Quick answer

Nanjing Lukou International Airport is NKG (南京禄口国际机场) in Jiangning District, roughly 41 km from central Nanjing on airline planning maps. After immigration and baggage, follow 轨道交通 / Metro signs to Lukou Airport (禄口机场站) on Metro S1 (Airport Line). Ride S1 toward Nanjing South (南京南站)—the main transfer hub for Lines 1 and 3 and high-speed rail. Since 06:00 on 29 September 2026, Metro Line 6 through-operates with S1, so on through services you need not change trains at Nanjing South—always read the platform destination screen. Prefer the signed official taxi ranks at T1 and T2 arrivals for late landings or heavy bags (CSAIR notes T2 floor-1 Door 3 for taxis). Airport coaches also leave from T2 arrivals. Confirm last trains and live boards before you skip the taxi queue.

If this happens, do this

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Situation What to do next
You want the metro toward central Nanjing Follow metro signs to Lukou Airport station → ride S1 toward Nanjing South → transfer there to Line 1 or 3 for Xinjiekou / downtown, or stay aboard if the screen shows a Line 6 through train.
Your hotel is near Nanjing South / high-speed rail Exit at Nanjing South (南京南站) and follow station maps to your hotel exit or HSR hall.
You see “Line 6” / “Qixiashan” on the platform screen That can be a through service with S1—you may ride past Nanjing South without changing. Recheck the screen before you board.
You land after useful metro hours Use the official taxi queue at T1/T2 arrivals, or follow 网约车 signs + your app pin.
Your booking only says “Nanjing Airport” Confirm the code NKG and whether you arrive at T1 or T2. Save the hotel’s Chinese name and full address before you leave arrivals.
Someone offers a car inside arrivals Decline. Use the signed official taxi stand or the in-app ride-hail pin.

See also the China Airport to City Guide.

Confirm you are at NKG (Nanjing Lukou)

NKG is Nanjing Lukou International Airport (南京禄口国际机场), south of the city in Jiangning District. China Southern and other airline guides commonly place it about 41 km from the city center—that is a planning distance, not a door-to-door time.

NKG runs dual-terminal operations (T1 and T2). Historic CAAC / airport FAQ notes put the walk between terminals on the departures level 3 corridor at roughly 5–8 minutes with moving walkways. Always confirm T1 vs T2 on your boarding pass and airline app—do not assume which terminal you will use.

Before you leave arrivals:

  1. Confirm the airport code NKG on your boarding pass or bag tag.
  2. Note your terminal (T1 or T2) on live screens and bag-claim signs.
  3. From arrivals, follow signs for 轨道交通 / Metro, 出租车 / Taxi, 机场大巴 / Airport bus, or 网约车 / Ride-hailing. Build walking time into last-train planning.
  4. Save your hotel’s Chinese name, full address, and phone number—see Save your hotel address in Chinese.

Compare the main options

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Option Useful when Check before choosing
Metro S1 (+ Line 6 through-running) Daytime, manageable luggage, hotel near Nanjing South or a Line 1/3/6 stop Platform destination screens; live last trains; QR or ticket ready
Official taxi (signed stand) Late arrival, heavy bags, door-to-door Signed T1/T2 arrivals queue; meter on; Chinese hotel address
Airport bus (T2) Direct coach toward Nanjing Railway Station or west-side stops Live board / counter; Line 1 (east) vs Line 2 (west); board at the signed T2 door
Ride-hailing (app pin) App and payment already work Follow in-app pin and live 网约车 airport signs; ignore curb solicitations

Metro from NKG

The airport metro station is Lukou Airport (禄口机场站) on Metro S1 (Airport Line). The same station also serves S7. China Southern’s NKG guide: from the T2 domestic arrivals exit, turn left about 50 m to the metro entrance. International arrivals should follow 轨道交通 signs after baggage claim—allow extra walking time.

  1. Follow 轨道交通 / Metro signs into Lukou Airport station.
  2. Board S1 toward Nanjing South (南京南站)—or a Line 6 through train if the platform screen shows a city destination beyond Nanjing South (for example toward Qixiashan on through services).
  3. At Nanjing South, transfer to Line 1 or Line 3 for Xinjiekou and many downtown hotels—unless you are already on a through Line 6 / S1 service that continues past Nanjing South without changing.
  4. Exit at the station closest to your hotel. Use station maps and the Chinese hotel address.

We do not invent a frozen yuan fare or door-to-door minute count. Nanjing Metro uses distance-based fares—check the ticket machine or ride-QR app on the day. Traveler guides often cite about CNY 7 to Nanjing South and roughly 35 minutes as a planning band only—recheck machines and boards before you rely on those numbers.

Line 6 through-running with S1 (from 29 Sep 2026)

Official Nanjing Municipal / Nanjing Daily coverage (29 September 2026): from 06:00 on 29 September 2026, Metro Line 6 opened initial operations and through-operates with S1. On through services, passengers need not change trains at Nanjing South.

Published pattern summary from that notice (always recheck live boards):

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Period Typical through pattern
Weekday peak Large route Qixiashan ↔ Konggang Xincheng Jiangning; small route Qixiashan ↔ Lukou Airport
Other weekday periods and weekends Qixiashan ↔ Konggang Xincheng Jiangning only

Line 6 first / last times published with that notice (recheck screens):

  • First trains: 06:00 from Qixiashan and from Nanjing South
  • Last toward Nanjing South: 23:00 from Qixiashan
  • Last toward Qixiashan: 23:38 from Nanjing South

S1 last trains were adjusted with through-ops—we do not invent exact S1 last-train times here. Always read the platform destination screens at Lukou Airport and Nanjing South. Peak periods also have a small number of limited 6 / S1 / S7 through trains (all-stops)—about two per day planned in that municipal coverage; treat them as a bonus if they appear on the screen, not as a schedule you can count on without checking.

Warning: After the last useful city-bound train from Lukou Airport, do not hope for a later metro into Xinjiekou. Plan taxi or ride-hailing instead. For late landings, see Late-night arrival at a China airport.

How to pay for Nanjing Metro

Practical order for visitors:

  1. Alipay or WeChat Pay Nanjing Metro ride QR — If your visitor wallet already works with a linked foreign card, open the ride code and scan at the gate. Use the same phone/account to exit. See Metro QR codes in China.
  2. Ticket machines / customer service — Reliable fallback if QR fails. Machines usually show English; keep small notes or a working e-wallet for top-ups.
  3. Do not assume overseas Visa/Mastercard gate tap-and-go unless you verify a current official Nanjing Metro announcement for your card brand on the day.

See also Take the subway in China.

Official taxi

Official taxi ranks are at T1 and T2 arrivals (signed). China Southern’s NKG page notes T2 floor-1 Door 3 for taxis. Join the signed queue; ignore anyone approaching you inside the hall.

Practical steps:

  1. Exit arrivals and follow 出租车 / Taxi signs to the official rank for your terminal.
  2. Show the driver your hotel’s Chinese name and full address (screenshot works).
  3. Confirm the meter is on. Fare = meter + expressway tolls / surcharges—do not treat airline or traveler yuan figures as a fixed quote.
  4. China Southern cites about CNY 100 toward the city center as an airline planning figure only. Traveler reports often land around CNY 120–150 including expressway toll toward Xinjiekou—label both as planning bands, not guaranteed prices. Night or peak rules can change what you pay.

Decline touts inside arrivals. If the queue looks chaotic, step back, re-find the signed stand, or switch to the licensed ride-hail pin.

Airport buses

China Southern’s NKG airport-service page lists two main coach directions from T2 (confirm the live board or counter on the day—routes and last buses change):

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Line Direction notes Published price (planning) Boarding tip from CSAIR
Line 1 (east) From first arrival to last flight; stops include Cuipingshan Hotel, Yuhua Square, Qinhong Bridge, Xihuamen, Nanjing Railway Station CNY 20 T2 domestic arrivals Door 3
Line 2 (west) Until 23:00; stops include Nanjing South, Zhonghuamen, Shuiximen, Hanzhongmen, Wanda Plaza CNY 20 T2 Door 2

Buy at the counter or as directed on the live board. Keep your bag with you when boarding. If your hotel is far from the listed stops, plan a short metro or taxi hop for the last leg—or take the official taxi from the airport instead.

Online ride-hailing

Licensed ride-hailing works well when your app and payment already function in China. At NKG:

  1. Open your licensed app (for example DiDi) after you have bags and know your Chinese hotel address.
  2. Follow the in-app pickup pin and airport 网约车 signs. We do not invent a specific bay number here—layouts and signed zones change; trust the live pin + airport signs.
  3. If the pin is unclear, the queue is confusing, or payment fails, switch to the official taxi stand.

See How to use DiDi in China.

Before leaving arrivals

  1. Confirm you are at NKG and note T1 vs T2.
  2. Save the hotel’s Chinese name, full address, and phone offline.
  3. Decide metro vs taxi vs bus based on time of day and luggage—not only on price.
  4. For metro: open your ride QR or buy a ticket before you walk deep into the station; read the destination screen for S1 / Line 6 through trains.
  5. For taxi: use only the signed official rank; meter on; expect tolls.
  6. For bus: confirm Line 1 vs Line 2, the T2 door, and the stop nearest your hotel on the live board.
  7. Keep passport, phone, and wallet accessible through security and payment gates.

FAQ

How far is NKG from central Nanjing?

Airline and CSAIR-style planning pages commonly put Nanjing Lukou about 41 km from the city center. That is a straight-line / road planning figure—not a promise of metro or taxi time.

Should I take Metro S1 or a taxi from NKG?

In daytime with light bags, S1 to Nanjing South (then Line 1/3, or a Line 6 through train when shown) is usually the clearest visitor path. Late at night, with heavy luggage, or with a hotel far from metro exits, prefer the official taxi rank.

Do I have to change at Nanjing South for Line 6?

Not always. From 06:00 on 29 September 2026, Line 6 through-operates with S1. On through services you need not change at Nanjing South. Read the platform destination screen—weekday peak, off-peak, and weekend patterns differ.

Where do I catch the official taxi at T2?

Follow 出租车 signs at arrivals. China Southern notes T2 floor-1 Door 3 for taxis. Use the signed queue only.

Where do airport buses leave from?

CSAIR lists boarding at T2: Door 3 for Line 1 (east) and Door 2 for Line 2 (west). Confirm the live board or counter—doors and last buses can change.

Can foreigners pay Nanjing Metro with a phone QR?

Often yes if Alipay or WeChat Pay already works with your linked card and the Nanjing Metro ride-QR product. Otherwise use ticket machines. See Metro QR codes in China.

What if I arrive very late?

Do not gamble on the metro after the last useful city-bound train. Use the official taxi stand or a licensed ride-hail pin. See Late-night arrival at a China airport.

Disclaimer

Transport layouts, last trains, fares, bus doors, and through-running patterns change. This page summarizes official and airline sources reviewed on 2026-11-05 and is not field-tested. Always follow live airport signs, platform screens, meter rules, and your carrier’s day-of guidance. Planning-band yuan and minute figures are not quotes.

Sources and review

Reviewed against official and airline pages on 2026-11-05 (Asia/Hong_Kong). Key references:

Verification status: Official sources reviewed; not field-tested. Recheck boards and signed ranks on the day you travel.