Kunming Changshui Airport to Kunming: train, bus or taxi
昆明长水国际机场
Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) is about 25 km northeast of the center. Here are the airport train, metro, buses, taxis and Didi into the city, with fares, hours and how to pay with a foreign card.
Short answer: Take Metro Line 6 from under the terminal to Tangzixiang and change to Line 2, or take a taxi.
Terminals: One terminal (T1) with the S1 satellite concourse; a second terminal is under construction. International and domestic flights share T1.
Ways into Kunming
Metro Line 6 地铁6号线
| Route | Airport Center (B1) to East Coach Station (Line 3), Juhua (Line 4) and Tangzixiang (Line 2) |
|---|---|
| Time | about 30-40 minutes to Tangzixiang |
| Price | about ¥5-7 into town |
| Hours | about 6:20 am to 10:20 pm from the airport |
| Paying | Scan an Alipay or WeChat transit code, or buy a ticket at the machine (cash). |
In summer 2026 extra night express trains ran until midnight; check whether they run when you travel.
Airport buses 机场大巴
| Route | Lines to Kunming Railway Station, Kunming South Railway Station and other districts |
|---|---|
| Time | about 40-70 minutes |
| Price | about ¥25 |
| Hours | some lines run late at night after the metro stops |
| Paying | Buy at the counter in the Ground Transportation Center on B1 (cash or Alipay/WeChat). |
Taxi 出租车
| Route | Metered ride to the center |
|---|---|
| Time | about 30-50 minutes |
| Price | about ¥80-120 including the expressway toll, more late at night |
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Paying | Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash. |
DiDi 滴滴
| Route | Follow the 网约车 signs to the ride-hailing pickup area |
|---|---|
| Time | about 30-50 minutes |
| Price | about ¥70-110 |
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Paying | In the DiDi app or the DiDi mini program in Alipay, with a linked foreign card. |
Tips for KMG
- Landing after about 10 pm? The last metro may be gone, so take an airport bus or a taxi.
- Bags are X-rayed before you enter the metro.
- Kunming sits at about 1,900 m; take it easy on your first day.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro and buses in Kunming
- An address card for the taxi driver, with your hotel in Chinese
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, m.gmw.cn, wanderinchina.com, www.csair.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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