Getting Around Chongqing
Chongqing is a sprawling, hilly city spread across multiple urban centers. The metro and bus systems are the recommended forms of transportation and are very cheap and efficient. Understanding the geography and topography is essential: Chongqing is extremely hilly, and ground floors of buildings can be at the same elevation as upper floors of adjacent buildings, making navigation on foot confusing and physically demanding.
The Metro System
Chongqing's rapid transit system opened in 2005 and has expanded significantly since then. The network includes both heavy rail metro lines and monorail lines, with announcements made in both Mandarin and English. All services are air-conditioned, which is especially valuable during the hot months from April to September. No smoking is permitted on any metro service.
To use the metro, you will need an electronic ticket card. When boarding, insert your card at the gates. You must also remember to tap your card again when exiting the station—this is essential. If you overshoot your stop, go to the service counter and add value to your card for the next journey.
Key metro lines connect major railway stations, shopping districts, and the airport:
- Line 1 runs east-west and is useful for visiting Ciqikou, Jiefangbei, and Chaotianmen
- Line 2 is a monorail line convenient for the Zoo, Stilwell Museum, Jiefangbei, Jiulongpo, the People's Hall, and the Three Gorges Museum
- Line 3 is a monorail line running north-south that connects Chongqing North Railway Station, Chongqing Central Railway Station, and Jiangbei Airport Terminal 2
- Line 6 is a north-south subway line through Yuzhong District near Jiefangbei in central Chongqing
- Line 10 runs north-south via the airport
- The Loop Line runs through the core area of central Chongqing and allows transfers to all other subway lines. It connects Chongqing West Railway Station and the South Square of Chongqing North Railway Station
Buses
Buses are frequent and cheap throughout Chongqing. However, unless you can read Chinese characters, using buses requires advance preparation. You must know the route number and direction of the bus you need. A practical approach is to ask each bus driver if they go to your destination. Note that Chongqing has four major city centers, each with its own bus stations:
- Shapingba (northwest): an academic and university center
- Jiangbei (north): includes major shopping centers and pedestrian streets
- Nanping (south)
- Jiefangbei (central): the primary city center with a pedestrian mall, shopping and entertainment venues, and major skyscrapers. Two bus stations serve this area, located south and west of the Jiefangbei monument
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis in Chongqing are bright yellow Suzuki sedans that are relatively cheap and available 24 hours a day. They start at ¥8 with a per-kilometer charge of ¥1.80 during the day, or ¥8.90 and ¥2.25 per kilometer after midnight. However, few drivers speak English, so you must know where you are going. The most practical approach is to collect business cards from your hotel or restaurant and show the card to the driver—this eliminates language barriers entirely.
On extremely hot days, empty taxis can be difficult to find because drivers keep air conditioning running continuously, requiring frequent refueling at natural gas stations. During such weather, it is advisable to use alternative transportation or remain indoors.
Walkability and Cycling
Chongqing's extreme hilliness makes walking challenging and navigation confusing. Be prepared to climb numerous stairs when exploring on foot. Cycling is not recommended as a general transportation method in Chongqing due to the steep terrain, the difficulty of navigation caused by the many hills and valleys, and the dangers of cycling on city streets. However, within the University city area of Chongqing, bicycles and electric bikes are available for rent.
Getting from Jiangbei International Airport to the City
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is located approximately 21 kilometers northeast of the city center. The airport has multiple terminals with different connections to downtown.
The metro is a convenient option: Metro Line 3 connects the airport to central Chongqing and is accessible from both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Metro Line 10 also serves Terminal 3. These connections make the metro an efficient choice for reaching the city center.
Airport shuttle buses depart from the ground level of Terminal 2 and travel to Shangqisi Lu in central Chongqing. There are two stops on this route, so when standing in line, check carefully which bus you need. A free shuttle service runs between Terminal 3 and Terminal 2, taking approximately 15 minutes.
Taxis are another option and cost approximately ¥40-80 to downtown Chongqing, depending on your final destination. Terminal 2 taxis are quoted at about ¥80.