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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is a major hub in China, connecting international flights to domestic and other international destinations. If you're facing a long layover, there are plenty of ways to spend your time. The airport itself has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and duty-free shops, but if you have at least six hours, you can get a real taste of Chengdu. The city centre is about 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the airport, and it takes about 40 minutes to get there by high-speed train or airport bus. You can visit the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, stroll through Jinli Ancient Street, or explore the city's nightlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) |
| Location | 16-20 km southwest of downtown Chengdu |
| Transport to City Centre | Airport Bus 1, Taxi, Metro (Line 10, then Line 3, then Line 1) |
| Transport Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Visa Requirements | No visa needed for layovers under 10 days; 144-hour visa-free transit for citizens from 53 countries |
| Attractions | Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinli Ancient Street, Wenshu Temple, Wuhou Temple, Kuan Zhai Alley, People's Park, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei |
| Food | Hot pot, local snacks |
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What You'll Learn
Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the most accessible panda base from the airport. It takes around 40 minutes to an hour to get there by taxi. The facility is famous for the protection and breeding of endangered wild animals unique to China. It is home to 120 giant pandas and 76 red pandas, the largest number of any centre in Sichuan.
To make the most of your time, it is recommended to go early in the morning, no later than 8:30 am, as the pandas are most active then. The main panda activity is during their feeding session at about 9 am. If you're there between late August and December, you might even see tiny newborns.
There are a few other attractions at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre, so you can linger longer if you don't need to rush off. These include the Panda Story Cinema, which plays a short film about the panda base and its conservation efforts. There is also the Panda Discovery Centre, an interactive exhibition with touch screens and activities that provide information about panda breeding, genetics, and nutrition. Additionally, there are a couple of museums in the centre, one of which features virtual reality technology that gives you a lifelike panda encounter.
If you wish for an even more involved and intimate panda experience, you can join the Panda Keeper Programme at the Dujiangyan Panda Base, which is around 1.5 hours from Chengdu.
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Explore the city centre
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu. The city centre is accessible by metro, taxi, or airport bus.
If you're looking to explore Chengdu's city centre, there are a few transport options available to you. The metro is the fastest way to get to the city centre, taking around 20 minutes. You can take Line 10 from either terminal and change to Line 3 and then Line 1, getting off at either Tianfu Square or Luoma Market. The metro runs every 10 minutes from 6 am to 11 pm, and fares are determined by distance, starting at €0.28 (CNY 2) for the first 4 kilometres.
You can also take an airport taxi, which is the most convenient and comfortable option, especially if you have luggage or are travelling with children. The journey takes around 40 minutes without traffic and costs between €8.60 and €10 (CNY 60-70). Be sure to have your destination written in Chinese, as not all drivers speak English.
Alternatively, you can take one of the airport buses that service the city. Bus No. 1 goes directly to the city centre and costs €1.42 (CNY 10). The journey takes around an hour.
Once you're in the city centre, there are several attractions to visit. Here are some suggestions:
- Wenshu Temple
- Wuhou Temple
- Jinli Ancient Street: a relaxing walk with local snacks and trinkets for sale
- Chengdu Museum
- Renmin Park
- Kuanzhai Alley
- Dufu Cottage
- Sichuan Museum
- Qingyang Palace
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Take a high-speed train to the city
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu. If you're looking to get from the airport to the city quickly, taking a high-speed train is a good option.
Firstly, you need to get to the train station from the airport. The Shuangliu Airport Railway Station is located underground in Terminal 2 of the airport. Follow the bilingual signs to get there in minutes.
Once at the train station, you can take a high-speed train to Chengdu East Train Station or Chengdu South Train Station. The journey time is around 15-20 minutes, and tickets cost from CNY8. There are 12 daily trains from the airport to Chengdu East and 10 daily trains from Chengdu East to the airport. There are also 4 daily trains from Chengdu South to the airport and 3 from the airport to Chengdu South.
If you are travelling from Chongqing, you will need to transfer at Chengdu East or Chengdu South. Chengdu East is the preferred option as it has more trains to Shuangliu Airport. Take a G or D high-speed train to Chengdu East, and then transfer to a C high-speed train to Shuangliu Airport.
Please note that Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which will mainly handle international flights, is set to open in July 2021. This airport will be served by metro line 18, which will give passengers a better feel of Chengdu than other metro lines.
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Visit Wenshu Temple or Wuhou Temple
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu. If you have a long layover and want to visit Wenshu Temple or Wuhou Temple, you'll need to factor in at least 1½ hours of travel time each way.
Wenshu Temple
Wenshu Temple (also known as Wenshu Monastery or Manjushri Monastery) is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. It is the home of the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City. The temple was initially built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was once called Xinxiang Temple. Renovations and rebuilding of the temple began in 1697 and were completed in 1706. During the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods (1796–1850), the temple was largely extended by abbot Benyuan.
A finger bone relic of the Sakyamuni Buddha, brought by Master Nenghai from Bodh Gaya, India, is enshrined in the temple. A parietal bone relic of Xuanzang is also preserved here. To get to Wenshu Temple, you can take Bus 16 or 55 to Wenshuyuan (Wenshu Monastery) Station or Metro Line 1 to Wen Shu Yuan Station.
Wuhou Temple
Wuhou Temple is located in the southwestern part of downtown Chengdu. The date of its establishment is unclear, but it was built next to the Temple of Liu Bei, so its entrance plaque reads, "Zhaolie Temple of Shuhan Kingdom". The current Wuhou Temple was rebuilt in 1672. The temple is known as the "mecca of the Three Kingdoms", as it is China's only shrine where emperor and ministers are enshrined together. It is the most venerated memorial of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, and other important Shu Han individuals.
One of the most valuable cultural relics in Wuhou Temple is a huge stele set up in 809. This stele is 367 centimetres (144 inches) high and 95 centimetres (37 inches) wide. The Tomb of Liubei, on the west side of Wuhou Temple, is also worth a visit. To get to Wuhou Temple, take Metro Line 3 and get off at Gaoshengqiao, then walk eastwards along Wuhouci Avenue for 3-5 minutes. Alternatively, you can take buses 1, 57, 77, 82, 334, or 335 to Wuhouci (Wuhou Temple) Station.
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Enjoy the airport's free Wi-Fi, restaurants and duty-free shops
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) offers free Wi-Fi, a range of restaurants, and duty-free shops to keep travellers entertained during layovers.
The airport's free Wi-Fi allows you to stay connected and browse the internet while you wait for your flight. You can use this connection to get some work done, catch up on social media, or simply pass the time.
When it comes to dining options, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport offers a variety of choices to suit different tastes and preferences. Terminals 1 and 2 feature restaurants and eateries serving Chinese cuisine, Western dishes, Halal food, noodles, coffee, dumplings, and hamburgers. Familiar fast-food options such as KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks are also available if you're looking for a quick bite.
For those interested in duty-free shopping, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport has an elegant duty-free shop located in the heart of the terminal. This shop, covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, offers a wide range of products, including perfumes, spirits, children's toys, and clothing. The duty-free store is a great opportunity to purchase items at tax-free prices, making it convenient and potentially cost-effective for travellers.
Additionally, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, another airport in Chengdu, also boasts a duty-free shopping experience. Operated by the China Duty Free Group, this departures duty-free store spans an impressive 4,000 square feet. It offers a comprehensive range of products, including beauty products, fragrances, boutiques, watches, jewellery, cigarettes, wines, spirits, food, confectionery, and consumer technology.
Whether you're looking to surf the web, grab a bite to eat, or indulge in some duty-free shopping, Chengdu's airports have you covered with their free Wi-Fi, diverse dining options, and well-stocked duty-free shops.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not recommended to leave the airport for layovers under 5 hours as it takes about 1.5 hours to get to the city centre and back. However, Chengdu's airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, duty-free shops and currency exchange services to keep you entertained.
For a layover of this length, it is possible to leave the airport and explore Chengdu. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the most accessible panda base from the airport and can be reached in about an hour by taxi. You could also visit Jinli Ancient Street, where you can take a relaxing walk and try local snacks and trinkets.
With a longer layover, you have plenty of options. You could visit the pandas, Wenshu Temple, Wuhou Temple, Kuan Zhai Alley, the Jinsha Site Museum, or the Leshan Giant Buddha. You could also take a cooking class, a bicycle tour, or a Chinese KungFu class.
