Chongqing Metro Guide: Smooth Trip Tips

Hi, I’m Dalia Xu, a 30-year-old seasoned travel enthusiast with over a decade of travel experience. I have a passion for natural landscapes and hotel reviews. Chongqing’s rail transit system, a sprawling network weaving through the city’s dramatic mountainous terrain and iconic river valleys, is far more than a transit tool—it’s your gateway to exploring the “Mountain City’s” breathtaking natural scenery, from the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers’ converging waters to the lush green hills of Nanshan, all while uncovering unique hotel stays that embrace the city’s vertical charm.

With a mix of metro lines, monorails, and loop lines, Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) connects every corner of this city where skyscrapers cling to hillsides and rivers cut through urban neighborhoods. Whether you’re here to marvel at the misty Yangtze River Gorges (via transfers), wander the tree-lined paths of Nanshan Botanical Garden, or stay in a cliffside hotel with panoramic river views, the CRT will get you there seamlessly. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the Chongqing Rail Transit Map, highlight must-visit stations tied to natural landscapes and top hotels, and share tips to make your rail journey in Chongqing a thrilling part of your travel adventure.

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Chongqing Rail Transit Map

Chongqing Rail Transit Lines and Operating Hours

Chongqing Loop Line

• Route: Circular route (Erlang ↔ Chongqing Library ↔ Nanping ↔ Erlang)
• Terminal Stations: Circular route (no fixed terminals)
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Nanshan Station (Transfer): Near Nanshan Botanical Garden (lush mountain park with panoramic city/river views) and Laojun Cave Scenic Area; luxury resorts like Chongqing Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel offer cliffside stays with unbeatable vistas, while Chongqing Nanshan Tree House Homestay caters to eco-travelers.
  • Ciqikou Station: Adjacent to Jialing River waterfront and Ciqikou Ancient Town (tree-lined lanes, ancient architecture); boutique hotels like Chongqing Ciqikou Riverside Boutique Hotel sit steps from the water, and Ciqikou Old Street Hostel is a budget pick for cultural immersion.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Station ticket offices, self-service machines, mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat Pay/Chongqing Tong app).

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 1

• Route: Chaotianmen ↔ Bishan
• Terminal Stations: Chaotianmen, Bishan
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Chaotianmen Station: Confluence of Yangtze/Jialing Rivers, Chaotianmen Wharf; luxury hotels like InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City have rooftop river-view terraces, and Chongqing Chaotianmen River View Inn is a mid-range option with waterfront access.
  • Bishan Station: Near Bishan Fairy Mountain Forest Park (lush bamboo forests, mountain streams); eco-resorts like Chongqing Bishan Bamboo Sea Resort and budget homestays like Bishan Fairy Mountain Homestay are ideal for nature getaways.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Same as Loop Line; Chongqing Tourism Card available for discounted rides/attraction tickets.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2

• Route: Jiaochangkou ↔ Yudong
• Terminal Stations: Jiaochangkou, Yudong
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Liziba Station: Iconic monorail-through-building spot with Jialing River/hillside neighborhood views; boutique hotels like Chongqing Liziba River View Hotel and budget stays like Liziba Youth Hostel offer unique urban natural scenery experiences.
  • Yudong Station: Near Yudong Binjiang Park (Yangtze River waterfront greenway) and Tongluoshan Forest Park; mid-range hotels like Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Yudong and homestays like Yudong Riverside Farmhouse cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Standard metro card, mobile payment, UnionPay contactless cards.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 3 (Main & Branch)

• Route: Yudong ↔ Jiangbei Airport T2/T3 (main); Bijin ↔ Renshouba (branch)
• Terminal Stations: Yudong, Jiangbei Airport T2/T3 (main); Bijin, Renshouba (branch)
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00 (both lines)
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Jiangbei Airport Station: Yuanyang Lake Wetland Park (lake/bird-watching spots) and airport green buffer zones; airport hotels like Novotel Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Hotel (transit-friendly) and Yuanyang Lake Eco Homestay (nature-focused) are nearby.
  • Bijin Station (Branch): Bijin Park (ancient banyan trees, lake scenery) and Yubei Riverside Green Belt; upscale hotels like Pullman Chongqing Yubei and budget stays like Bijin Park Hostel are great for parkside relaxation.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Self-service machines, mobile payment, Chongqing Tong physical cards.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 4

• Route: Min’an Ave ↔ Tangjiatuo
• Terminal Stations: Min’an Ave, Tangjiatuo
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 22:30
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Tangjiatuo Station: Yangtze River Gorges eastern entrance (dramatic canyon/river scenery) and Nantian Lake Scenic Area; eco-homestays like Chongqing Tangjiatuo Gorge View Homestay and mountain resorts like Nantian Lake Holiday Resort offer immersive nature stays.
  • Cuntan Station: Cuntan International Cruise Port and Yangtze River waterfront; mid-range hotels like Mercure Chongqing Cuntan River View and boutique stays like Cuntan Port Boutique Hotel cater to cruise travelers and river-view seekers.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Same as Line 1; tourist cards with transit/cruise ticket discounts recommended.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 5

• Route: Garden Expo Center ↔ Dashiba (north); Shiqiaopu ↔ Tiaodeng (south)
• Terminal Stations: Garden Expo Center, Dashiba (north); Shiqiaopu, Tiaodeng (south)
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Garden Expo Center Station: Chongqing Garden Expo Park (lakes, gardens, mountain backdrops) and Jinshan Temple Scenic Area; resort hotels like Chongqing Garden Expo Resort and budget stays like Garden Expo Youth Hostel are perfect for park exploration.
  • Tiaodeng Station (South): Tiaodeng Wetland Park (wetland meadows, bird habitats) and Jialing River source scenery; eco-friendly hotels like Chongqing Tiaodeng Eco Hotel and homestays like Tiaodeng Riverside Farmhouse appeal to nature lovers.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Metro card, mobile payment, UnionPay contactless payments.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 6 (Main & Branch)

• Route: Chayuan ↔ Beibei (main); Lijia ↔ Caojiawan (branch)
• Terminal Stations: Chayuan, Beibei (main); Lijia, Caojiawan (branch)
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Beibei Station: Jinyun Mountain National Nature Reserve (waterfalls, forests, hot springs) and Jialing River Beibei Waterfront; mountain resorts like Chongqing Jinyun Mountain Hot Spring Resort and mid-range hotels like Holiday Inn Chongqing Beibei combine nature and relaxation.
  • Lijia Station (Branch): Lijia Riverside Park (Yangtze River greenway, cherry-blossom paths) and Yuelai Flower Expo Park; upscale hotels like The St. Regis Chongqing Lijia and boutique stays like Lijia Flower Expo Boutique Hotel offer scenic accommodations.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Station ticket counters, self-service machines, mobile payment.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 9

• Route: Xingke Avenue ↔ Huashigou
• Terminal Stations: Xingke Avenue, Huashigou
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Huashigou Station: Huashigou Scenic Area (karst caves, mountain streams) and Yubei Forest Park; eco-homestays like Chongqing Huashigou Cave View Homestay and budget hotels like Huashigou Express Hotel cater to outdoor adventurers.
  • Xingke Avenue Station: Central Park (Chongqing’s largest urban park with lakes, lawns) and Jinxi River waterfront; luxury hotels like Grand Hyatt Chongqing Central Park and mid-range stays like Central Park Boutique Hotel are ideal for urban nature relaxation.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Standard metro card, mobile payment, UnionPay contactless cards.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 10

• Route: Wangjiazhuang ↔ Lanhualu
• Terminal Stations: Wangjiazhuang, Lanhualu
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 23:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Jiangbei CBD Station: Jialing River and Yuzhong Peninsula skyline views; upscale hotels like Grand Hyatt Chongqing have floor-to-ceiling river-view windows, and Jiangbei CBD River View Inn is a mid-range alternative.
  • Lanhualu Station: Nanshan Botanical Garden western entrance and Yangtze River eastern bank; homestays like Chongqing Lanhualu Nanshan Homestay and mountain lodges like Nanshan Forest Lodge are perfect for nature hikes.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Same as Line 1; mobile payment is most convenient for short-term visitors.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 15

• Route: Ganyue ↔ Yubei Square
• Terminal Stations: Ganyue, Yubei Square
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 22:30
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Ganyue Station: Ganyue Ancient Town (riverfront scenery, ancient temples) and Jialing River Ganyue Wetland; boutique hotels like Chongqing Ganyue Riverside Boutique Hotel and homestays like Ganyue Ancient Town Hostel blend history and nature.
  • Yubei Square Station: Yubei Central Park (urban green space with lake views) and Phoenix Mountain Scenic Area; mid-range hotels like Mercure Chongqing Yubei Square and budget stays like Yubei Square Express Hotel are convenient for park visits.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Self-service machines, mobile payment, Chongqing Tong card.

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 18

• Route: Fuhualu ↔ Tiaodeng South
• Terminal Stations: Fuhualu, Tiaodeng South
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 22:30
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Tiaodeng South Station: Bamianshan Scenic Area (mountain peaks, alpine meadows) and Daning River Gorge; mountain resorts like Chongqing Bamianshan Resort and eco-homestays like Tiaodeng South Mountain Homestay cater to mountain tourism.
  • Fuhualu Station: Nan’an Riverside Park (Yangtze River waterfront, cherry-blossom lanes) and Nanshan Hot Spring; upscale hotels like InterContinental Chongqing Nan’an and hot spring resorts like Nanshan Hot Spring Hotel offer leisure-focused stays.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Metro card, mobile payment, UnionPay contactless payments.

Chongqing Rail Transit International Expo Line (Guobo Line)

• Route: Yuegang Bei ↔ International Expo Center
• Terminal Stations: Yuegang Bei, International Expo Center
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 22:30
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • International Expo Center Station: Caijia Riverside Wetland Park (wetland lakes, bird-watching) and Jialing River Caijia Waterfront; eco-friendly hotels like Chongqing International Expo Eco Hotel and budget stays like Expo Center Hostel are nature-focused.
  • Yuegang Bei Station: Liangjiang New Area green belt (riverside park scenery) and Jinlong Lake Scenic Area; mid-range hotels like Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Yuegang Bei and homestays like Yuegang Bei Lakeside Homestay are great for relaxation.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Standard metro card, mobile payment; separate intercity transfer tickets available at stations.

Chongqing Rail Transit Jiangtiao Line

• Route: Tiaodeng ↔ Jiangjin
• Terminal Stations: Tiaodeng, Jiangjin
• Operating Hours: 06:30 – 22:00
• Top Attractions (Natural Landscapes & Hotel Hotspots):
  • Jiangjin Station: Simian Mountain National Forest Park (waterfalls, primeval forests) and Chishui River scenery; mountain resorts like Chongqing Simian Mountain Resort and budget homestays like Jiangjin Simian Mountain Homestay are ideal for forest exploration.
  • Tiaodeng Station: Tiaodeng Lake (mountain lake views, fishing spots) and Jialing River tributary scenery; lakeside hotels like Tiaodeng Lake View Hotel and farm stays like Tiaodeng Lakeside Farmhouse offer quiet nature getaways.
• Transportation Card Purchase: Station ticket counters, self-service machines, mobile payment.