Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU): the arrival guide
Arrival essentials · Verified 2026-09-28 · Rules change — confirm entry specifics with the National Immigration Administration before you fly
The short answer
Chengdu's new giant: Metro Lines 18/19 into the city in 40-50 minutes, late-running trains, and the arrival point for panda-and-Sichuan-food first trips.
What happens at immigration?
TFU's international flow is smaller than Beijing's or Shanghai's, so visa-free transit checks are quick off-peak. English signage is complete and modern; arrival-card e-kiosks sit before passport control. The official entry, visa-free and 240-hour transit lists live at the National Immigration Administration — check your nationality against our visa checker before you book.
How do you get connected and paid on landing?
Operator counters sit in the arrivals hall with passport SIM registration; as at every China airport, hours don't cover the deepest overnight banks - a pre-activated eSIM is the zero-queue option. For the full comparison of eSIM vs roaming (and what stays blocked), see our internet & eSIM guide. Alipay/WeChat Pay work across the airport including metro gates; 24h ATM fallback sits near baggage claim. Chengdu taxis and every food stall take QR payment. The complete playbook, including what to do when verification fails, is in payments in China and our rescue cards.
What is the best way into town?
Metro Line 18 runs TFU to the South Railway Station area in about 40 minutes — the 23:34 last departure from the airport stations is one of the latest of any China airport metro (Line 19 serves the western districts until about 23:30). The airport's own shuttle buses fill the night: Line 1 runs 24 hours to Chunxi Road (25 yuan after 23:30), with dedicated night lines toward Jinhsha, Chengdu East and — for connections — Shuangliu airport (00:00-05:00). The older Shuangliu airport (CTU) sits much closer to town on Line 10; some 'Chengdu' flights actually land there - check your ticket. Taxi (24h): T1 gate G02 / T2 gate G04, level 2, about an hour and 150-200 yuan off-peak. Ride-hail uses Parking Building 1, level 1, split by odd/even plate into bays 1-3 vs 2-4-6 — the app shows your bay number after dispatch.
Landing late? Where should you sleep?
Lines 18/19 run later than almost any other China airport metro, and the 24-hour shuttle Line 1 covers everything after — no other major China airport has a stronger public-transport safety net. For zero-friction nights, T2's Takeanap sleep pods (level 2) rent by the hour, or the airport-zone hotels below. If your China trip starts tomorrow with pandas at 07:30, an airport-area sleep then an early Line 18 works fine. Airport-adjacent rooms trade convenience for distance from the sights — right call after 23:00, wrong call otherwise.
Where should you spend the first night?
Kuanzhai Alley / the old-town side — teahouse streets, Metro Line 4, about an hour from TFU via Line 18 and one change. If tomorrow starts with pandas at 07:30, either base works; the city side eats better tonight.
Two scenario bases, editor-researched with honest trade-offs: