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Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Nanjing, China
Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Nanjing's primary international gateway serving East China.
- ›Opened in 1997, replacing the historic Nanjing Dajiaochang Airport.
- ›Terminal 2 opened in 2014, significantly expanding the airport's capacity.
- ›The airport handled over 30 million passengers before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traffic.
- ›Located approximately 35 kilometers southeast of Nanjing's city center.
- ›Serves as an important cargo hub in the Yangtze River Delta region.
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) serves as the primary aviation hub for Jiangsu Province, located approximately 35 kilometres southeast of Nanjing's city centre. Opened in 1997, the airport replaced the older Dajiaochang Airport and has since grown into a significant regional hub handling tens of millions of passengers annually. It plays a vital role connecting eastern China to domestic destinations and a growing number of international routes across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
- Terminal 1 — The original terminal handling a mix of domestic and select international flights, featuring standard check-in and boarding facilities.
- Terminal 2 — A larger, modernised terminal opened in 2014 that handles the majority of flights including international operations, with expanded retail and dining options.
- Nanjing Metro Line S1 (Airport Line) connecting to the city centre and main rail hubs
- Airport shuttle buses serving multiple routes to downtown Nanjing and surrounding cities
- Taxis available at designated ranks outside arrivals on both terminals
- Ride-hailing via Didi Chuxing from designated pickup zones
- Car rental counters available in the arrivals area of Terminal 2
- Long-distance coach services to nearby cities including Suzhou and Hangzhou
- Hilton Nanjing Riverside
- Wyndham Grand Nanjing
- Holiday Inn Nanjing Airport
- Kyriad Marvelous Hotel Nanjing Airport
- Vienna Hotel Nanjing Lukou Airport
Inside the terminals, travellers will find a range of options from local Chinese cuisine to international fast food chains such as McDonald's and KFC, along with noodle bars and dim sum outlets. Airside dining in Terminal 2 is notably better stocked, with sit-down restaurants offering Jiangsu-style dishes. For more authentic local food at lower prices, the towns surrounding the airport offer small restaurants serving Nanjing specialities like pressed salted duck and beef soup.
- Allow extra time if travelling to the city centre — the Metro S1 line requires a transfer at Nanpu Road to reach central Nanjing stations.
- Purchase Metro tickets or top up your transit card before boarding; airport vending machines support UnionPay but may not accept all foreign cards.
- Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are not directly connected airside — confirm your terminal before arriving to avoid a lengthy walk or shuttle.
- Peak travel periods around Chinese New Year and National Golden Week (early October) see extremely high passenger volumes; arrive at least two to three hours before departure.
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Nanjing Lukou International Airport is an international airport serving Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu province, and a major airport serving the Yangtze River Delta area. As of 2020, it is the 12th busiest civil airport in China, dropping one place from 2019 after being overtaken by Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. It is located in the suburban Jiangning District, over 35 km (22 mi) south of the city center, and is connected to Nanjing and neighboring towns by expressways. Phase I of the Ninggao Intercity Line and Line S1 of the Nanjing Metro link the airport with Nanjing South railway station.
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