Chongqing North Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Chongqing's main central station, with a North Square and a South Square on opposite sides of the tracks. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 重庆北站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains to Chengdu and Wanzhou, plus some long-distance high-speed and conventional trains |
| Metro | North Square stop (重庆北站北广场): Lines 4 and 10. South Square stop (重庆北站南广场): Lines 3, 10 and the Loop Line. |
| Arrive | 45 minutes to an hour before departure; add 15 to 20 minutes if you might need to cross between squares. |
Departing from Chongqing North Railway Station
- Getting in. Since 2021 you can enter from either square and reach every train; the two sides connect through the elevated hall and an underground passage. Use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The passport you booked with is your ticket: use the staffed lane, where it is checked against your booking, unless signs say the automatic gates take passports.
- Security. Bags go through an X-ray right after the ID check, and you walk through a scanner.
- The waiting hall. Waiting halls are upstairs over the tracks; the boards show your gate, numbered with A and B letters. Find your train number on the departure boards; boarding usually starts 15 to 20 minutes before departure and the gate closes a few minutes before.
- The platform. Your coach number (车厢) is printed on the floor markings and over the doors; stand at yours, as trains stop only briefly.
Food: Chain fast food and noodle counters inside the station and in the underground mall.
Arriving at Chongqing North Railway Station
Arrivals exit to the underground levels, which link to the metro on each side.
Taxi and Didi: Taxis and ride-hail cars pick up on the underground levels; follow 出租车 or 网约车 signs. Taxis cannot cut between the squares, so order the car from the side you exit on.
Tips
- To switch sides, ride Line 10 one stop between the two square stations; walking takes 15 to 20 minutes.
- Chongqing has other big stations: Chongqing West (重庆西) and Chongqing East (重庆东, opened 2025). Check your ticket.
- Line 10 runs to Jiangbei Airport from the North Square stop.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro in Chongqing.
- Also in Chongqing: Chongqing West Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: epaper.cqrb.cn, en.wikipedia.org, chinafortravelers.com, www.wanderinchina.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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