Overview
Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT), also known as Chongqing Metro, is the rapid transit system serving Chongqing, China. It opened in 2004 and is one of the world's largest metro systems by length, at roughly 574 km, and it holds the record for the largest monorail network. The system serves all eight central districts of the city as well as nearby suburbs, and it is shaped by Chongqing's steep, mountainous terrain and the valleys of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.
For a visitor, the metro is generally the fastest and cheapest way to get around. Announcements are made in both Mandarin and English, signage is bilingual, all services are air-conditioned, and smoking is not allowed. Riding end to end works like this: enter a station, buy or tap a ticket, ride to your destination, and tap or insert your ticket to exit. Keep your electronic ticket card with you, because you need it to get out of the station. If you overshoot your stop, go to the service counter and add value to your card.
Be prepared for stairs and hills when moving between street level and stations, since Chongqing's ground floors can sit at wildly different elevations from one building to the next. Note that the network is expanding quickly, with several new lines and extensions under construction, so line details can change between visits.
The network
CRT combines heavy-rail metro lines, high-capacity monorails, suburban rail, a light-rail shuttle, city buses and river ferries. Sources differ on the exact number of lines in operation (commonly listed as 10 to 12), so treat line counts as approximate and check a current map on arrival.
- Line 1 — east–west heavy-rail metro from Chaotianmen to Bishan, the system's backbone through Jiefangbei, Lianglukou, Daping and Shapingba. Handy for Ciqikou, Jiefangbei and Chaotianmen.
- Line 2 — monorail from Jiaochangkou to Yudong, running elevated along the Jialing River. Convenient for the Zoo, the People's Hall, the Three Gorges Museum and Jiefangbei. Its Liziba station, where trains pass through a residential building, is a tourist attraction in its own right.
- Line 3 — the world's longest single monorail line, running north–south from Yudong to Jiangbei Airport, with a branch beyond Bijin. Useful for Chongqing North Railway Station, Guanyinqiao and the airport.
- Line 4 — serves the Chongqing North Station North Square area.
- Line 5 — northeast–southwest line connecting Chongqing West Railway Station and areas outside the central city, including Jiangjin District.
- Line 6 — north–south subway through Yuzhong near Jiefangbei, running from Beibei to Chayuan, with branches including the International Expo branch and an extension to Chongqing East Railway Station.
- Line 9 — connects Huashigou to Gaotanyan and includes Hongyancun, the deepest metro station in the world.
- Line 10 — north–south line via the airport, serving Nanping, Qixinggang, Jiangbei Airport T2 and T3, and Central Park.
- Line 18 — serves Yangjiaping, the Olympic Sports Center and Huangjueping.
- Loop line (环线, Huánxiàn) — a circular line through the core of the central city that connects with all other metro lines; useful for Chongqing West and Chongqing North railway stations.
- Jiangtiao line (江跳线, Jiāngtiàoxiàn) — suburban rail from Tiaodeng to Shengquansi in Jiangjin.
- Bitong line (璧铜线, Bìtóngxiàn) — suburban rapid transit from Bishan to Tongliangxi.
- Bishan Sky Shuttle — a driverless elevated light rail in Bishan District.
- Buses — frequent and cheap, but routes and destinations are mostly in Chinese, so know the name of your destination and confirm with the driver.
- Liangjiang ferry (两江小渡, Liǎngjiāng Xiǎodù) — a short ferry from Chongqing Hongyadong Wharf between Chaotianmen (Yuzhong) and Danzishi (Nan'an), taking about six minutes; it runs roughly 08:00–18:00.
Tickets & fares
Fares are distance-based and, according to current guides, range from about ¥2 to ¥10. Prices are approximate and can change, so confirm at the station.
- Single Journey Ticket — valid on the day of purchase for one ride; you enter at the station where you bought it and the ticket is recycled at exit.
- Souvenir Ticket — special themed designs issued on holidays and at events; validity varies and the ticket is not recycled.
- Fixed Journey Ticket — a prepaid ticket for a fixed number of rides within its validity period.
- One-day Travel Pass — about ¥18, sold at station ticket booths, giving unlimited rides on all metro lines for 24 hours from first use; it is not returned, so you can keep it as a souvenir.
- Chongqing Public Transportation Card — a rechargeable smartcard that also works on city buses and ferries and gives about a 10% discount on metro fares; buy it with a deposit plus top-up at ticket counters, and the deposit and balance are refundable at designated counters.
- Mobile QR codes — tap-to-ride via Alipay or WeChat mini-programs; foreign visitors can use passport-registered China payment apps.
Single-journey tickets can be bought from vending machines that accept cash or QR payment. Your journey must be completed within 180 minutes, or the maximum one-way fare is charged. Fares are not zoned in the European sense; the price depends on the distance you travel.
From the airport
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) lies about 21 km northeast of the city in Yubei District. Terminal 1 is closed for renovation, Terminal 2 serves several domestic airlines, and Terminal 3 handles domestic and international airlines. A free shuttle links T2 and T3 in about 15 minutes.
- Metro Line 3 connects the airport to the city centre, with a station accessible from both terminals.
- Metro Line 10 runs through the transport hub at Terminal 3 and also serves Terminal 2.
- Airport shuttle bus departs from the ground level of Terminal 2 to the Shangqisi Lu airport bus stop in central Chongqing; there are two stops, so check carefully when you queue.
- Taxi to downtown costs roughly ¥40–80, though this is approximate and can change.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing — queuing is not universal in Chongqing; expect crowds and pushiness at busy stations and bus stops, and hold your ground politely.
- Escalators — sources do not specify a standing side, so follow the flow of the crowd and stand to one side to let others pass.
- Priority seating — give up priority seats for the elderly, pregnant passengers and those with reduced mobility.
- Eating and drinking — no eating or drinking rules are specified in the sources; keep it minimal and tidy to avoid problems.
- Rush hour — trains can be extremely crowded, especially on Lines 2 and 3; let passengers off before boarding and keep your belongings close.
- Smoking — smoking is not allowed anywhere on the system.
- Announcements — listen for bilingual Mandarin and English announcements, and keep your ticket card ready at the exit gates.
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) — subway/metro
- 车票 (chēpiào) — ticket
- 线路 (xiànlù) — line
- 入口 (rùkǒu) — entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit
- 换乘 (huànchéng) — transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéngpiào) — single fare/single ticket
- 一日票 (yīrìpiào) — day pass
Keep your ticket card handy until you have tapped out at your final station, and allow extra time for stairs and long interchanges in this hilly city.