Chongqing Metro Guide 2026: Maps, Tickets, and Getting Around Without Getting Lost

Chongqing Rail Transit currently has 14 lines, but most visitors will only need a handful of them: the lines that connect the airport, the main train stations, Jiefangbei, Hongya Cave, Liziba, and the commercial areas around them.

So this is not a route-by-route encyclopedia. It is a Chongqing metro guide you can actually use on the ground, covering how to check routes, how to buy tickets, which lines are the most useful for visitors, and how to get into the city by metro from the airport or train stations.

One quick note: “rail transit” is Chongqing’s official term. It includes what locals often call light rail, as well as metro lines and suburban rail. To keep things simple, I’ll use “metro” throughout this guide.

Chongqing Metro Map

Below is the latest official network map released by Chongqing Rail Transit in 2026. You can use it to get a general sense of where the lines run and how the transfers work.

For actual navigation, though, I’d use Amap (iOS / Android). Chongqing’s terrain is complicated, and Amap is usually better for finding the right metro entrance or exit, checking walking routes, and understanding transfer details. It also shows when the next train is due.

Even if Google Maps works for you here, its metro, bus, and walking data in mainland China is incomplete. I wouldn’t rely on it as your main navigation app in Chongqing.

How to Pay for the Metro

If you can use WeChat or Alipay, the easiest option is to activate the metro QR code in one of the apps. Scan it at the gate when you enter, and scan it again when you leave. You don’t need to buy a ticket each time, and you don’t have to keep track of a single-journey card.

If you’re not using a metro QR code, you can buy a single-journey card from the ticket machines inside the station. The machines have Chinese and English on-screen instructions. Just follow the steps, choose your line, and select your destination station.

One thing to note: ticket machines in Chongqing Metro stations are not all the same. Some only support WeChat Pay or Alipay, so check the payment options shown on the machine before you start.

If you’re not sure how to use the machine, or your payment method doesn’t work, go to the staffed ticket counter. That’s usually your best bet.

Chongqing Metro Passes

If you expect to use the metro a lot during your stay, you can consider buying a Chongqing Metro pass. There are 1-day, 3-day, and 5-day passes, priced at 18 RMB, 45 RMB, and 70 RMB. You can buy them at staffed ticket counters inside metro stations.

The pass starts from your first tap-in at the gate, not from the moment you buy it. Once activated, you get unlimited rides on Chongqing Metro for the duration of the pass.

The Chongqing Metro lines visitors will use most

For visitors, the lines you are most likely to use are Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 5, Line 6, Line 10, and the Loop Line.

Line 1

Line 1 connects the area around Jiefangbei with Lianglukou, Eling, Shapingba, and Ciqikou. It does not have the train-through-a-building moment at Liziba like Line 2, but you will still use it for many routes around the city center and toward Shapingba.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Chaotianmen Station	Raffles City, Chaotianmen Dock	See where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet, along with the modern skyline around Chaotianmen.
Xiaoshizi Station	Hongya Cave, Yangtze River Cableway, Raffles City	Link several of the busiest spots on the Yuzhong Peninsula in one route.
Jiaochangkou Station	Jiefangbei, Shibati, Bayi Food Street	Start a city center walking route from here.
Lianglukou Station	Huangguan Escalator	Use this stop for one of Chongqing’s more distinctive urban transit experiences.
Eling Station	TESTBED 2, Eling Park	Go here for photos, Eling Park, and the old factory area around TESTBED 2.
Ciqikou Station	Ciqikou Ancient Town	Get off here for Chongqing’s best-known old town.
Shapingba Station	Shapingba commercial area, Shapingba Railway Station	Use this stop if you are arriving or leaving by train at Shapingba, or if you want to walk around the Shapingba shopping area.

Line 2

Line 2 is probably Chongqing’s most recognizable metro line, mainly because the famous Liziba train-through-a-building section is on this route.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Jiaochangkou Station	Jiefangbei, Shibati	Transfer to Line 1 here, or start a city center walking route from this area.
Linjiangmen Station	Jiefangbei, Kuixinglou, Hongya Cave	Visit Jiefangbei first, walk to Kuixinglou, then continue to Hongya Cave for the night view.
Zengjiayan Station	Three Gorges Museum, People’s Auditorium	Pair the museum with the landmark building across the square.
Niujiaotuo Station	Line 3 transfer	Mainly a transfer station. There are no major sights nearby.
Liziba Station	Train-through-a-building section	Ride through the building section first, then get off and take photos from the viewing platform.
Zoo Station	Chongqing Zoo	Works well for a family trip, or if you are going mainly to see the pandas.

Line 3

Line 3 is one of the main north-south lines through central Chongqing. It is not a line I would ride just for the experience, but it is useful if you are staying near Guanyinqiao, or if you need to get to Chongqing North Railway Station South Square or Terminal 2 at Jiangbei Airport.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Lianglukou Station	Huangguan Escalator	Ride the escalator to experience one of Chongqing’s more distinctive forms of urban transport. You can also transfer to Line 1 here.
Niujiaotuo Station	Transfer only	Transfer here for Line 2 toward Liziba or Linjiangmen.
Guanyinqiao Station	Guanyinqiao commercial area, Paradise Walk, 9th Street	Shopping, food, and nightlife.
Hongqihegou Station	Transfer only	Transfer here for Line 6. I would not make a separate stop here.
Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Use this station if you are taking a high-speed train or intercity train from the South Square side.
Jiangbei Airport T2 Terminal Station	Jiangbei Airport T2	Go here for Terminal 2 at Jiangbei Airport.

Line 5

Line 5 is more of a practical everyday route than a line you would ride just for the experience, unlike Line 2. But if your plans include The Ring, Hongyancun, or Chongqing West Railway Station, it becomes useful.

Heads-up: Line 5 has both rapid and local trains. The rapid trains do not stop at every station, so check the platform screens and listen to the announcements before boarding.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Chongguang Station	The Ring	Visit the mall and its indoor rainforest area.
Hongyancun Station	Hongyancun Station	See Chongqing’s deepest metro station.
Chongqing West Railway Station	Chongqing West Railway Station	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from Chongqing West.

Line 6

At about 96.6 kilometers with 43 stations, Line 6 is the longest urban rail transit line in mainland China. It is also one of Chongqing’s major commuter lines.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Shangxinjie Station	Longmenhao Old Street, Xiahaoli	Walk through the old streets on the Nan’an side, with river views and older buildings along the way.
Xiaoshizi Station	Hongya Cave, Yangtze River Cableway, Raffles City	Link several popular spots on the Yuzhong Peninsula in one route.
Grand Theater Station	Chongqing Grand Theater, Chongqing Science and Technology Museum, Jiangbeizui night views	Head here for Jiangbeizui night views and city views around the river confluence.
Jiangbeicheng Station	Jiangbeizui, financial district area	Take in the high-rise skyline and the more modern side of Chongqing.
Hongqihegou Station	Transfer only	Transfer here for Line 3. You do not need to make a separate stop here.
Chongqing East Railway Station	Chongqing East Railway Station	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from Chongqing East.

Line 10

Line 10 connects Jiangbei Airport with Chongqing North Railway Station, so it is one of the lines you are most likely to use when arriving in or leaving Chongqing.

Heads-up: Line 10 also has both rapid and local trains. Check the platform screens and listen to the announcements before boarding.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Jiangbei Airport T2 Terminal Station	Jiangbei Airport T2	Use this station for Terminal 2 flights. You can also transfer to Line 3 here.
Jiangbei Airport T3 Terminal Station	Jiangbei Airport T3	Use this station for Terminal 3 flights.
Chongqing North Railway Station North Square	Chongqing North Railway Station North Square	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from the North Square side.
Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from the South Square side.
Zengjiayan Station	Three Gorges Museum, People’s Auditorium	Pair the museum with the landmark building across the square.
Auditorium Station	Three Gorges Museum, People’s Auditorium	Another option for the museum and auditorium.

Loop Line

The Loop Line runs around the outer part of central Chongqing and connects several major transport hubs, including Chongqing North Railway Station, Chongqing West Railway Station, and Shapingba. It also has both rapid and local trains.

Station	Nearby places	How to use it
Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from the South Square side, or transfer to Line 3 or Line 10.
Shapingba Station	Shapingba Railway Station, Shapingba commercial area	Take a train from Shapingba, or walk around the nearby shopping area.
Shangxinjie Station	Longmenhao Old Street, Xiahaoli	Connect this stop with an old street walk on the Nan’an side, or transfer to Line 6.
Chongqing West Railway Station	Chongqing West Railway Station	Take a high-speed train or intercity train from Chongqing West.
Ranjiaba Station	Transfer only	Transfer here for Line 5 or Line 6. You do not need to make a separate stop here.

Other Metro Lines

Beyond the lines above, Chongqing also has Line 4, Line 9, Line 18, the Guobo Line, the Jiangtiao Line, and the Bitong Line. They are not the main routes most visitors will use for city-center sightseeing, but they can still be useful if your destination happens to be along one of them.

Line	Where they may be useful
Line 4	Longxing, Tangjiatuo, Yuzui, and nearby areas.
Line 9	Guanyinqiao, Jiangbeizui, Shapingba, and Hualongqiao.
Line 18	Huangjueping, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and Lijiatuo.
Guobo Line	Chongqing International Expo Center, Yuelai, and Lijia.
Jiangtiao Line	Jiangjin.
Bitong Line	Bishan and Tongliang.

Getting between the airport, train stations, and the city

Chongqing’s airport and main train stations are spread across different parts of the city, so check exactly which station or terminal you are using before taking the metro. This is especially important for Jiangbei Airport, which has both T2 and T3, and Chongqing North Railway Station, which is split between South Square and North Square.

Transport hub	Metro lines	Notes
Chongqing North Railway Station South Square	Loop Line, Line 3, Line 10	Ticket gates 1–13 for high-speed and bullet trains are accessed from the North Square.
Chongqing North Railway Station North Square	Line 4, Line 10	Ticket gates 14–26 for high-speed and bullet trains are accessed from the South Square.
Shapingba Station	Loop Line, Line 9, Line 1	Both a high-speed rail station and the center of the Shapingba commercial area.
Chongqing West Railway Station	Loop Line, Line 5	The station is large, so allow extra time to navigate and transfer.
Chongqing East Railway Station	Line 6	Located in the Chayuan area. Line 6 connects it with the main urban metro network.
Jiangbei Airport T2	Line 3, Line 10	Check your terminal before arriving or departing.
Jiangbei Airport T3	Line 10, Line 15 (expected to open by the end of 2026)	For now, Line 10 is the main metro option. After Line 15 opens, it will connect toward The Ring.