Roberta Aguirre
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres southwest of downtown Chengdu. If you're transiting through Chengdu, you don't need a visa as long as your layover does not exceed 10 days. However, if you plan to leave the airport, you will need to obtain a Temporary Entry Permit. It takes about 1½ hours to get from the airport to the city centre and back, so if you have less than a 5-hour layover, it is not recommended to leave the airport. If you have a longer layover, there are various transportation options to get to downtown Chengdu, including taxi, airport shuttle bus, subway, city bus, and long-distance coach.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport name | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) |
| Airport location | About 16-20 km southwest of downtown Chengdu |
| Transport options to downtown Chengdu | Taxi, airport shuttle bus (5 lines), subway (Chengdu Metro Line 10), city bus, long-distance coach, fast intercity trains |
| Time to downtown Chengdu | 30-50 minutes by taxi, 40 minutes by airport bus, 1 hour by subway |
| Visa requirements | No visa required for layovers up to 10 days; 144-hour visa-free transit available for transit between China and a third "international" destination |
| Nearby attractions | Jinli Ancient Street, People's Park, Wenshu Monastery, Leshan Giant Buddha, Panda Base |
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What You'll Learn
- If you have a short layover, it might not be worth leaving the airport
- If you have a long layover, you can take a taxi to the city centre
- You can also take the metro to the city centre, but it takes longer
- There are two airports in Chengdu: Shuangliu and Tianfu
- You can see pandas on your way to or from Chengdu Airport
If you have a short layover, it might not be worth leaving the airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu. If you have a short layover, it might not be worth leaving the airport, as it takes about one and a half hours to get from the airport to the city centre and back. The airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and duty-free shops, so you will be entertained.
If you do decide to leave the airport, you can do so by taxi, airport shuttle bus (5 lines), subway (Chengdu Metro Line 10), city bus, or long-distance coach and fast intercity trains to surrounding cities. It is important to note that there is no direct metro line linking the airport to the city centre. To get to the city centre by metro, you need to take Line 10 and change to lines 3 and then 1, getting off at either Tianfu Square or Luoma Market. By airport bus or taxi, it will take about half an hour to get to the city centre. Be aware that the roads can get heavily congested during rush hours.
If you are an animal lover, you can visit the Panda Base in the Chenghua District, which is about a one-hour drive from the airport. If you are interested in local culture, you can visit People's Park, where you can see local activities, sip a cup of tea in a local tea house, and stop by the Matchmaking Corner. For foodies, there is the option of an in-depth food tour, including a visit to a local market and a cooking class with a local family.
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If you have a long layover, you can take a taxi to the city centre
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 to 20 kilometres southwest of Chengdu city centre. If you have a long layover, you can take a taxi to the city centre, which is the most convenient and comfortable form of transportation, especially if you are travelling with children or have a lot of luggage.
Taxis are available 24/7 at Chengdu airport and can be found at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The taxi journey to the city centre takes around 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The taxi fare is estimated to be between €8.60 (CNY 60) and €10 (CNY 70) based on a metered rate, but you may be able to negotiate a flat rate with your driver. It is recommended to have the name of your destination printed in Chinese, as not all drivers speak English. You can also pre-book a taxi with a trusted company like Welcome Pickups for a fixed competitive rate.
If you have a shorter layover, you may not want to take a taxi as it takes about 1.5 hours to get from the airport to the city centre and back. Chengdu Airport also offers free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and duty-free shops to keep you entertained.
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You can also take the metro to the city centre, but it takes longer
Chengdu has two airports: Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and Tianfu International Airport (TFU). Shuangliu Airport is closer to the city, while Tianfu Airport is newer and farther away.
If you're travelling to or from Shuangliu Airport, you can take the metro to the city centre. However, it takes longer than other modes of transport. There is no direct metro line between the airport and the city centre. You need to take Line 10 and change to Line 3, and then Line 1. The whole journey will take about 1.5 hours.
To take the metro from Shuangliu Airport, you can follow the signs for "Metro" from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. You can buy tickets from machines or using the Chengdu Metro app, which accepts Alipay and WeChat Pay.
If you're travelling to or from Tianfu Airport, you can take Metro Line 18 to Chengdu South Railway Station, and then transfer to Metro Line 1 to get to the city centre. The duration is around 1 hour.
Compared to other modes of transport, the metro is a relatively cheap way to get to the city centre from Chengdu Airport. However, it can get crowded during rush hour, and there is limited luggage space.
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There are two airports in Chengdu: Shuangliu and Tianfu
Chengdu is served by two international airports: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Chengdu is the third city in China to have two international airports, after Beijing and Shanghai.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is located in Lujia Town, Jianyang, 51km to 63km southeast of downtown Chengdu. It opened in June 2021 and features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, a symbol of Chengdu. The airport can be reached by metro (Line 18), taxi, airport shuttle bus, and high-speed rail. It is capable of handling 60 million passengers a year and is ranked 39th among the busiest airports in the world.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 16km to 18km southwest of downtown Chengdu. It was formerly known as Shuangguisi Airport and opened as a military airport in 1938. It was put under civil aviation in 1956 and renamed Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. The airport can be reached by metro (Line 10), taxi, airport shuttle bus, and high-speed rail. It runs nearly 350 air routes to various cities in China and overseas.
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You can see pandas on your way to or from Chengdu Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu. The airport has an excellent transportation network, with a metro, airport shuttle bus, city bus, and taxi services.
If you want to see pandas on your way to or from Chengdu Airport, you can visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, also known as the Chengdu Panda Base. This is the nearest panda base to the airport, located about 38 kilometres (a 1-hour drive) from the airport.
- Metro: Take Metro Line 10 from the airport and transfer to Line 3 at Taipingyuan Station. Get off at Panda Avenue Station (Xiongmao Dadao) and take Exit A. From there, walk to the Panda Avenue Bus Station and take the Panda Express Line 5 to the Chengdu Panda Base Station.
- Shuttle Bus: Take the shuttle bus directly from Chengdu Airport to Chengdu Panda Base.
- Taxi: Take a taxi from the airport to the Chengdu Panda Base, which will cost around CNY 100-150.
Keep in mind that the pandas are more active in the morning, so it is recommended to visit the panda base early in the day. If you have a short layover (less than 5 hours), you may not have enough time to leave the airport, visit the panda base, and return in time for your connecting flight. However, if you have a longer layover, you can explore the area, enjoy local cuisine, and even visit the panda base with proper planning and efficient transportation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover in Chengdu. However, you need to check that your passport allows you to leave the secure zone of the airport in transit. If you plan to leave the airport, you should obtain a free Temporary Entry Permit. If you have a long layover, such as 6, 9, or 12 hours, you can visit the city of Chengdu, which is about 16 to 20 kilometres from the airport. However, it is not recommended to leave the airport if your layover is less than 5 hours, as it takes about 1.5 hours to get to the city centre and back.
You can get from Chengdu airport to downtown Chengdu by taxi, airport shuttle bus, subway, or city bus. The airport bus costs 10 yuan and takes about 40 minutes, while a taxi costs 60 to 70 yuan and takes about 30 to 50 minutes. Taking the subway requires transferring from Line 10 to Lines 3 and 1 and getting off at either Tianfu Square or Luoma Market.
Chengdu has many popular tourist attractions and historical buildings. You can visit the Panda Base in the Chenghua District, which is about a 1-hour drive from the airport, or see the Giant Buddha in Leshan, which is about a 2-hour drive from Chengdu. In downtown Chengdu, you can visit People's Park to experience the local culture, sip tea in a local tea house, and explore the local food scene.
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