The 4 Main Options
High-Speed Rail / Bullet Train
Most major airports in China have a high-speed rail station on-site. Here are a few examples:
| City | Airport | Rail Station |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing Daxing International Airport | Daxing Airport Station |
| Chengdu | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | Tianfu Airport Station |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai Hongqiao Station |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Jiangbei Airport Station |
When the airport is far from the city center, taking a high-speed train is often the best option. Here are two examples:
| From | To | Mode | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daxing Airport | Beijing South Station | DiDi | 55 min | ¥100 |
| Daxing Airport | Beijing South Station | Metro | 51 min | ¥38 |
| Daxing Airport | Beijing West Station | High-Speed Rail | 30 min | ¥17–30 |
| Tianfu Airport | Chengdu East Station | High-Speed Rail | 30 min | ¥20–34 |
| Tianfu Airport | Chengdu South Station | Metro | 50 min | ¥10 |
(Walking time to station entrance not included.)
After arriving at your destination station, you can transfer to the metro to reach other parts of the city. This is also a great way to experience China’s high-speed rail system.
You can buy train tickets on Trip.com. The screenshot below shows the Daxing Airport to Beijing West Station route:
Metro
Most airports have a metro station with direct service to the city center.
| City | Airport | Metro Line |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Capital International Airport | Airport Express Line |
| Daxing International Airport | Daxing Airport Line | |
| Shanghai | Pudong International Airport | Line 2 |
| Hongqiao International Airport | Line 2, Line 10 | |
| Guangzhou | Baiyun International Airport | Line 3 |
| Shenzhen | Bao’an International Airport | Line 11 |
| Chengdu | Shuangliu International Airport | Line 10, Line 19, Line 30 |
| Tianfu International Airport | Line 18, Line 19 | |
| Chongqing | Jiangbei International Airport | Line 3, Line 10 |
| Tianjin | Binhai International Airport | Line 2 |
| Nanjing | Lukou International Airport | Line S1 |
| Hangzhou | Xiaoshan International Airport | Line 1, Line 7, Line 19 |
| Wuhan | Tianhe International Airport | Line 2 |
| Zhengzhou | Xinzheng International Airport | Suburban Line |
| Xi’an | Xianyang International Airport | Line 14 |
| Kunming | Changshui International Airport | Line 6 |
| Changsha | Huanghua International Airport | Line 6 |
| Guiyang | Longdongbao International Airport | Line 2 |
| Dalian | Zhoushuizi International Airport | Line 2 |
| Ningbo | Lishe International Airport | Line 2 |
| Fuzhou | Changle International Airport | Line F1 (Binhai Express) |
| Qingdao | Jiaodong International Airport | Line 8 |
| Jinan | Yaoqiang International Airport | Line 3 |
| Nanchang | Changbei International Airport | Line 1 |
| Urumqi | Diwopu International Airport | Line 1 + Airport Shuttle Line |
Airport Shuttle Bus
Every airport operates shuttle buses to the city center. Ask the information desk staff for details on routes and schedules.
Taxi / Ride-Hailing
Head to the designated taxi queue at the airport to catch a taxi.
You can also use DiDi to book a ride. See How Foreigners Use DiDi in China for the full setup.