In short
Every cruise taxi in Chengdu’s central urban area — the five central districts plus the High-Tech Zone, Shuangliu, Longquanyi, Wenjiang, Pidu, Xindu, Qingbaijiang, Tianfu New Area and Eastern New Area — uses one unified tariff, set out in the Implementation Plan for the Regional Integration Reform of Cruise Taxis in Chengdu’s Central Urban Area (Chengjiaofa [2019] No. 37) and in force since 00:00 on 15 October 2019. The key points: the flag fall depends on the car, at ¥8 for the first 2 km in a tier-three car worth up to RMB 140,000 (a Jetta, Elysee or Santana, say) and ¥9 in a tier-two car worth RMB 140,000 to 250,000, which in practice means most new-energy vehicles, with no tier-one cars operating in Chengdu; the per-kilometre rate is a flat ¥1.9 for every type; at night, from 23:00 to 06:00, that per-kilometre rate rises by ¥0.3 and the flag fall by ¥1; once a one-way trip passes 10 km the portion between 10 and 60 km carries a 50% empty-return surcharge, which is ¥2.85 per km, with nothing added beyond 60 km or on return trips; waiting costs the equivalent of 1 km for every 5 minutes, and the same rate applies whenever the car drops below 12 km/h, so time and distance are billed together; road and bridge tolls during the trip are paid by the passenger; and the meter rounds to whole yuan under a 4-down, 6-up, 5-to-odd rule, ticking every 500 m. Taxis queue about 50 m south of Exit 6 on the T1 arrivals level and at the pedestrian crossing on the T2 arrivals level. Always ask for the meter and take a receipt. The ¥60–90 to the city centre and ¥60–80 to Chengdu East quoted on this page are third-party travel-site reference ranges, not official prices.
- Flag fall, tier-three car
- ¥8 for the first 2 km
- Flag fall, new-energy car
- ¥9 for the first 2 km
- Per-kilometre rate
- ¥1.9 per km
- Night surcharge
- 23:00–06:00: +¥0.3 per km, +¥1 flag fall
- Empty-return surcharge
- Past 10 km: ¥2.85 per km for the 10–60 km portion
- Waiting charge
- 1 km of fare per 5 minutes waiting
- Taxi rank, T1
- About 50 m south of Exit 6, arrivals level
- Taxi rank, T2
- At the pedestrian crossing, arrivals level
- Road and bridge tolls
- Paid by the passenger on top of the meter
- Complaints lines
- 12328 transport hotline; airport 028-85205678 and 028-85205432
How to take each option
How to get a taxi
Fare Metered
- After baggage claim follow the taxi signs out through the arrivals exit, and ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal.
- Join the queue at the official rank: about 50 m south of Exit 6 on the T1 arrivals level, and at the pedestrian crossing on the T2 arrivals level.
- Before getting in, show the driver the Chinese name and address of your destination and say you want the meter.
- On arrival pay the metered amount plus the airport expressway toll, and ask for a receipt.
Only board at the official rank and take the next car in the queue. The receipt carries the plate number and the complaints lines: 12328 for the transport regulator, or 028-85205678 and 028-85205432 for the airport. Chengdu drivers are prohibited from negotiating a fare or adding anything beyond the statutory empty-return surcharge.
How the fare adds up
- Flag fall: ¥8 for the first 2 km in a standard car, ¥9 in a new-energy car.
- Then ¥1.9 for each further kilometre, with the meter ticking every 500 m.
- Once a one-way trip passes 10 km, the 10–60 km portion carries a 50% empty-return surcharge of ¥2.85 per km; nothing is added beyond 60 km.
- In jams or at red lights: 1 km of fare for every 5 minutes of waiting, and the same rate applies whenever the car drops below 12 km/h, so time and distance are charged together.
- Finally add the airport expressway toll, which the passenger pays on top of the meter, with the total rounded to whole yuan under the 4-down, 6-up, 5-to-odd rule.
Worked example — a hypothetical 20 km daytime trip in light traffic: ¥8 covers the first 2 km, the next 8 km come to ¥15.2 at ¥1.9 per km, and the final 10 km to ¥28.5 at the ¥2.85 empty-return rate, giving roughly ¥52 on the meter before the airport expressway toll and any waiting time. That is why third-party sites quote ¥60–90 rather than a figure in the tens.
Using a ride-hailing app
- Before ordering in the app, confirm the pickup point: ride-hailing uses designated car parks separate from the taxi rank.
- Follow the ride-hailing signs in the arrivals hall: the T1 car park lies due east of the T1 car park with 160 spaces, and the T2 one south-west of the T2 car park with 588.
- Check the plate and driver details before getting in. Never flag a car down at the departures kerb or the arrivals exit, and ignore touts offering unlicensed rides.
The app shows the price up front, which is more predictable than the queue late at night or on a long run, though at peak times you may still wait for a car to reach the airport.
Late at night
- The metro finishes early: the last Line 10 train towards the city leaves Terminal 2 at 23:12 and Terminal 1 at 23:15, Line 30 stops at 23:10 and Line 19 towards Jinxing runs at 00:16, while the railway station closes at 22:50.
- From 23:00 to 06:00 the night tariff applies: ¥1 more on the flag fall and ¥0.3 more per kilometre.
- If you have time, night express route 1 to Chunxi Road is an option at ¥2, running until 04:30 every 40 to 70 minutes.
Taxis and ride-hailing run around the clock. One note for overseas travellers: no official source confirms that airport taxis accept foreign bank cards directly, so carry some cash or link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
Taxis and ride-hailing cars run around the clock, with the night tariff from 23:00 to 06:00 adding ¥1 to the flag fall and ¥0.3 to every kilometre. On public transport: the railway station closes at 22:50, the last Line 10 train towards the city leaves Terminal 2 at 23:12 and Terminal 1 at 23:15, Line 30 finishes at 23:10 and the last Line 19 towards Jinxing runs at 00:16. Later than that only night express route 1 to Chunxi Road remains (¥2, until 04:30, every 40 to 70 minutes), plus Tianfu Airport night line 5 (¥25, 00:00 to 05:00, for airport transfers only).
Questions travellers ask
How much is a taxi from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to the city centre?
No official airport-to-city fare is published. On the published tariff — ¥8 for the first 2 km, then ¥1.9 per km, with the 10–60 km portion at ¥2.85 per km and tolls on top — a hypothetical 20 km daytime trip meters at roughly ¥52 before the expressway toll and any waiting time. Third-party travel sites quote ¥60–90 and about 30–45 minutes, labelled here as a reference range rather than an official price.
What is the Chengdu taxi flag drop?
There are two tiers: ¥8 for the first 2 km in a tier-three car worth up to RMB 140,000, such as a Jetta, Elysee or Santana, and ¥9 for the first 2 km in a tier-two car worth RMB 140,000 to 250,000, which in practice means most new-energy vehicles. The per-kilometre rate is a flat ¥1.9 for both.
Is there a night surcharge on Chengdu taxis?
Yes. From 23:00 to 06:00 the per-kilometre rate rises by ¥0.3 and the flag fall by ¥1.
What is the empty-return surcharge?
It covers the cost of driving back empty. Once a one-way trip passes 10 km, the portion between 10 and 60 km carries a 50% surcharge, which is ¥2.85 per km, with nothing added beyond 60 km or on return trips. Long rides, such as the run to Tianfu Airport, step up noticeably as a result.
Does sitting in traffic cost extra?
Yes. Waiting costs the equivalent of 1 km for every 5 minutes, and the same rate applies whenever the car drops below 12 km/h, so time and distance are billed together and jams and long red lights do show up on the meter.
Who pays the expressway toll?
The passenger, on top of the metered fare. City-bound trips normally use the airport expressway, so expect a toll almost every time.
Where do I find a taxi at the airport?
About 50 m south of Exit 6 on the T1 arrivals level, and at the pedestrian crossing on the T2 arrivals level. Follow the taxi signs and queue at the official rank.
Where does ride-hailing pick up?
At the designated ride-hailing car parks: due east of the T1 car park with 160 spaces, and south-west of the T2 car park with 588. Follow the signs in the arrivals hall and never flag a car down at the departures kerb or arrivals exit.
Can I pay a Chengdu taxi by card or QR code?
Chengdu taxis generally accept cash as well as mobile payment through WeChat Pay and Alipay. The airport website publishes nothing specifically on taxi payment, and no official source confirms that foreign bank cards are accepted directly, so overseas travellers should carry cash or set up an international card in advance.
Should I insist on the meter, and do I tip?
Always insist on the meter and take a receipt. There is no tipping — just pay the metered total. Chengdu drivers are prohibited from negotiating a price or adding anything beyond the statutory empty-return surcharge.
Can I still get a taxi at 3 a.m.?
Yes — taxis and ride-hailing run 24 hours. By then the metro has stopped (Line 10 at 23:12 and 23:15, Line 19 towards Jinxing at 00:16, Line 30 at 23:10) and the railway station closed at 22:50, leaving only night route 1 until 04:30. At 3 a.m. the night tariff applies.
What if the driver takes a long route or overcharges?
Take the receipt, which shows the plate number and the complaints lines, then call 12328 for the transport regulator or 028-85205678 and 028-85205432 for the airport.