Chengdu Metro Map, Lines and Tourist Guide (2026)

Chengdu’s metro map is large, but a tourist does not need to memorize it. Most trips reduce to four jobs: reach the hotel, connect an airport, get close to a sight, and leave through the correct exit. Use the colored line number and next station to make each decision one step at a time.

Main sights and the stations that actually help

Area or sight	Useful station or line	Last-mile reality
Tianfu Square	Lines 1 and 2	Central interchange and orientation point
Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li	Lines 2 and 3	Large commercial area; choose the exit carefully
Kuanzhai Alley	Line 4, Kuanzhaixiangzi	Short signed walk
Wenshu Monastery	Line 1, Wenshu Monastery	Walkable from the station
Chengdu East Railway Station	Lines 2 and 7	Allow time for railway security
Panda Base	Line 3 to Panda Avenue, then bus/taxi	The metro does not end at the entrance
Tianfu Airport	Lines 18 and 19	Confirm terminal and service pattern
Shuangliu Airport	Line 10	Two terminal stations

Pay with an international bank card or Alipay

Chengdu launched bank-card entry across its metro and tram network in July 2025. Eligible overseas Visa, Mastercard and American Express contactless cards were included at launch. In June 2026, the system added Diners Club and Discover.

Use the same physical card or the same phone token to enter and exit. One card is for one passenger. Make sure contactless and small-value payments are enabled and that the account has sufficient funds or credit.

Other ways to buy a ride

Single-journey tickets and day passes remain useful fallbacks. Ticket machines and service centers can help when a bank declines a tap. Alipay’s Transport section can issue a Chengdu metro QR code after account and identity checks.

For a first ride straight after a flight, try the card already in your wallet. Do not spend 20 minutes troubleshooting a QR code beside the gate when staff can sell a ticket.

Fares, single tickets and day passes

Chengdu Metro uses distance-based basic fares. The normal starting fare is RMB 2, then increases as the journey gets longer. Airport trips cost more than a short central ride because of distance.

Contactless bank cards are charged according to the same basic metro fare rules. A separate card foreign-transaction fee may still be applied by your bank, so a “RMB 2 ride” can appear as a slightly different home-currency amount.

If you expect several rides in one day, ask the station service centre about the current unlimited-ride day-ticket options. A day pass is about convenience, not automatically the lowest price: compare it with the number and length of journeys you will actually make.

Tianfu Airport: Line 18 or Line 19

Tianfu International Airport is far southeast of central Chengdu. Line 18 connects the airport with South Railway Station and major southern business areas. Line 19 provides another airport connection and can be useful for western or Shuangliu-side routes.

Do not board based only on the word “airport.” Check the line, direction, stopping pattern and your hotel’s nearest interchange. Sichuan’s official airport guide gives a fastest Line 18 journey of about 37 minutes from South Railway Station to Tianfu Airport; ordinary services can take longer.

Shuangliu Airport: use Line 10

Shuangliu has separate metro stations for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Confirm the terminal on the airline booking before leaving the train. If connecting to the national rail network at Shuangliu Airport Railway Station, follow the rail signs rather than assuming the airport exit is the same route.

Line 10 links into the central network, but many hotels require a transfer. Add ten minutes for an unfamiliar interchange and more with luggage.

Getting to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Take Line 3 toward Panda Avenue, then use the signed shuttle/bus or a taxi/ride-hailing car for the last section. The station is not the panda entrance. Arrive early because pandas are generally more active in the morning and the visitor flow grows quickly.

Chengdu has installed smart luggage storage at Panda Avenue station, according to a June 2026 report citing Chengdu Rail Transit Group. Check the current availability and opening hours before depending on it.

Reading the platform direction

At the concourse, find your line color and number. Then compare the next station on your route with the next station shown on the platform sign. This is more reliable than trying to remember the terminal station of a long line.

Trains and stations use Chinese and English announcements. More than 400 stations have multilingual translation devices, according to Chengdu Rail Transit Group.

Transfers and railway stations

Chengdu East is the main high-speed rail station for many visitors. South Railway Station is both a rail station and an important airport-metro interchange. Chengdu West serves other routes. These are different places.

For a train departure, aim to reach the railway building at least 45–60 minutes early. Metro arrival time is not boarding time: you still need to navigate the concourse, pass security and find the waiting area.

Security, luggage and rush hour

Bags pass through security at metro entrances. Keep liquids accessible in case staff ask to inspect them. Large wheeled luggage is common on airport routes, but it becomes difficult during weekday peaks.

Avoid blocking doors and leave space around escalators. If you have a large suitcase, look for an elevator icon rather than carrying it onto a busy escalator.

Last trains, exits and missed connections

Operating hours differ by station, line, direction and service pattern. Airport express and ordinary trains can also have different stops. Check the official Chengdu Metro app, station display or service desk on the travel date.

Keep DiDi or a legal taxi as the late-night backup. Tianfu Airport is far enough from the center that a missed final train becomes a substantial car ride.

If the gate rejects your card

Confirm you are using a contactless card supported by the system.
Hold it still for one clean attempt.
If already inside, use exactly the same card or device at exit.
Check for an issuer fraud alert.
Ask station staff to inspect the journey record.
Buy a single ticket for the next ride.

The Chengdu Metro service hotline is 028-61638000. Save the number, but the staffed service counter is usually faster for a gate problem.

Common Chengdu Metro route questions

How do I get from Tianfu Airport to central Chengdu by metro?

Take Line 18 from Terminal 1&2 of Tianfu International Airport toward South Railway Station. South Railway Station connects with Lines 1 and 7, so it is the most useful interchange for many central hotels. Check whether you are boarding an ordinary, express or short-working service before the train departs.

How do I get from Tianfu Airport to Chunxi Road?

A simple route is Line 18 to South Railway Station, Line 1 north to Tianfu Square, then Line 2 one stop east to Chunxi Road. Allow extra time for the two interchanges, escalators and luggage checks. A route planner may offer another combination depending on the exact hotel entrance.

How do I get from Shuangliu Airport to Chunxi Road?

Use Line 10 from the correct terminal station to Taipingyuan, then transfer to Line 3 toward the city centre and leave at Chunxi Road. Shuangliu Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have separate Line 10 stations, so check the terminal before boarding.

Is Chengdu East Railway Station connected to Chunxi Road by metro?

Yes. Line 2 connects Chengdu East Railway Station and Chunxi Road without a line change. For the railway departure, still add time for the walk from the metro platform to the national-rail security and waiting areas.

How do I get from Chengdu East Railway Station to the Panda Base?

Take Line 7 from Chengdu East Railway Station to Simaqiao, transfer to Line 3 toward Chengdu Medical College, and leave at Panda Avenue. Panda Avenue station is not the attraction entrance; finish by the signed shuttle, bus or a taxi/ride-hailing car.

How far is Panda Avenue station from the Panda Base?

It is a last-mile connection rather than a walk-across-the-road station. Follow the current shuttle signs or use a car for the final section. Build that transfer into your arrival time, especially if you want to see the pandas during the more active morning period.

Can foreign visitors tap a bank card on Chengdu Metro?

Supported contactless overseas cards can be used at the gates, but the card must be enabled for contactless and overseas payments. Use the same physical card, phone or watch token at entry and exit. Keep a single ticket or the Alipay transport QR code as the fallback.

Is a Chengdu Metro day pass worth buying?

It can be convenient on a sightseeing-heavy day, but it is not automatically cheaper than distance-based fares. Count the rides you expect to make and ask the station service centre which unlimited-ride product is currently available before buying.

Official sources checked

Chengdu Rail Transit: official network map — the map used in the page preview.
Chengdu Rail Transit: official trip query — current line and station order.
Chengdu Rail Transit: official first/last trains — direction-specific timetable data used by the line browser.
Xinhua: Chengdu metro supports overseas bank cards — the report says passengers can use supported cards “at all metro stations and tram stops.”
Chengdu service update adding Diners and Discover — June 9, 2026.
Sichuan transport authority: Tianfu Airport ground transport

Chengdu Metro map, every line and the stations tourists need

Chengdu Metro full network map

Choose a line, then see every station