Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH) is the busiest airport in Central China. This stems from the fact that it is located near the geographical center of Mainland China and accommodates many domestic flights.
The airport sits in Huangpi District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, approximately 25 km north of downtown Wuhan.
WUH served more than 30 million passengers in 2024, making it one of China’s 15 busiest airports.
Major Airlines - China Southern Airlines
The airport serves as a hub for China Southern Airlines. It operates around 2500 flights per month to more than 60 destinations worldwide.
WUH is also a focus city for Air China and China Eastern Airlines. Both operate thousands of flights monthly to dozens of destinations.
Other domestic carriers at Wuhan Airport include Beijing Capital Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Chongqing Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Juneyao Air, Loong Air, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Spring Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Urumqi Air, XiamenAir, and others.
The airport receives flights by several international carriers too, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Scoot, and Thai AirAsia.
WUH offers a large number of domestic routes across China and has been expanding international and regional connectivity to Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Click here to see a list of all airlines at WUH.
Terminal Layout of Wuhan Airport
Wuhan Airport currently maintains 2 passenger terminals:
Terminal 2: The older of the two terminals. Accommodates most of the domestic airlines.
Terminal 3: Opened in 2017, covers a large area and can handle up to 35 million passengers per year. All foreign carriers use Terminal 3.
Terminal 3 spreads over 5 floors, with Departures on the upper levels and Arrivals on the lower levels, plus transport links on the ground level.
There are a total of 6 check-in islands, 120 check-in counters, and 120 self-check-in kiosks.
Connecting Flights and Transit Experience
Connections have gotten much easier since the airport’s expansion in 2017. Practically all transfers happen at Terminal 3, as the other one, Terminal 2, serves almost entirely point-to-point flights.
All transits require that you retrieve your luggage and re-check it at an airline counter. You will always have to go through a Security check, too.
Transits that include an international flight (either incoming or outgoing) also require a Customs and Immigration inspection.
The transfer check-in process is only required if you don’t have the boarding pass for your next flight. The transit and transfer hall is on the 2nd floor.
For some non-China nationals, the airport also supports a 144-hour (or 240-hour for some nationalities) transit without a visa under certain conditions. This will allow you to enter China and stay within Hebei Province for up to 6 days, provided you have an onward flight to a third country (different from the one you arrived from). See the best things to do in Wuhan.
WiFi at Wuhan Tianhe Airport
Free WiFi is available at WUH. Select "@iWuhan-Free" from the list of available networks, which will automatically open the welcome splash page in your browser.
To connect, you will have to authenticate using an SMS OTP code. You can receive it at any phone number, even if it’s not Chinese. Enter the verification code and click "start surfing the Internet”.
Alternatively, you can also use the kiosks in the terminal to authenticate. You will need to scan your identity document to acquire an account and passport, which you can then use to connect to the internet.
Dining Options at WUH
Terminal 3 of Wuhan Tianhe Airport has a modest selection of food and beverage venues, including Chinese and Western food, coffee shops, and fast food outlets.
Options include:
Starbucks Coffee: On Level 2, Arrivals.
KFC: Near Check-in Island E, Level 4, Departures. Also in the Arrivals Hall on Level 2.
Ajisen Ramen: On Level 2, Arrivals.
McDonald’s: Near Check-in Island K, Level 4, Departures. Also in the Arrivals Hall on Level 2.
Burger King: One location in the Departures Hall on Level 4 and another in the Arrivals Hall on Level 2.
Lanzhou Noodles: In the Arrivals Hall on Level 2.
Most places close early in the morning (5-7 AM) and close late in the evening (11-11:30 PM). No places remain open throughout the night.
Lounges at Wuhan Tianhe Airport
Several airline-specific and premium lounges are available at WUH.
Terminal 2 (domestic) has two lounges:
VIP Area V18 is located in Area D.
VIP Area V16 is located in Area C.
Both accept Priority Pass, and holders of select credit cards can enter for free.
Terminal 3 has a larger selection, serving both international and domestic passengers.
In T3, those not leaving the country (domestic) can stay in:
No. 6 First Class Lounge: to reach, take the escalator on the right after Security Check B, down to the 2nd Floor.
No. 8 First Class Lounge: to reach, take the escalator on the right after Security Check A, down to the 2nd Floor.
V1 China Southern First and Business Class Lounge: located on the 2nd floor, near Gate 36. Access is limited to 2 hours of stay for eligible passengers. A two-hour pass is 150 CNY.
V4 China Eastern Lounge: located near Gate 27. Accessible to those flying with China Eastern Airlines (MU), Shanghai Airlines (FM), China United Airlines (KN), and SkyTeam Alliance Airlines. Access is limited to 2 hours of stay for eligible passengers. A two-hour pass costs 210 CNY.
China Southern Gold/Silver/Elite Plus Lounge: located on the 2nd floor, near Gate 36. Access is limited to 2 hours of stay for eligible passengers. A two-hour pass is 120 CNY.
International passengers in T3 can enjoy one of the following lounges:
No. 1 First Class Lounge: located on the 4th Floor, opposite Gate 335.
No. 3 First Class Lounge: located on the 4th Floor, opposite Gate 330.
Transportation options at Wuhan Airport
The airport is part of an integrated transportation hub combining air, intercity railway, metro/subway, highway expressway, and bus.
For example, the Wuhan Metro serves the airport directly. The station is on the B1 floor of the Ground Traffic Center, next to Terminal 3. With an interval of just 7 minutes and making the journey to downtown Wuhan in less than 20 minutes, the Metro is the preferred mode of transport for most. Moreover, the ticket costs only 2-10 CNY, depending on the distance traveled.
If you’re traveling to Hankou or Wuchang instead, the high-speed trains from Wuhan Tianhe operate at set times throughout the day and cost around 25 CNY for first-class or 10-15 CNY for second-class tickets.
Several buses also connect WUH to the downtown areas. Notable ones are:
Line 1, which links Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Wuchang Railway Station and Wuhan Dream Times.
Line 2, which links the airport to Xudong, Yuejiazui, and the Wuhan Railway Station.
The bus station and the ticket office are located outside Exit 12 of the Arrival hall of Terminal 3, on Level 1.
Taxis are available 24/7 on the first floor of Terminal 3, outside of Exit 12 (drop-off areas are in front of Departures on Level 4). The trip to the city takes around 60 minutes and costs around 65 CNY to the Wuchang District in the city center (more during nighttime).
Parking at WUH
Wuhan Tianhe Airport has large underground parking lots near each terminal.
The parking charges for small vehicles are 3 CNY per hour up to 45 CNY per day. The first 30 minutes are free.
Hotels near Wuhan Airport
There are 3 hotels within proximity of the terminals:
Crowne Plaza Wuhan Tianhe Airport by IHG: A brand new luxury hotel with great rooms, a pool, a fitness center, and on-site dining.
Holiday Inn Wuhan Tianhe Airport by IHG: A budget-friendly accommodation option just steps away from WUH’s terminals.
Starway Hotel: A good value for money hotel linked via a pedestrian bridge to the Arrival Hall Level of T3.
For details about amenities, online booking, and more WUH Airport hotels, click here.
Wuhan, China
