
Line 19 also serves the airport but heads toward Shuangliu and other districts. Confirm Line 18 if your plan is via South Railway Station.
Sources: Line 18 direct and ordinary trains · Tianfu ground transport connections
02 / A hotel near Kuanzhai Alley
Airport bus Line 2
The bus operator’s revised Line 2 runs between Tianfu Airport and Kuanzhai Alley. It is a different service from Night Line 2, which goes to Jinsha Bus Hub.
Kuanzhai Alley · 宽窄巷子
- Follow Airport Bus signs through the GTC to the staffed boarding area for your terminal.
- Ask for the daytime Line 2 to Kuanzhai Alley and confirm the current fare.
- Check the hotel’s walking route from the bus stop before committing to the journey.
When it runs: The operator lists 08:00–20:00 airport departures for this daytime route. Check the departure board before buying.
After the daytime service ends, do not board Night Line 2 expecting the same terminus: its destination is Jinsha Bus Hub.
Sources: Revised airport bus routes
03 / Hotel-door travel after a long flight
Metered taxi
The GTC brings together the airport’s road transport options, including taxis. A direct car can be easier than a rail change when you have large bags or are staying away from the main transport stops.
Your Chengdu hotel
- After collecting your bags, follow GTC and Taxi signs rather than a private-driver meeting point.
- Show the exact Chinese hotel address and confirm how tolls and other permitted charges will be handled.
- Use the meter and keep the receipt.
When it runs: Follow the signed taxi queue after arrival and ask staff about the current wait.
A booked car’s meeting point can be different from the taxi queue. Check the booking message before walking to a parking area.
Sources: Tianfu ground transport connections
04 / An agreed meeting point and vehicle
Prebooked private car
Tianfu arrivals can involve a substantial onward journey before reaching a central hotel. A prebooked car is useful when you want a confirmed vehicle size and a named pickup contact rather than a station transfer.
Your agreed Chengdu address
- Give the provider your flight number, TFU airport code and full Chinese hotel address.
- Confirm passenger and bag counts, child seats if needed, waiting time and the flight-delay policy.
- Save the meeting point and driver contact offline before departure.
When it runs: Book for your actual flight and arrival terminal; overnight pickup must be included in the confirmation.
Check tolls, parking, waiting charges and cancellation terms. Get the full price and pickup arrangements from the provider before paying.
03 / After baggage claim
Find your pickup point
Start with the GTC signs
The ground transport centre connects the terminal arrival areas with metro and road transport. The airport’s inter-airport guide places the rail interchange at GTC L1; follow the signs for the service you actually need.
Sources: Tianfu ground transport connections
Check the line as well as the destination
Line 18 heads toward South Railway Station. Line 19 also uses the airport station and serves a different route. Daytime airport bus Line 2 and Night Line 2 likewise have different city termini.
Sources: Line 18 direct and ordinary trains · Revised airport bus routes
04 / Arriving late
Plan your late-night arrival
Night Line 2 serves Jinsha
The operator lists Tianfu departures on Night Line 2 from 20:30 to 07:30. Its published fare is CNY 15 from 06:00 to 23:30 and CNY 25 from 23:30 to 06:00. Match Jinsha Bus Hub to your hotel before boarding.
Sources: Revised airport bus routes
Plan the final stretch
Even when a night bus is running, its stop may leave a second journey to your hotel. A direct taxi or an arranged car can be more practical with children, large luggage or a late hotel check-in.
05 / Ready to go
Tickets, payment and your address
Have a payment backup
Keep a small amount of renminbi available and ask which payment methods are accepted before boarding. If a phone payment fails, ask the staffed ticket desk or driver for an alternative; do not assume every foreign card works directly.
Save the right address
Keep your Chengdu hotel’s Chinese name, street address, telephone number and entrance instructions offline. Confirm the branch as well as the brand, especially when a road transfer is taking you directly to reception.
06 / Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does Line 18 go to Chengdu’s main shopping district?
Line 18 takes you to Chengdu South Railway Station. Plan the onward metro connection or road journey to your hotel; it is not a direct train to every central shopping district.
Does airport bus Line 2 run through the night?
The daytime Line 2 to Kuanzhai Alley is listed from 08:00 to 20:00. Night Line 2 is a separate service to Jinsha Bus Hub, listed from 20:30 to 07:30. Check the destination as well as the number.
Can I take Line 19 instead of Line 18?
Only if its route suits your destination. Both serve Tianfu Airport, but Line 19 links toward Shuangliu and other districts, while Line 18 is the route to South Railway Station.
07 / Check the details
Sources and updates
Reviewed . Fares and operating windows are published reference information, not a live feed. Recommendations reflect the tradeoffs described above; check the official operator before traveling.
- Chengdu Metro · Line 18 direct and ordinary trains
Operator announcement republished by Sichuan Daily: Line 18 airport–South Railway Station route and service types.
- Sichuan Airport Group · Tianfu ground transport connections
Airport operator guide to GTC rail access and road transport, including taxis.
- Chengdu Bus · Revised airport bus routes
Operator notice: daytime Line 2 to Kuanzhai Alley and Night Line 2 to Jinsha, with fares and operating windows.