In short
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) sits about 40 km south of the city centre and has no railway station of its own, so the main way in is Metro Line S1, the Airport line. Its station sits under the transport centre between Terminals 1 and 2, on Level B2, and trains run straight through to Nanjing South Railway Station in about 35 minutes for ¥7. The first train leaves at 06:00 and the last at 23:02, roughly every 10 minutes, and at Nanjing South you change to Line 1 or Line 3 for Xinjiekou and the Confucius Temple area. On weekdays there are also limited-stop trains that call at only four stations, which save a few minutes. Once the metro stops, Airport Bus Line 1 keeps running until the last flight of the day and costs ¥25 to Nanjing Railway Station East Plaza. A taxi to Xinjiekou takes about 50 minutes; Nanjing publishes a metered tariff but no official airport-to-city reference fare.
- Airport → Nanjing South
- About 35 min on Metro Line S1
- Fare
- ¥7
- First / last train
- 06:00 / 23:02
- How often
- About every 10 min
- Distance to the centre
- About 40 km
- Where the metro is
- Between T1 and T2, Level B2
How to take each option
Metro Line S1 (Airport line)
Time About 35 minFare ¥7First 06:00Last 23:02
- After baggage claim, follow the metro signs towards the transport centre between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; the station entrance is on Level B2.
- Buy a single-journey token from the machines in the hall, which have an English interface, or ask at the service window.
- Board a train towards Nanjing South Railway Station; do not take the trains heading for Konggang Xincheng Jiangning, which run away from the city.
- Ride about 35 minutes and get off at Nanjing South, then change to Metro Line 1 or Line 3 for the rest of the way into town.
On weekdays Line S1 also runs limited-stop trains calling at only four stations, roughly between 07:27 and 18:54 — if one is at the platform, take it. Line S1 through-runs with Line 6, so check the destination panel before you board.
Airport Bus Line 1 (railway station line)
Fare ¥25First 08:00Last Last flight
- Walk out of the arrivals hall and find the designated coach stop outside the terminal, where Line 1 departs.
- Buy a ticket at the counter, naming the stop where you want to get off; it is ¥25 and you should keep the stub.
- Into the city it calls at Cuipingshan Hotel, Yuhua Square, Qinhong Bridge, Qilijie and Yixianqiao, and terminates at Nanjing Railway Station East Plaza.
After 21:00 Line 1 switches to rolling departures as passengers arrive, with a maximum wait of about 60 minutes, and keeps going until the last flight lands — the only public transport still moving late at night.
Taxi
Fare Metered
- Follow the signs to the taxi rank outside the arrivals level of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 and join the queue at the designated point.
- Show the driver your destination written in Chinese, or on a map, and check that the meter starts at zero.
- Pay what the meter shows and ask for a receipt; road and bridge tolls are paid on top by the passenger.
Nanjing publishes a tariff, not a route price: ¥11 flag drop for the first 3 km in an ordinary cab, then ¥2.4 per km, with a 50% return fee beyond 20 km and a 20% surcharge on the per-km rate between 23:00 and 05:00. Third-party travel sites quote about ¥127–153 to Xinjiekou, which is a reference range rather than an official price.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
The last Metro Line S1 train leaves the airport at 23:02, and published times vary slightly between the operator and the airport, so check the station boards on the day. After that, Airport Bus Line 1 runs until the last flight of the day, rolling after 21:00 with a maximum wait of about 60 minutes. Taxis run 24 hours, with a 20% surcharge on the per-km rate between 23:00 and 05:00.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Nanjing Lukou Airport to the city centre?
The main route is Metro Line S1: about 35 minutes to Nanjing South for ¥7, then Line 1 or Line 3 onwards into the centre. With heavy bags or a late arrival, take Airport Bus Line 1 for ¥25 or a taxi.
How much is the metro from Nanjing airport to the city?
Lukou Airport to Nanjing South is ¥7, charged by distance. The onward leg on Line 1 or Line 3 is charged separately and costs very little.
How long does it take to get from Nanjing airport into the city?
Metro Line S1 takes about 35 minutes to Nanjing South; add the onward ride on Line 1 or Line 3, so the total depends on where you get off. A taxi to Xinjiekou is about 50 minutes, depending on traffic.
What time is the last metro train from Nanjing Lukou Airport?
The last departure from Lukou Airport towards Nanjing South is 23:02 and the first is 06:00. Published versions differ slightly, so leave yourself margin if you are counting on the last train.
Is there a railway station inside Nanjing Lukou Airport?
No. There is no railway station at the airport, so a high-speed train means first getting to Nanjing South by Metro Line S1, or taking Airport Bus Line 2 to the drop-off platform at Nanjing South.
How much is a taxi from Nanjing airport to downtown?
The city publishes a metered tariff and no official airport-to-city fare. Third-party travel sites quote a reference range of about ¥127–153 to Xinjiekou; the real figure is whatever the meter shows and moves with traffic.
Are there buses or trains if I land late at night?
Yes. After the last metro at 23:02, Airport Bus Line 1 keeps running until the last flight of the day; later than that, taxis are available around the clock.
Where is the metro station at Nanjing Lukou Airport?
It is on Level B2 of the transport centre between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, reached on foot from either arrivals hall by following the metro signs, all indoors.
Should I take the metro or a taxi into Nanjing?
By day with manageable bags, take Line S1: 35 minutes and ¥7, immune to traffic. Late at night, in a group of three or four, with a lot of luggage, or staying somewhere off the metro, take a taxi.
How do I reach Xinjiekou or the Confucius Temple area?
Ride Line S1 to Nanjing South, then change to Line 1 or Line 3 northbound; check the platform screens for the terminus and your stop.
Can I catch a high-speed train straight from the airport?
Not directly. You first reach Nanjing South by Metro Line S1 in about 35 minutes for ¥7, or by Airport Bus Line 2 for ¥25. Nanjing South is where the Beijing–Shanghai and Nanjing–Hangzhou high-speed lines call, so Shanghai Hongqiao is easy from there.