If your flight lands at Nanjing Lukou International Airport late in the evening, your transport options narrow but you are not stranded.
What stops running
Metro Line S1 (the Airport Line) does not run all night, and airport buses reduce frequency sharply late in the evening before stopping. Check both operators' current last-service times against your landing time rather than trusting a number in a guide — and remember that landing is not the same as being through immigration and baggage. Shops and restaurants in the terminal largely close well before the last arrivals.
What is available
Taxis operate 24 hours. The taxi rank outside arrivals is staffed around the clock, and late-night queues are usually shorter than daytime. They run on the meter, with a higher late-night rate applied automatically. The 35 km distance means the fare is not small at any hour, though the drive itself is quicker at night — roughly 40 minutes with minimal traffic.
Pre-booked transfers are available any time. Your driver will be waiting regardless of your arrival time, even if your flight is delayed, and the price was agreed before you flew. This is the most reliable late-night option.
Didi works at night but requires a Chinese phone number and payment setup, making it impractical for most visitors.
Practical tips for late arrivals
- Have your hotel address written in Chinese characters before landing. This is critical at night when fewer English-speaking staff are around.
- Download offline maps before arriving in China, as Google Maps requires a VPN.
- Withdraw cash from an ATM in arrivals. Late-night taxi drivers are less likely to accept anything other than cash or mobile payment.
- If your hotel offers an airport shuttle, confirm the latest pickup time before your flight.
- The terminal is secure and stays open. If you arrive very late and prefer not to travel, sleeping in the terminal is possible but not comfortable. Airport hotels are a better option.
Safety
Nanjing Airport is safe at night. The main risk is unlicensed taxi touts approaching you inside the terminal offering inflated fares — they are not on the meter, which is the whole point of avoiding them. Always use the official taxi queue. Pre-booked transfers eliminate this concern entirely.