Tianfujichang Train Station: Station of Tianfu Airport

Tianfu Airport Railway Station at a Glance

Tianfu Airport Railway Station (天府机场站, Tianfujichang) is the world’s first high-speed railway station built directly underneath an airport terminal. Opened on December 26, 2023 with the Chengdu–Yibin High-Speed Railway (成宜高铁), it lets you walk from your arrival gate to a bullet train platform in as little as 12 minutes. The station sits inside the GTC (Ground Transportation Center) between Terminals 1 and 2, and is served by ~53 trains daily.

The station sits on the Chengdu–Yibin High-Speed Railway, which runs: Chengdu East → Tianfu Station (暂缓开通) → Sanchahu → Tianfu Airport → Ziyang West → Zizhong West → Weiyuan → Zigong → Yantan → Nanxi North → Yibin East.

For foreign travelers arriving at TFU, this station is your fastest gateway to:

	Tianfu Airport to Chengdu train, Chengdu to Tianfu Airport train, Tianfu Airport to Chongqing train, Leshan to Tianfu Airport train, Shuangliu Airport to Tianfu Airport train, Emeishan to Tianfu Airport train
	Find hotels for foreigners near Tianfu Airport, Chengdu East Station, Chunxi Road,
	Chengdu metro network (Chinese only, English available on APP)
	Flights to or from Chengdu Tianfu Airport, Tianfu Airport Transfer Service

Station Layout & GTC Facilities

Tianfujichang Station sits inside the GTC (Ground Transportation Center / 综合交通换乘中心), a 4-level hub between Terminal 1 (international) and Terminal 2 (domestic). All transport — train, metro, bus, taxi, rideshare — is within 500 meters.

A standout feature: you can check in for your flight and drop off luggage right at the GTC after getting off the train. J Zone and K Zone check-in counters are on L1, directly in front of the train exit. Self-service kiosks available for domestic flights.

Exceptions: Spring Airlines (春秋航空), Lucky Air (祥鹏航空), and 9 Air (九元航空) passengers must go to T2 L4 departure hall. Oversized/overweight baggage → T2 L4. International / HK / Macau / Taiwan flights → T1 departure hall (turn right on L2).

Train ↔ Flight: How to Transfer

Landing at TFU → Catching a Train

Arriving by Train → Catching a Flight

Jack’s tip: Allow at least 1.5–2 hours between train arrival and flight departure. The physical transfer is quick, but TFU security lines can stretch during peak hours (6:30–8:30 AM and 4:00–6:00 PM). I’ve seen 30+ minute queues at domestic security during summer holiday mornings.

Tianfu Airport ↔ Chengdu East (Most Popular Route)

This is the #1 route from Tianfu Airport — connecting directly to Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站, Chengdudong), Chengdu’s largest rail hub. From Chengdu East, you can connect to trains heading virtually anywhere in China.

Metro vs. Train to Chengdu City — Which Should You Choose?

Both the train and metro get you from TFU into Chengdu. Here’s my honest comparison:

Jack’s take: If your final destination is Chengdu East Station itself (to catch another train), take the HSR — it’s faster and you’re already at the station. If you’re heading to central Chengdu (Tianfu Square, Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Alley), the metro is usually more practical — no need to navigate Chengdu East’s massive station just to get on the metro again.

Tianfu Airport ↔ Chongqing (Direct Cross-City Trains)

This is one of the most useful routes for foreign travelers — especially if you’re flying into TFU but your real destination is Chongqing. Direct high-speed trains connect Tianfu Airport to both Chongqing West (重庆西站) and Chongqing North (重庆北站), letting you skip Chengdu entirely.

Jack’s tip: If you’re traveling between Chengdu and Chongqing anyway, flying into TFU and taking a direct train to Chongqing can be a smart routing — especially if TFU flights are cheaper than Chongqing (CKG) flights. Just factor in the 1.5–2.5h train ride plus transfer time. See also: Chongqing to Tianfu Airport Guide.

Leshan & Emeishan → Tianfu Airport (After Your Visit)

Most travelers visit the Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛) and Mount Emei (峨眉山) first, then need to get to Tianfu Airport for their flight out. Here’s how to make that connection.

Direct Train (Limited — Only 1–2 Per Day)

There is a direct train from Leshan and Emeishan that stops at Tianfu Airport — but it runs just once or twice daily, usually in the late afternoon/evening direction toward Luzhou. If the timing happens to line up with your flight, it’s the simplest option:

Transfer via Chengdu East (Recommended — Far More Flexibility)

Jack’s recommendation: Don’t bet on that single direct train. Transfer at Chengdu East Station instead — you’ll have 20+ trains per day from Leshan (~1h, ¥54) and Emeishan (~1.5h, ¥65) to Chengdu East, then a quick 26-minute hop to Tianfu Airport. The transfer is painless (same station) and you’re not stressed about missing the one direct train and, well, your flight.

Jack’s timing advice: The last Chengdu East → Tianfu Airport train departs around 21:30–22:00. Working backwards: if your flight is at 20:00, you need to be at Tianfujichang by ~18:00, meaning leave Chengdu East by ~17:30, meaning leave Leshan/Emeishan by ~15:30–16:00 at the latest. Don’t cut it too close — Leshan and Emeishan are not places where you want to rush.

See also: Leshan to Tianfu Airport Guide | Emeishan to Tianfu Airport Guide.

Tianfu Airport ↔ Shuangliu Airport (Dual-Airport Transfer)

Chengdu is one of the few cities in the world with high-speed rail stations at BOTH airports. If you need to transfer between Tianfu Airport (TFU) and Shuangliu Airport (CTU) — whether you booked connecting flights at different airports, or simply landed at the wrong one — you have four options:

Jack’s recommendation: For most travelers, Metro Line 19 Express is the clear winner — 30 minutes direct, no intermediate stops, ¥12. The only catch: the express runs only 6 times a day (at half-past the hour during 6, 11, 13, 15, 21, and 22 o’clock). If you miss it, the regular Line 19 still gets you there in ~50 minutes.

About direct trains: A limited number of HSR trains stop at both airport stations (notably the Leshan–Emeishan–Luzhou route, which passes through Shuangliu Airport, Chengdu South, and Tianfu Airport on the same line). But since they run so infrequently, I don’t recommend relying on them — treat them as a bonus if the timing happens to work out.

See also: Metro Line 19 Express Guide | Tianfu Airport Bus Lines.

Dujiangyan & Qingchengshan → Tianfu Airport (After Your Visit)

There’s no direct train from Dujiangyan (都江堰) or Qingchengshan (青城山) to Tianfu Airport — but the transfer route back is straightforward. After a day at the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (UNESCO) or Mount Qingcheng (birthplace of Taoism), here’s how to get to your flight.

Jack’s Recommended Route — Chengguan Express + Metro

Which Station to Depart From?

Jack’s tip: Xipu Station has an excellent same-station transfer between the Chengguan Express and Metro Line 2 — you step off the train and the metro entrance is right there. Book your Chengguan Express ticket in advance on 12306, especially on Sunday afternoons and holidays — trains fill up with Chengdu locals heading home.

Alternative: HSR via Chengdu East (Fewer Transfers)

If you prefer fewer metro transfers, take the Chengguan Express to Xipu, then Metro Line 2 to Chengdu East Station, and catch a high-speed train to Tianfu Airport (26 min, ¥24–31). This replaces two metro lines with one train ride — slightly fewer stops but depends on train timing.

Alternative: Tourist Bus + Metro 18

Dujiangyan and Qingchengshan both have 景区直通车 (scenic direct buses) to central Chengdu (Chunxi Road / IFS area). From there, Metro Line 18 Express gets you to TFU. Fewer transfers overall but the bus can be slower in traffic.

Jack’s timing advice: For a 20:00 flight from TFU — leave Qingchengshan/Dujiangyan by ~15:30–16:00, arrive Xipu by ~16:30, Chengdu South by ~17:15, TFU by ~18:00. That gives you 2 hours before departure — comfortable.

Tianfu Airport → Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong

No direct train exists from Tianfu Airport to Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong. However, the journey is now far faster than it used to be, thanks to the Chengdu–Huanglongjiuzhai High-Speed Railway (川青铁路) which opened in 2024.

Jack’s recommended route:

For the full routing, transfers, and what to watch out for, see: Tianfu Airport to Jiuzhaigou by Train + Bus.

Metro Line 18 & 19: Your Backup Plan

When the train schedule doesn’t fit, or you’re heading somewhere not served by rail from Tianfujichang, the metro is your fallback. Both lines are in the same GTC building.

Hotels Near Tianfu Airport

If you have an early morning flight or late-night train arrival:

Jack’s tip: TFU is ~51 km from central Chengdu. If your flight lands after 23:00 and you need to be in the city the next morning, consider staying at an airport hotel — metro Line 18 starts running around 06:00. A late-night Didi into the city costs ¥170–210 and takes 50–70 minutes.

FAQ & Quick Answers

Q: Do I need to go outside to reach the train station?
No. The train station is inside the GTC, connected to T1 and T2. You never step outdoors.

Q: How do I get from Leshan / Emeishan back to Tianfu Airport for my flight?
There are 1–2 direct trains daily (afternoon/evening). For much more flexibility, take one of the 20+ daily trains from Leshan or Emeishan to Chengdu East (~1–1.5h), then transfer to a Tianfu Airport train (26 min). The transfer is inside the same station. See the Leshan & Emeishan section for timing advice.

Q: How do I get from Dujiangyan / Qingchengshan back to Tianfu Airport?
No direct train. Take the Chengguan Express from Dujiangyan/Qingchengshan to Xipu Station (~20–30 min), then Metro Line 2 → Line 1 → Line 18 Express to Tianfu Airport. Total ~1.5–2 hours. Or take a scenic direct bus to central Chengdu, then Metro 18. See the Dujiangyan section for detailed timing.

Q: Can I go directly from Tianfu Airport to Jiuzhaigou?
Not directly. Take a train to Chengdu East (26 min) → train to Huanglongjiuzhai Station (~2h) → bus to Jiuzhaigou (~2h). Total ~5 hours.

Q: Can I go directly to the Panda Base from Tianfu Airport by train?
No train connection. Take Airport Bus Line 3 to Chengdu Zoo Station, then a short Didi/taxi to the Panda Base. See: Tianfu Airport to Panda Base.

Q: I have a connecting flight at Shuangliu Airport. How do I get there?
Take Metro Line 19 Express — 30 minutes direct, ¥12. Only 6 express trains/day (at :30 past 6, 11, 13, 15, 21, and 22 o’clock), or take the regular Line 19 service (~50 min).

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*Last updated: June 2026. Train schedules and fares change seasonally — always verify on 12306.cn or Trip.com before traveling. Questions? Ask Jack.*