Tianfu Terminal 1 or Terminal 2: Which One You Need
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport has two passenger terminals facing each other across the Ground Transportation Centre. Which one you use depends on whether the flight is international or domestic, and it changes how much the in-terminal capsule hotel is worth.
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
Terminal 1 handles international flights, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Departures check-in is on the upper levels; arrivals, immigration and baggage claim are below.
Terminal 2 handles domestic flights. Take A Nap Hotel is landside in this building, near arrivals exit B2. Overnight rest zones are also published here (L2 arrivals hall landside; gates 216 and 232 airside).
Airlines switch terminals more often than guides update, so the boarding pass wins.
The APM and the Ground Transportation Centre
The free APM under the complex is the fast link: about two minutes, frequent. A free shuttle bus is the backup. Walking between terminals is about 500 metres.
Metro Line 18 and Line 19, Tianfu Airport Station (high-speed rail), airport buses and taxis are in the Ground Transportation Centre between the terminals, not inside one departure hall. From Joyhub you walk into that Ground Transportation Centre rather than taking a hotel bus.
Which hotel belongs with which terminal
Between T1 and T2: Tianfu Joyhub Air Hotel at No. 1 Yunyue Road and Tianfu Joyhub Cheer Hotel at No. 2 Yunyue Road. The airport describes the complex as connected to both terminals and the Ground Transportation Centre.
Inside T2: Take A Nap Hotel. Fine for a domestic arrival or departure; for T1 you add the APM.
Neither, by road: Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Tianfu Airport Zone, Ibis Chengdu Tianfu Airport, Vienna Hotel Chengdu Tianfu Airport Wanhui Center and Hanting Hotel Chengdu Tianfu Airport are at Wanhui Center near Jianyang South. IHG publishes shuttle pick-ups at T1 Exit 12 and T2 Exit 21 on the departure floor.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get between Tianfu Terminal 1 and Terminal 2?
A free automated people mover (APM) links the terminals in about two minutes. A free shuttle bus also runs, typically every 10 to 15 minutes. You can walk between the buildings (about 500 metres) if you prefer. The Ground Transportation Centre is between them for metro, rail, buses and taxis.
Which terminal is international?
Terminal 1 is mainly international, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Terminal 2 is mainly domestic. Airlines do move flights, so treat your boarding pass as the authority, not this page.
Does it matter which terminal my hotel is at?
Less than you would think, because Joyhub Air and Joyhub Cheer stand between the two terminals. It matters for Take A Nap Hotel, which is inside Terminal 2, and for a very tight connection when you would rather not ride the APM with children.
Information last verified: August 13, 2026