Chongqing West Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
A very large high-speed station in Shapingba, far west of the center, mainly for trains toward Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 重庆西站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains to Guiyang, Kunming and Chengdu, plus some long-distance trains |
| Metro | Line 5 and the Loop Line, at the Chongqing West Railway Station stop |
| Arrive | An hour before departure; walking distances are long. |
Departing from Chongqing West Railway Station
- Getting in. Use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The building is huge, so allow 15 minutes or more to walk from the drop-off or metro to your 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. A very large waiting hall; the screens and your booking show the gate. 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: Mostly fast food and noodle shops.
Arriving at Chongqing West Railway Station
Arrivals come out on the underground level; follow signs for the metro or taxis.
Taxi and Didi: Taxi pickup is on both sides of the arrivals hall; queues can reach an hour at holidays. Ride-hail (网约车) uses the underground car park; tell the driver the pillar number you are standing by.
Tips
- It is a long way from Jiefangbei and the riverfront; the metro is often faster than a taxi.
- Ignore touts in the arrivals hall offering rides; use the official taxi queue or an app.
- Chongqing North (重庆北) and Chongqing East (重庆东) are different stations. Allow at least 2 to 3 hours to transfer between them.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro in Chongqing.
- Also in Chongqing: Chongqing North Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: www.wanderinchina.com, m.maigoo.com, epaper.cqrb.cn, sg.trip.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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