# TFU — Chengdu (Chengdu Tianfu International Airport)

> TFU (Chengdu Tianfu International Airport) is the main international airport serving Chengdu, China. Source: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/tfu-chengdu

## At a glance

- **Best exit method:** Take Metro Line 19 + Line 18 transfer
- **Typical fare:** ¥10–¥15
- **Journey time:** 55 min to Tianfu Square
- **Pickup point:** B2 of Terminal 1, follow 地铁 signs
- **Key warning:** Tianfu is much farther than Shuangliu — don't agree to taxi flat rates without seeing the meter
- **Fare reality (TFU → Tianfu Square):** expected ¥10–¥15 · concerning ¥200+ · likely scam ¥400+ black cab
- **Overall risk:** medium — Tianfu is 50km from downtown — far further than the old Shuangliu airport. Black cabs and inflated 'official' taxis are common.
- **Last updated:** June 2026 (high confidence)

## Ways out of TFU, ranked

1. **Metro Line 19/18** _(recommended)_ — cost ¥10–¥15, journey 55 min, wait Every 5–10 min, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Reliable; Beats traffic
   - Cons: Transfer required
2. **Didi (DiDi Chuxing)** _(recommended)_ — cost ¥130–¥220, journey 60–90 min, wait 5–15 min, payment App Payment.
   - Pros: Door-to-door; Fixed app fare
   - Cons: Pickup at designated zone, not curb
3. **Official metered taxi** — cost ¥150–¥220, journey 60–90 min, wait 10–30 min queue, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Metered; Receipt
   - Cons: Long queue; Some drivers refuse short trips
4. **Airport bus** — cost ¥30, journey 70–90 min, wait Every 30 min, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Direct routes
   - Cons: Slower than metro

## First 30 minutes after landing at TFU

1. Clear immigration and bag claim
2. Follow purple 地铁 (Metro) signs to B2
3. Buy ticket at machine (Alipay / WeChat / cash)
4. Take Line 19, transfer at Hongliancun for Line 18
5. 55 min to Tianfu Square in the city center
6. Total: ¥10–¥15

## Common scams at TFU

- **Black cab flat rate** (high risk): Unmarked cars offer ¥300–¥500 flat fares inside arrivals. _How to avoid:_ Only use the official metered queue outside the terminal.
- **Long-route padding** (medium risk): Drivers loop via tollways to inflate fares. _How to avoid:_ Use Didi for fixed pricing, or screenshot the expected route.

## Payment warnings at TFU

- Foreign cards rarely work — set up Alipay or WeChat Pay (link a Visa/Mastercard) before arriving.
- Black cabs demand cash flat-rates; legitimate taxis run on the meter.
- Metro ticket machines accept cash but only ¥1, ¥5, ¥10 notes.

## Arrival checklist for TFU

- Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay before flying
- Confirm whether your flight lands at TFU or older Shuangliu (CTU)
- B2 metro → Line 19 → Line 18 transfer
- Skip every black cab at the curb
- Didi is the safest road option

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Canonical URL: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/tfu-chengdu
Source: Airport Exit (https://www.airportexit.com)
Last updated: June 2026

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