Chengdu Airport's Misty Mystery: Fact Or Folklore?

is it misty in chengdu airport

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China, is served by two international airports: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16-19km from the city centre and is known for its misty weather. The airport has excellent transportation to the downtown area, with options including taxi, airport shuttle bus, subway, city bus, and long-distance coach.

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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 16-19 km from Chengdu city centre

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, formerly known as Shuangguisi Airport, is located approximately 16-19 km from the city centre of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwestern China. It is one of two international airports in the city, the other being Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which opened in 2021.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is a major hub for airlines such as Air China, Chengdu Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines, with flights to over 50 international destinations and more than 170 domestic airports. The airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, covering a combined area of 488,000 square meters. T1 handles international (regional) flights, while T2 operates domestic flights.

The airport is easily accessible from the city centre via the Airport Expressway, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity railway, and the Chengdu Metro Line 10, which has stations at both terminals. Additionally, there are six bus lines and taxi services connecting the airport to downtown Chengdu.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport has a rich history, dating back to its opening as a military-owned airport in 1938 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It played a significant role in defending Chengdu against Japanese bomber raids and later became known as "Shwangliu Airfield" during World War II when it was used by the United States Army Air Forces.

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The airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, with T1 covering 138,000 square metres and T2 covering 350,000 square metres

Chengdu is served by two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, formerly known as Shuangguisi Airport, is located 16 km (9.9 miles) from the city centre. It has two terminals, T1 and T2, with T1 covering 138,000 square metres and T2 covering 350,000 square metres. The airport has two parallel runways capable of handling takeoffs and landings of large aircraft such as the Airbus A380. It is a hub for airlines such as Air China, Chengdu Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines, and offers flights to over 50 international destinations and more than 170 domestic airports.

Terminal 1 (T1) of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport serves international flights and some Sichuan Airlines domestic flights. The first floor of T1 is the arrival and transfer hall for both domestic and international flights, while the second floor is the departures hall. The third floor houses offices. Check-in counters for international flights are located on the second floor, while those for domestic flights depart from the third floor of T2.

Terminal 2 (T2) primarily handles domestic flights, although it also serves some international flights. It has a Members Lounge located next to Boarding Gate 154 on the third floor. This lounge offers various amenities, including rest areas, an internet corner, a film and television area, a dining space, and a bar. T2 is situated 800 metres south of T1, and the two terminals are connected by free shuttle buses and Metro Line 10.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, the newer of the two airports, opened in 2021 to relieve congestion at Chengdu Shuangliu. It is located further from the city centre, approximately 51 km (32 mi) southeast of downtown Chengdu. This airport also features two terminal buildings designed in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, the logo of Chengdu. Terminal 1 primarily handles international flights, while Terminal 2 caters to domestic flights. The terminals are connected by an Innovia automated people mover (APM) for transferring passengers with domestic connections.

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Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is the second airport serving Chengdu, which opened in 2021

Chengdu is served by two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is the second airport serving Chengdu, which opened on 27 June 2021. The airport is located at Lujia Town in Jianyang, 51 kilometres southeast of downtown Chengdu. It is approximately 50 kilometres from the city centre, which is about an hour's drive or a 35-minute metro ride away.

The construction of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport began in May 2016, with an investment of $10.8 billion in the first phase. The airport features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, an iconic mythical figure of ancient Sichuan, which is used as a logo for the city of Chengdu. The terminal complex spans approximately 330,000 square metres, comprising 5 above-ground floors and 2 underground levels. The airport has three runways, two north-south and one east-west, with a capacity of 60 million passengers per year. The runways intersect the terminals, forming a seamless integration.

The airport is intended to become the third-largest airport hub in China, after Beijing and Shanghai. In 2023, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport together handled a total of 538,000 flight takeoffs and landings, with a passenger volume of 74.924 million. The annual passenger volume makes Chengdu the third-largest city in China in terms of airport systems.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is a major base for Air China, which operates maintenance facilities, a 1,500-bed staff hostel, and a 2,950-square-metre lounge at the airport. The airport is equipped with both a coach station and a high-speed train station, making travel convenient for passengers. The coach station connects the airport to various cities within Sichuan Province, such as Leshan, Mianyang, and Anyue. The high-speed train station serves destinations within the province and offers services to cities like Chongqing, Kunming, and Guiyang.

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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport was originally a military-owned airport, named Shuangguisi Airport

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, located about 16 kilometres southwest of downtown Chengdu, is an important aviation hub for Western China. The airport was originally a military-owned airfield named Shuangguisi Airport when it opened in 1938 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, a major theatre of World War II.

During its early years, the airport's runway was only large enough for small biplanes to take off and land. The airport was used by the Republic of China Air Force to defend the Chengdu area against Japanese bomber raids. In 1941, three ace fighter pilots of the Chinese Air Force were killed while defending Chengdu against the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter planes.

When the United States entered World War II after the Pearl Harbor attack, the airport became known as the Shwangliu Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign from 1942 to 1945. The airport underwent several expansions over the years, including in 1959, 1967, 1983, and 1991. In 1956, the airport was put under civil aviation and renamed Chengdu Shuangliu Airport.

Today, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is a major hub for several airlines, including Air China, Chengdu Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines. It offers flights to over 50 international destinations and more than 170 domestic airports. The airport features two terminals, T1 and T2, with Air China operating domestic flights from T2 and international flights from T1.

With the opening of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in 2021, many international and cargo routes were shifted to the new airport, with Shuangliu Airport primarily handling domestic flights. The two airports are connected by an automated people mover, and passengers can also take the CRH train from Shuangliu Airport to Chengdu South and East railway stations.

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The airport has a range of transport connections to the city, including taxi, bus, subway, and train

Chengdu is served by two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Both airports offer a variety of transport connections to the city centre.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 km (9.9 miles) from the city centre. The airport features two terminals, T1 and T2, and is a hub for Air China, Chengdu Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines.

Taxi

Taxi stands can be found outside Gate 1 in Terminal T1 and Gates 4 and 5 in Terminal T2. The taxi ride to the city centre costs around RMB 50 and takes approximately 26 minutes.

Bus

There are six bus lines connecting the airport to downtown Chengdu:

  • Line 300 connects the North Train Station to the approach bridge of Terminal T1.
  • Line 303 runs from the ticket office downtown (Minshan Restaurant) to the first floor of Terminal T1.
  • Line 304 connects Chengren Bus Station to East No.2 Airport Road.
  • Line 307 runs from the East Train Station to Exit No. 4 and 5 of Terminal T2.
  • Line 318 connects Jinsha Bus Station to East No.2 Airport Road.
  • Line 907 connects the New Exhibition Centre to Exit No. 4 and 5 of Terminal T2.

Additionally, there are three dedicated airport bus lines:

  • Airport Bus No. 1 connects the airport to the city centre (Minshan Hotel, Section 2 of Renmin Road South, Metro station of Jinjiang Hotel).
  • Airport Bus No. 2 connects the airport to Chengdu North Railway Station.
  • Airport Bus No. 3 connects the airport to Chengdu East Railway Station.

Subway

Passengers can take the newly built Chengdu Metro Line 10 at T1 and T2 of Shuangliu International Airport.

Train

The airport is connected to downtown Chengdu by the Chengdu–Mianyang–Leshan intercity railway. Trains to nearby cities such as Leshan, Emeishan, and Mianyang are available at the airport for passengers' convenience. The ticket office and waiting hall are located on -1F of the parking lot in front of T2, and the platforms can be found on B2.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is located about 50-51 km southeast of downtown Chengdu. The airport features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, the logo of the city of Chengdu.

Taxi

Taxi and mobile app car-hailing services are available from Tianfu International Airport to the city centre.

Bus

There are five bus routes connecting Tianfu International Airport with central Chengdu. Passengers can take different buses to Chunxi Road (via Chengdu East Railway Station), Global Center, Jinsha Transport Hub Station, and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

Subway

Passengers can take the Chengdu Metro Line 18 to Chengdu South Railway Station (normal trains take about 40 minutes, while express trains take 30 minutes). The extension work to Chengdu Railway Station is currently underway. Chengdu Metro Line 19, which shares tracks with Line 18, provides a 30-minute express connection to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

Train

The airport is equipped with a high-speed train station, offering services to various destinations within Sichuan Province, including Jianyang, Zigong, Deyang, and Leshan. The high-speed train also serves cities outside the province, such as Chongqing, Kunming, and Guiyang. Passengers can take the high-speed train to Chengdu East Railway Station, which takes about 30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

I don't have access to real-time information about the weather in Chengdu Airport, but mist is common in the region, so it's possible that it could be misty there.

Chengdu is located in the Sichuan Basin, which is known for its unique climate. The basin is surrounded by mountains, which trap moisture and contribute to the high humidity in the region. This, combined with the region's warm temperatures, creates the perfect conditions for mist to form.

While the mist can cause some travel disruptions, it also has some positive impacts. The high humidity can benefit the region's agriculture, and the mist can also create a beautiful, atmospheric setting for photography and outdoor activities.

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