成都天府国际机场 — Local services in Chengdu

A big and spacious airport, that is clean and bright. In terms of amenities and facilities, better than Baiyun airport of Guangzhou which we just visited 3 months ago.

But other than that, there's nothing worth commendable as there are lots of "flaws" which I will briefly highlight.

First, upon disembarkation from the airport, the airport staff would indicate travellers to the many auto machines at the arrival hall to "scan" your fingers (which many machines did not operate well and had problems). (step 1)

Then we were directed to go to another area to use another machine to declare your health status (need to scan passport and key in the details). (step 2)

Afterwhich, you will need to go a counter to fill-in the entry card (step 3) and then queue to pass immigration.

The stupid thing is that even if you have done step 1, you will still need to scan your fingers again here (regardless if it was successful or not at the machine)! This is so stupid, waste of time and effort. And the staff did not even bother to look at the sticker that you collected from step 2!

Then passing immigration was absurd. Some of us passed through quite easily, others not so even with the same staff. One of my friends was asked to show the flight and hotel bookings which he showed via phone but the staff requested hardcopy. Luckily we standby hardcopies and upon handing, he just threw it aside and did not bother to take even a glance at it. Probably he could not understand as it's all in English?

On our return trip, one of our checked-in luggages was found to contain "sharp items" and the staff requested to open and checked. So we opened and took out everything and found nothing. But they insisted there were, then found out that it was the small dress sewing kit (with 2 small needles of 3cm) that triggered the matter. Then they told us these need not checked in and could be handcarried???

This process was totally different in Guangzhou airport. We did not encounter such issue despite the same sewing kit was placed in the checked in luggage.

All I knew was any metal items need to be checked in and could not carry on hand. When in Hong Kong, my mum's nail clipper and hairpin was confiscated as she placed it in her handbag.

So they have double standards and the staff attitude was bad, imagine I was able to converse well in mandarin and for those who could not, they may be further "made more difficult" in the process.

And also needed to have full body scan for 2 times and take out all the things in the bags for scanning (in Guangzhou or HK, they did not do that).

Very bad attitude and unreasonable and they thought we were at their mercies and disposal.

There were other "stupid and unreasonable and no-sense" things they did that wasted unnecessary time and giving people inconvenience or have to walk longer which I will not mention here.

Although the trip to Chengdu was overall nice, will not fly into that damned...

The new Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, while technically situated in another city, is a significant addition to China’s modern aviation infrastructure. Located approximately 60 kilometers from Chengdu city center, it requires about an hour’s drive to reach. Despite the distance, the airport impresses with its strikingly beautiful and stylish design, setting a high standard for contemporary airports.

One notable feature is the state-of-the-art restroom system, which indicates occupancy status directly on the doors, enhancing convenience and efficiency for travelers. This thoughtful touch is part of the airport’s overall emphasis on user-friendly facilities.

A unique aspect of Terminal 1 is its singular airport lounge, which serves all airlines operating from this terminal. This is unusual, as most airports typically feature lounges managed by individual airlines or private operators. While the shared lounge setup might raise eyebrows, it reflects a streamlined approach that could suit travelers with access privileges across multiple carriers.

Shopping options within the terminal, however, are somewhat limited. The central retail area primarily focuses on tobacco and cosmetics, catering to specific duty-free needs. Beyond this central hub, only a few scattered shops can be found in other parts of the terminal, leaving retail enthusiasts with fewer choices compared to larger international airports.

Overall, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport stands out for its modern design and innovative facilities, but its remote location and limited shopping options may be factors for travelers to consider when planning...

Decent airport, long walk to immigration & random swab check ✈️

Decided last minute to fly from Singapore to Chengdu via Singapore Airlines and landed at Tianfu International Airport. The airport is pretty huge and decent, not the most modern I’ve seen but still clean and functional. The walk to immigration took me about 12 minutes — maybe just bad luck since our flight was parked really far from the main area, but imagine if it was closer, that’d have been so much better.

It also felt quite warm inside, though maybe it was just the weather that day. You’ll need to fill up an arrival card before immigration, so have your passport, flight, and lodging details ready to make things smoother.

The toilets are alright, not as spotless as what I’m used to in Singapore, but there are plenty along the way which helps.

I did get randomly pulled into a room for a swab test authorisation, which was quite strange. The staff said it was a random check, but honestly, I wondered what would happen if someone didn’t consent. I went along with it anyway — weird, but okay.

Other than that, luggage came out quickly, signs were clear, and there’s a good range of food and coffee options (including Starbucks) once you’re out. The only tough part was getting a car, since it’s usually crowded outside.

Overall, a decent airport — clean, efficient, and organised enough. Just expect a bit of walking and the occasional...