Changsha airport to the city centre: metro, maglev or taxi
The metro is the default. Line 6 begins in the basement of Huanghua airport's T1/T2, and for about ¥6 and roughly 50 minutes you reach Wuyi Square, changing to Line 2 at Renmin Donglu.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 6, then Line 2 | About ¥6 to Wuyi Square; ¥8 is the full end-to-end fare on the line | About 50 minutes | Almost everyone, until the last train |
| Maglev, then metro | ¥20 maglev, plus the metro fare from Changsha South | Around 20 minutes airport to Changsha South | Connecting to a high-speed train |
| Airport bus | ¥16.5 to the railway-station area; ¥21.5 to Changsha South and the South Bus Station | About 40 minutes to the railway-station area | Arrivals after the metro stops; heavy bags |
| Taxi | Metered; roughly ¥60–110 to the centre, with ¥90 commonly quoted including tolls | 30–50 minutes | Groups of three or four |
Every Changsha metro line runs from 6:30 to 23:00, and the last train leaves the airport station at 23:00. The maglev's last departure from the airport is 22:30, extended to 23:00 on weekends, public holidays and the day before a holiday.
Metro Line 6, step by step
- Follow the metro signs down to the station in the basement of T1/T2. Signage and announcements are in English as well as Chinese.
- Buy a single-journey ticket from a machine or the counter. They take RMB cash, WeChat Pay, Alipay and bank cards; Alipay's Transport mini-program also issues a QR code you scan at the gates.
- Ride six stops to Renmin Donglu, change to Line 2, and continue to Wuyi Square. Budget 50 minutes and about ¥6.
The maglev is for Changsha South, not the centre
The ¥20 maglev covers the airport to Changsha South Railway Station in roughly 20 minutes, which is why it only helps if you are continuing by high-speed rail. The station sits between T1 and T2 beside the control tower, reached through the transfer passage at Entry 1 on the T2 departures floor. From Changsha South, Metro Line 2 takes you into town.
If you are continuing by high-speed rail, book that leg before you fly.
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Book trains and flights on Trip.com, and compare the main booking sites before you pay, so you leave enough time between landing and departure.
Buses and taxis, especially after 23:00
Airport buses leave from 12 stands outside the T2 arrivals hall, with tickets sold at the counter inside Gate 5 of that hall. The service to the Minhang Hotel beside Changsha Railway Station costs ¥16.5, takes about 40 minutes and runs until the last flight of the day arrives.
Taxis are metered: ¥8 to start in the daytime, then ¥2 per kilometre to 13 km and ¥3 per kilometre beyond. From 22:00 to 05:30 the start is ¥10 and the rates are ¥2.4 and ¥3.6 per kilometre. Rush hour pushes the total up, because the meter runs on time as well as distance. Have your hotel's name and address written in Chinese before you get in.
Last checked: 2026-10-04
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