Both taxis and pre-booked transfers get you from Nanjing Lukou International Airport to Nanjing, but they offer very different experiences. Here is an honest comparison.
Taxis
Cost: Metered, on Nanjing's government-guided tariff, with a higher rate late at night. The meter charges for time as well as distance, so the final price depends on traffic and your exact destination. We are not quoting a figure — we could not confirm the current tariff from the city's own published source, and the numbers that circulate online come from aggregators. The tariff card is displayed inside the vehicle.
Pros:
- No advance booking needed
- Available immediately from the taxi rank
- Regulated, metered pricing rather than negotiation
- Usually the cheaper choice for short distances
Cons:
- Very few drivers speak English
- You need your destination in Chinese characters
- Payment is cash or Chinese mobile payment only
- Standard sedans with limited luggage space
- No child car seats available
- The meter runs in traffic, so rush hour costs more
Pre-booked transfers
Cost: Priced per vehicle and fixed at booking, regardless of traffic. Check the live quote for your trip.
Pros:
- Driver waiting with your name at arrivals
- Fixed price agreed at booking, no meter anxiety
- No language barrier for your destination
- Can arrange larger vehicles, child seats, extra luggage space
- Pay in advance with an international credit card — which sidesteps the WeChat Pay/Alipay problem entirely
- Driver tracks your flight and adjusts for delays
Cons:
- Generally more expensive than a taxi, especially for short distances
- Requires advance booking
- Less spontaneous
When to choose a taxi
- You have been to China before and are comfortable with the language barrier
- You have Chinese payment apps set up or cash in CNY
- You are travelling light with a simple destination
- Your destination is close to the airport
When to choose a pre-booked transfer
- This is your first time in China
- You do not speak Mandarin
- You are travelling with family, children, or heavy luggage
- You are arriving late at night
- You want certainty after a long flight
- You have not set up Chinese mobile payment apps
The honest verdict
For experienced China travellers, taxis are fine and generally cheaper. For first-time visitors, the combination of language barrier, payment system differences and navigation challenges makes a pre-booked transfer worth the premium. Price the two for your actual trip rather than assuming — the meter is regulated but open-ended, while the transfer quote is a number you know before you fly.