Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport - Flight Information and Guide (CTU)

How to get to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Chengdu city center is approximately 16 km from the airport: the metro is the fastest solution, roughly 30-35 minutes to downtown.

By Car

Those arriving by car reach Chengdu's center in approximately 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.

By Train

Metro: line 10 of the metro connects the airport directly to Chengdu city center in approximately 30-35 minutes.

By Bus

Multiple dedicated bus lines connect the airport to various areas of the city.

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Tips If your goal is to see giant pandas, the Chengdu Research Base is north of the city: verify whether direct taxi or first going through downtown is better. Activate Alipay or WeChat Pay at the airport.

Average travel time to CTU

Train30-35 minutes (metro)

Shuttle bus30-40 minutes

Taxi / Private hire30-40 minutes

Parking near Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Official parking (T1/T2) is located opposite the terminal.

First 15 minutes free, then 4 CNY the first hour, 2 CNY every 30 minutes thereafter; maximum 96 CNY/24 hours. P3 long-stay parking charges a flat rate of 50 CNY/24 hours with free shuttle service.

How to get to Chengdu from CTU

By Train

Metro: Line 10 connects the airport directly to Chengdu city center in approximately 30–35 minutes, approximately 6–8 CNY.

By Bus

Several dedicated bus lines connect the airport to various areas of Chengdu.

By Taxi

Official taxis wait in the arrivals area; metering is the standard for trips to the city center, approximately 50–80 CNY (7–11 USD).

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Car rental at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Some car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area, although self-drive rental is rare among foreign visitors: a foreign driver's license is generally not valid in China.

Here most travelers rely on taxis or transport apps rather than car rental.

Hotels near Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Shuangliu airport is just 16 km from downtown Chengdu, connected by metro Line 10, which reaches the stations in the south of the city in about 20-30 minutes; anyone with just a plane change or an early morning departure will find a handful of chain hotels a stone's throw from the terminals. Those staying to see the city gain a lot by sleeping near Chunxi Road or Tianfu Square, Chengdu's commercial and nightlife heart, reachable in 35-40 minutes with a line change. Worth noting: Shuangliu (CTU) is the historic airport, today mostly domestic; flights from the new Tianfu airport (TFU), about 40 km to the south-east, serve a different part of the city and are not covered in this guide.

Airport area

Shuangliu

Metro Line 10 connects terminals T1 and T2 to the rest of the city in about 20-30 minutes (4 yuan); by car downtown is 30-40 minutes depending on ring-road traffic. Several hotels in the area offer a free shuttle on request.

Best for: Short layovers and morning departures, for anyone who doesn't want to stray from the terminal.

Pros

Several hotels have a free shuttle to the terminals, useful for anyone arriving after the metro closes (23:00)
The Line 10 stop is shared by both terminals, with no connecting bus needed between terminal buildings

Cons

Mostly industrial and logistics areas around: for dinner you almost always stay at the hotel
Reaching Chunxi Road or Tianfu Square still requires a metro line change, or 30-40 minutes by taxi

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

City centre

Chunxi Road and Tianfu Square

From the airport metro you change line once (usually at Chengdu South Railway Station) to reach Tianfu Square or Chunxi Road in 35-40 minutes total; by taxi the 16 km trip takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.

Best for: Anyone staying more than one night who wants shopping, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance.

Pros

Chunxi Road and the IFS mall, with its famous panda sculpture on the façade, are within walking distance of the area's hotels
Metro Lines 1 and 2 cross at Tianfu Square, convenient for getting around the rest of the city

Cons

The metro line change from the airport makes the transfer slower than a direct line
A central and very touristy area, so higher prices and crowded pavements on weekends

Recommended hotels

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Airport services

The airport offers services consistent with its role as a major hub for southwestern China.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area offers Chinese tea, baijiu (including the renowned Sichuan Wuliangye) and Sichuan chili-based products, the foundation of local cuisine.

Lounges & relaxation

Access is generally via paid day-pass, with hours following the flight time windows of the terminal.

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal area. For a local SIM, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom have service desks at the airport.

Families & Children

The terminal reserves basic-level assistance for families with children.

Terminal guide

Two terminals (T1 and T2). From check-in to gate you typically walk 15 minutes.

Customs and security checks can take longer than expected: it's best to arrive at least 3 hours in advance for international flights.

Map of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. How do you organize a visit to the giant pandas in Chengdu?

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located north of the city: it's best to go early in the morning, when the pandas are more active, by taxi, Didi or organized tour.

Q. Shuangliu or Tianfu: which is better for Chengdu?

Shuangliu (CTU) is the historic, more central airport; Tianfu, newer, is absorbing part of the international traffic: always check which airport your flight operates from.

Q. Is Chengdu a good starting point for reaching Tibet?

Yes, it's one of the airports with the most connections to Lhasa, often a convenient alternative to other Chinese cities, although a special additional permit is still required for Tibet on top of the standard visa.