Route guide · High-speed rail
Chengdu to Chongqing by High-Speed Train (2026)
308 km, about 1h 15m, 143+ trains a day — two 20-million-person cities run like one metro line. The one thing to check: whether your train ends at Chongqing North or the newer Chongqing West.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Published Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥85 – ¥191
- what everyone buys
- Frequency
- 143/day
- 06:10 – 22:15
- Train types
- G
- G = fastest
- Day trip
- Easy
- no overnight needed
Check whether your train ends at Chongqing North 重庆北站 — some Chengdu–Chongqing trains use the newer Chongqing West 重庆西站 instead, ~15 km across town.
The route at a glance
Chengdu and Chongqing are only 308 km apart, but for a decade the train took half a day. The high-speed line collapsed that to about 1h 15m on the fastest G-trains, and now runs on the order of 143 trains a day each way from roughly 06:10 – 22:15. For a foreign visitor it is arguably the best short HSR experience in the country: cheap, frequent enough that you don’t need a reservation, and short enough to slot into any itinerary. Arriving from further afield first? See the Chengdu East station guide.
The one decision: which Chongqing station
Chongqing has more than one high-speed station, and they are far apart — about 15 km across this hilly, multi-level city. Both are real and in use on the Chengdu line, so match the station printed on your ticket:
Chongqing North 重庆北站most trains
The established hub on the Jiangbei side, Metro Lines 4 & 10, with separate North and South squares. Most Chengdu–Chongqing G-trains arrive here, and it is the one the arrival times below assume.
Chongqing West 重庆西站also used
A newer station to the southwest, Metro Lines 5 & 12. A share of trains terminate here instead — fine if that is what your ticket says, but it is a different part of the city, so don’t assume Chongqing North.
One more wrinkle at Chongqing North itself: it has a North Square (北广场) and a South Square (南广场), about 15 minutes apart on foot and served by different metro exits. Your ticket info in the 12306 app lists the correct square; if you walk out the wrong side, riding the metro one stop around is faster than walking between them. Full layout, metro exits and onward transport are in the Chongqing North station guide.
Classes and price
For a ride of about an hour and a quarter this is barely a decision, but:
| Class | Price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥85 – ¥191 | Perfectly comfortable — what everyone buys for this leg. |
| First class | ¥135 – ¥305 | A 2+2 layout and more quiet — pleasant, not essential. |
| Business class | ¥527 – ¥668 | Skip it on this route; spend it on hot pot instead. |
Doing Chongqing as a day trip
The usual plan: leave Chengdu East around 8 AM, arrive Chongqing North roughly 90 minutes later, ride the metro toward the river for the Hongyadong stilt-house complex and Yangtze views, and grab hot pot for lunch. Afternoon options run from Ciqikou Ancient Town to the Yangtze cable car or the famous Liziba monorail that threads through a residential tower. With trains until past 22:00, the return rarely needs pre-booking on a weekday — pre-book on weekends and Chinese holidays.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel: face-value fares, no booking fee. The trade-off is hassle — passport registration must be approved before you can buy (often slow), and customer service is Chinese-first and limited if a booking goes wrong.
Trip.com ↗ — the same China Railway seats, booked in English with a foreign Visa or Mastercard, no verification wait and 24/7 multilingual support. Prices track 12306, and with new-customer promotions Trip often comes out level or cheaper. As China’s largest OTA you can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Real-name rule — the name and passport number on the ticket must match what you present; e-tickets are scanned at the gate, no paper pickup needed.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
The international arm of Ctrip — one of the few platforms selling real China Railway tickets in English, to a foreign passport and card. (Is it legit? — 12306 vs Trip.com )
Booking through our Trip.com links costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent research — we earn a small commission. How we’re funded.
Arrived at Chongqing North — getting to your hotel
Chongqing North 重庆北站 sits on the Jiangbei side, a short metro ride from the riverside downtown. Remember the North-Square / South-Square split — follow the platform signs to the right square, as the metro entrances differ. Times below assume Chongqing North. Picking an area first? See where to stay in Chongqing.
| City area | Metro / Bus | Taxi / DiDi |
|---|---|---|
| Jiefangbei 解放碑 (downtown) | Metro Line 10 → Line 2 (change Zengjiayan), exit Linjiangmen. ~31 min, ¥6. | ¥28–38, ~22 min (9.2 km) |
| Hongya Cave 洪崖洞 (riverside, by Jiefangbei) | Line 10 → Line 2 to Linjiangmen, short walk. ~32 min, ¥6. | ¥28–38, ~22 min (9 km) |
| Guanyinqiao 观音桥 (Jiangbei shopping) | Metro Line 4 → Line 3. ~35 min, ¥5. | ¥25–35, ~33 min (8.8 km) |
Transit times and driving distances via Amap (高德地图) routing, checked 2026-06-14. Chongqing metro is distance-based ¥2–10; Chongqing North has separate North/South squares — follow the platform signs. Traffic in hilly Chongqing can stretch taxi times.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Chengdu from Chongqing?
About 308 km (191 miles) across the Sichuan basin — close enough that the high-speed train takes only about 75 minutes.
How do I get from Chengdu to Chongqing?
By high-speed train. G-trains run Chengdu East to Chongqing North about 143 times a day, taking ~1h 15m, from ¥85 in second class — roughly one every 15 minutes. Book on the official 12306 app or on Trip.com, or simply walk up at the station.
Do I need to book Chengdu–Chongqing in advance?
No — with 96 trains a day, same-day tickets are almost always available except on major holidays. Walk-up booking at the station works.
Can I do Chongqing as a day trip from Chengdu?
Yes, and it's a common one. Leave Chengdu ~8 AM, arrive Chongqing ~9:30 AM, see Hongyadong and grab hot pot for lunch, return on a 6–8 PM train. 14 hours total including transit.
North or South square at Chongqing North station?
Your ticket tells you — look for 北广场 (North Square) or 南广场 (South Square) in the arrival info. They are 15 min apart on foot with different metro lines. Check before you walk out the wrong door.
Is it worth flying Chengdu–Chongqing?
No. The flight is 50 min airport-to-airport, but both airports are 45+ min from downtown. The train is faster door-to-door, half the price, and runs every 15 min.
Verification scope
Route data — distance, journey time, fare bands and daily frequencies — is sampled from China’s national rail system and refreshed monthly. Chongqing metro lines and transit times are from Amap (高德地图) routing, checked 2026-06-14.
Confirm before booking: exact schedules and fares vary by train and season — check whether your train terminates at Chongqing North (重庆北站) or Chongqing West (重庆西站) at booking time, as they are far apart.
Once the train gets you to Chongqing
The corridor is the easy part — here is what to do with the day at the other end.
