Overview
The Chengdu Metro is the rapid transit system serving Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The system opened in September 2010 and has since undergone rapid expansion, making it the world's fourth longest metro system as of December 2020. To ride the metro end to end, you will enter a station, pass your bags through an X-ray security screening, purchase a ticket or use a contactless card at a machine or ticket booth, tap or insert your ticket at the entry gate, travel to your destination, and insert your ticket into a slot at the exit gate (which will retain it). The system currently carries about 6 million trips per day across 17 subway lines and one light rail line.
The network
Chengdu's rapid transit network consists of 17 operating subway lines covering 721.3 km (448.2 mi) with 447 stations, plus one light rail line (Line T2) covering 39.3 km (24.4 mi) with 36 stops. The metro lines are numbered 1–10, 13, 17–19, and 27, each identified by a distinct color.
Subway lines
- Line 1 (dark blue): Runs north–south through the city center along Renmin Road and Tianfu Avenue, connecting the North and South railway stations. It serves 35 stations over 41 km.
- Line 2 (orange): A northwest–southeast trunk route serving Chengdu East Railway Station. It began operation in September 2012 and includes an elevated extension to Longquanyi that opened in October 2014.
- Line 3 (magenta): Runs northeast–southwest from Chengdu Medical College to Shuangliu West Station. It opened in July 2016.
- Line 4 (green): Runs east–west from Wansheng in Wenjiang to Xihe in Longquanyi, serving Chengdu West Railway Station. Phase 1 opened in December 2015.
- Line 5 (purple): A north–south trunk line running parallel to Line 1. It began operation in December 2019.
- Line 6 (brown): A northwest–southwest pivotal line and the second longest metro line in Chengdu. It has more stations than any other metro line in China, with 54 stations currently. It opened in December 2020.
- Line 7 (sky blue): A loop line running around downtown Chengdu, with 31 stations over 39 km. It opened in December 2017 and connects to all other central lines as well as the North, South, and East railway stations.
- Line 8 (chartreuse): A northeast–southwest line connecting the Wangjiang and Jiang'an campuses of Sichuan University. Phase 1 opened in December 2020, and Phase 2 opened in December 2024.
- Line 9 (bright orange): Planned as the system's second circle line when fully completed. It is the first driverless metro line in Mid/West China. Phase 1 opened in December 2020 and serves Chengdu West Railway Station.
- Line 10 (blue): Serves Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, running south–southwest from Xinping to Taipingyuan. It opened in September 2017 and was the first line in the system to use higher-capacity Type A trains. It connects to Lines 3 and 7 at Taipingyuan station.
- Line 13: A metro line in Central Chengdu that started operation in December 2025.
- Line 17 (pale green): A metro line in Central Chengdu running west–northwest from Jitouqiao to Jinxing. Phase 1 opened in December 2020. It uses a special variant of Type A trains with 25 kV AC overhead power.
- Line 18 (teal): The first express metro line in the city, running south–southeast from South Railway Station to Tianfu International Airport North Station. Phase 1 opened in September 2020, and Phase 2 opened in December 2020. It is the third longest metro line in China. Like Line 17, it uses a special variant of Type A trains with 25 kV AC overhead power.
- Line 19 (light purple): An express metro line connecting Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport. It partly shares track with Line 18 between Tianfu Station and Tianfu Airport North. It began operation in September 2023.
- Line 27 (light blue): Connects several northern regions of the city. It is the city's second metro line to use driverless trains.
Light rail
- Line T2 (tram): The system's light rail line, covering 39.3 km with 36 stops.
Bus system
Chengdu has an extensive bus system with routes served by both regular and air-conditioned buses. Fares are ¥1 for non-air-conditioned buses (now rare) and ¥2 for air-conditioned buses, payable in exact change to a metal box next to the driver. You typically board via the front door and alight via the rear door; articulated buses allow entry at front or rear, with the middle door for alighting only. The bus network is displayed on city maps but uses Chinese characters only. Online route planning tools such as Amap (高德地图) with the "bus" filter are helpful for visitors.
Tickets & fares
Ticket types and pricing
Single-trip metro tickets are distance-based. As of October 2024, approximate fares (in Chinese Yuan) are:
- 0–4 km: ¥2
- 4–8 km: ¥3
- 8–12 km: ¥4
- 12–18 km: ¥5
- 18–24 km: ¥6
- 24–32 km: ¥7
- 32–40 km: ¥8
- 40–50 km: ¥9
- Over 50 km: ¥10
These fares are approximate and subject to change. A typical journey to the city center from Shuangliu Airport costs ¥11.
Payment methods and cards
You can purchase single tickets from self-service vending machines (with English interface available) or from ticket booths. Machines accept cash, WeChat Pay, and Alipay (including international credit cards). You may also use the Chengdu Metro app to scan a QR code at the gate for mobile payment via Alipay or WeChat.
The Tian Fu Tong Card (Chengdu Transportation Smart Card) is a contactless reusable card available in card or panda keyring form. It offers a 10% discount on all metro journeys compared to single tickets. The card can be purchased and topped up at ticket booths or machines.
Special fares and concessions
Children under 1.3 meters (4 feet) tall travel free on all metro lines.
From the airport
Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of the city center. It is served by two metro options:
- Line 10 runs from separate stations at Terminals 1 and 2 of Shuangliu Airport to Taipingyuan station, where you can transfer to Lines 3 and 7 to reach other parts of the city. This is the most direct metro option.
- Line 19 connects Shuangliu Airport to Tianfu International Airport.
You can buy single-ride metro tickets from machines at the station immediately before the ticket gate; machines accept WeChat and Alipay with foreign cards, and the interface can be switched to English.
Alternative ground transportation includes airport shuttle buses costing ¥10–15, which operate all day with less frequent service in the middle of the night. Taxis are also available; the fare to the city center averages ¥45 with no extra charge for luggage or additional passengers. An additional ¥10 toll should be added when traveling from the city to the airport.
Tianfu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is located 53 km (33 mi) southeast of the city center and is Chengdu's newer airport, increasingly handling international flights. It is served by:
- Line 18 runs from Tianfu International Airport North Station to South Railway Station, where you can transfer to Lines 1 and 7 to reach other parts of the city.
- Line 19 connects Tianfu Airport to Shuangliu International Airport, allowing connections to Line 10.
A single ticket from Tianfu Airport to the center (such as Tianfu Square) costs approximately ¥11. Airport shuttle buses operate at ¥40, with the main line starting near Chunxilu metro station at Chengdu IFS. Taxis are available, though they are less commonly used for this longer airport distance.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing: Queue in an orderly fashion when waiting to board. There are typically marked queuing areas at station platforms.
- Escalators: Local custom for which side to stand on escalators is not specified in available sources; observe other passengers when you arrive.
- Bags and security: Place all bags through X-ray screening machines at station entrances. Prohibited items include knives and lighters.
- Ticket handling: Keep your ticket safe during your journey, as you will need it to exit the system. On entry, flash your ticket at the reader on the right side of the gate. On exit, insert your ticket into a slot on the right side of the gate; the machine will retain it.
- Priority seating: Observe posted designations for priority seating areas.
- Eating and drinking: Specific rules about eating and drinking on metro vehicles are not detailed in available sources; avoid loud consumption and be aware of local customs observed by other passengers.
- Rush-hour behavior: During peak hours, expect crowded trains. Board and alight efficiently and move to the center of cars to allow others space.
Survival terms
- Metro / Subway: 地铁 (dìtiě)
- Ticket: 票 (piào) or 车票 (chēpiào)
- Line: 线 (xiàn) or 地铁线 (dìtiě xiàn)
- Entrance: 入口 (rùkǒu)
- Exit: 出口 (chūkǒu)
- Transfer: 换乘 (huànchéng)
- Single fare: 单程票 (dānchéng piào)
- Day pass: 一日券 (yī rì quàn) or 日票 (rì piào)
Download the Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps app before you travel underground, take screenshots of your planned route since there is no underground mobile signal, and always check the exit number for your destination before exiting the train.