T1

Older T1 handles many international flights and feels basic

T1 at Chengdu Shuangliu has 25 gates and now leans toward international and a slice of domestic traffic for Chengdu Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and Tianjin Airlines. It opened earlier than T2 and it shows: ceilings are lower, finishes are tired, and walking distances feel shorter but a bit cramped in peak evening bank times.

Security for T1 usually runs quicker than T2 outside the 7:00–9:00 and 19:00–22:00 waves, but you still want 90 minutes for domestic and 2.5 hours for international departures. All dining, lounges, and shops mentioned here sit airside after security, so clear the checks before you start hunting for coffee or food.

Layout and getting around T1

T1 uses a simple pier-style layout with a central departure hall feeding gates 1–25 in two spurs; walking from the middle to the farthest gate usually takes under 10 minutes. Signage is in Chinese and English, and flight information screens repeat gate changes roughly every 60 seconds, so keep an eye out if you’re near the Starbucks or KFC clusters and waiting on a late assignment.

Arrivals in T1 dump you onto a compact baggage claim level with a handful of carousels, and belt delivery for Chengdu Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines flights often hits the 15–25 minute mark after on-block. Landside, you can walk to T2 in around 10–15 minutes following the terminal-connection signs, or take the shuttle buses that stop outside T1 every 10–20 minutes.

Food and coffee: stick to known chains

Starbucks in T1 typically opens around 6:00 and runs until the last flight, with basic espresso drinks landing in the 30–40 CNY range and sandwiches higher; it sits near the main departure hall, so it’s an easy stop if you’re at mid-range gates like 10–15. UBC Coffee offers sit-down service with simple Western-Chinese café dishes, and mains here usually price between 40–70 CNY.

For fast food, you get both KFC and McDonald’s in the domestic and mixed-use zones, with breakfast combos at KFC starting around 20–25 CNY and standard McDonald’s set meals closer to 30–40 CNY. FamilyMart fills the gap for quick bites and instant noodles, and it’s where you grab bottled water for around 3–5 CNY instead of paying lounge prices.

Lounges: basic chairs, better Wi‑Fi

The First Class Lounge in T1 usually opens early morning around the first bank of departures and stays open until the last late-night flights leave; access often comes through premium domestic tickets, some international business-class itineraries, or select bank and lounge cards in China. Expect basic buffet snacks, soft drinks, and Wi‑Fi that beats the public terminal, but don’t count on showers.

VIP Lounge No. 1 tends to serve a mix of airline-invited guests and cardholders and follows similar operating hours, roughly matching the 6:00–23:00 flight window. Seating fills quickly during evening departures for routes into Southeast Asia, and hot food is usually limited to a few Chinese dishes plus instant noodles and congee.

Shopping: duty free plus quick essentials

China Duty Free in T1 sells liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, and some local Sichuan products, and duty-free pricing on big-name spirits often undercuts downtown Chengdu shops by 5–15%. If you want panda-branded souvenirs or tea, this is where you’ll find them without leaving the secure zone.

Relay, Watsons, and 7‑Eleven fill most of the basic needs in T1, with Relay stocking English-language magazines and simple travel items, Watsons carrying skincare and pharmacy-style goods, and 7‑Eleven handling snacks and drinks. Expect bottled water and soft drinks around 4–8 CNY, and basic toiletries and chargers at a premium compared with city stores.

Final tip

If you’re used to the newer T2, mentally downgrade expectations in T1 and buy what you need—SIM top‑ups, better meals, specialty coffee—before you head out to the airport for an evening international flight.