Nanjing Lukou Airport - Flight Information and Guide (NKG)

How to get to Nanjing Lukou Airport

Nanjing city center is approximately 35 km from the airport: the metro is the fastest solution, roughly 45-55 minutes to downtown.

By Car

Those arriving by car reach Nanjing's center in approximately 40-50 minutes depending on traffic.

By Train

Metro: line S1 of the metro system connects the airport directly to Nanjing's city center in approximately 45-55 minutes.

By Bus

Multiple dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Nanjing's city center.

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Tips Nanjing is well connected by the high-speed rail network: if heading to Shanghai or Beijing, verify whether the train is more practical than a domestic flight. Activate Alipay or WeChat Pay at the airport.

Average travel time to NKG

Train45-55 minutes (metro)

Shuttle bus40-55 minutes

Taxi / Private hire40-55 minutes

Parking near Nanjing Lukou Airport

The official parking (P1, in front of the terminal) applies: first 15 minutes free, then 6 CNY the first hour, 3 CNY every 30 minutes thereafter, maximum cap 60 CNY/24 hours. In the P2-P5 parkings (VIP areas): 8 CNY the first hour, 4 CNY/30 minutes, cap 80 CNY/24 hours.

How to get to Nanjing from NKG

By Train

Metro: Line S1 directly connects the airport to Nanjing city center in approximately 45-55 minutes, approximately 10-13 CNY.

By Bus

Multiple dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Nanjing city center.

By Taxi

Official taxis wait in the arrivals area; metered fares are standard for rides to the city center, approximately 120-160 CNY (17-22 USD) depending on the departure terminal, given the roughly 35 km distance, with 30% more in the nighttime bracket 23:00-5:00.

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Car rental at Nanjing Lukou Airport

Some car rental companies have a desk in the arrivals area.

Most visitors prefer to get around by taxi or local ride-hailing services.

Hotels near Nanjing Lukou Airport

Lukou is about 35 km south of central Nanjing, served by a single fast link, metro line S1, which reaches Nanjing South station in 35 minutes: beyond that threshold it's always worth weighing whether to stay near the terminal or head all the way to Gulou, in the city's historic heart. For anyone with a dawn flight or a layover of a few hours, the handiest option is the Pullman, linked to the terminal by a covered pedestrian corridor. Anyone staying more than one night gains in atmosphere by aiming for the Gulou district, a stone's throw from Lake Xuanwu, while having to accept nearly an hour's travel overall from the airport.

At the airport

A covered pedestrian corridor from the Pullman to the terminal, about a 5-minute walk; the S1 metro station is in the same complex and reaches Nanjing South in 35 minutes (7 yuan), or the hotel shuttle takes about 30 minutes.

Best for: Layovers of a few hours and dawn departures, when you want to reach check-in without a bus or taxi.

Pros

Check-in is reached on foot along a covered corridor, without depending on traffic on the ring road
The S1 metro station is in the same complex as the terminal, handy even for early departures

Cons

All around just the airport area, isolated from the rest of Nanjing
The old town still requires 50-60 minutes between metro and change

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

City centre

Gulou and the old town

Metro S1 to Nanjing South (35 minutes), then change onto Line 1 for Gulou (another 20-25 minutes); a direct taxi cuts the trip to about 45-50 minutes outside peak hours.

Best for: Anyone who wants Lake Xuanwu, the Confucius Temple and the university life of downtown, accepting nearly an hour's travel from the airport.

Pros

The Confucius Temple, Lake Xuanwu and Nanjing University are reachable on foot or within a few minutes by metro
Many more options for dinner and evening life than the airport area

Cons

No direct link to the airport: a change between S1 and Line 1 is always needed, or a long taxi ride
A central, university area, so busier and noisier than Lukou

Recommended hotels

InterContinental Nanjing by IHG On Zhong Yang Road, in Gulou district, connected to a shopping mall and a 12-minute walk from the Jiming Temple metro; a pool and four in-house restaurants. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Airport services

The airport is an aerial gateway to one of China's ancient imperial capitals.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area offers Chinese tea, baijiu, and Nanjing silk, reflecting the city's historic textile heritage.

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 waiting areas provide minimal family-specific assistance.

Terminal guide

The terminal is adequately sized for regional and national traffic. From check-in to gate you generally walk 15 minutes.

Customs and security can require extra time: for international flights, it is better to arrive with 3 hours' notice.

Map of Nanjing Lukou Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. What to see in Nanjing?

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, an important historic monument, and the ancient city walls, among the most extensive in imperial China.

Q. Is Nanjing well connected to Shanghai and Beijing?

Yes, via the high-speed rail network, often more practical than a domestic flight for these routes.

Q. What to see in Nanjing related to 20th-century history?

The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, dedicated to the tragic events of 1937-38 during the Japanese occupation, is one of the most visited and important sites for understanding the city's recent history.

Q. Was Nanjing the capital of China in modern times?

Yes, it was the capital of the Republic of China during several periods of the 20th century, in addition to having been an imperial capital in earlier eras.