How to Get Around Chongqing: Complete Metro, Taxi & Didi Guide for Travelers

If you’ve ever looked at a map of Chongqing, you’ll know why transportation is the most searched travel topic related to the city.

Unlike any other city built among mountains and rivers, Chongqing sprawls across bridges, tunnels, and over rivers on layered highways.

Instead of being flat like Beijing, or densely compact like Hong Kong, Chongqing has been nicknamed “China’s 3D city” for a reason.

Transportation routes twist through the hills like serpentines. Subway lines slice underneath apartment buildings. And some neighborhoods are on completely different vertical levels than others.

Ok, so you get it. Chongqing isn’t flat.

But how exactly can you travel around Chongqing efficiently?

I created this complete guide to tell you everything you need to know about transportation in Chongqing:

• Chongqing Metro (路线 + tickets + tips)
• Taking taxis & understanding prices
• Riding Didi in Chongqing
• Airport transfer options
• When to choose which transport method
• And helpful tips to successfully navigate Chongqing when you arrive

If you’re traveling to Chongqing soon, check out this guide before your trip to save you time, money, and headaches.

Let’s get started.

Understanding how Chongqing is built

I know we just covered this, but trust me, it helps to know how Chongqing is built before we jump into every transit option.

As one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, Chongqing holds a unique status just like:

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Tianjin

Unlike those eastern cities, however, Chongqing is extremely mountainous. For example, you’ll notice its districts span across both sides of the Yangtze River and Jialing River.

The city is connected by dozens of bridges linking main districts together.

Tourists generally stick around these neighborhoods:

• Jiefangbei 商圈 (Yuzhong District 运河区)
• Hongyadong 洪雅洞
• Chaotianmen 朝天门
• Nan’an (Raffles City view side 南沙区)

Transportation between these districts is excellent, but steep walkways and inconsistent ground levels can get confusing if you’re not familiar with the city.

Now that you have a basic idea of how Chongqing is built, let’s breakdown your transportation options.

Complete Chongqing Metro Guide

The metro (地铁 dìtiě) is by far the easiest and quickest way to get around Chongqing.

Why you should use the Metro

• Avoid traffic
• Super cheap
• English signage
• Connects main attractions
• Clean and safe

Key Lines to know as a tourist

Line 2号线 … Most popular line. Passes through Liziba Station (李子坝站) where the train literally cuts through a residential apartment building. This station is a tourist attraction on its own.

Line 1号线 … Connects Shapingba, Ciqikou Ancient Town, and downtown districts.

Line 6号线 … Airport transfers and further northbound districts.

Loop Line (环线) … Circles around most districts and intersects with many lines.

Metro Fares

• Distance-based.
• Starting at around 2 RMB.
• Most center city trips will cost you between 2–5 RMB.

Airport will cost a little bit more depending on your stop but still pretty cheap.

Compare that to taxis and it’s a steal.

How to Pay for Metro Tickets

You have 4 options:

• Purchase single ride tickets from a ticket machine
• Scan Alipay transport QR code
• Scan WeChat Pay transport code
• Use local transport card

As an international traveler, your best bet is to simply turn on the metro QR code within Alipay or WeChat.

Tip: Scan the QR code on entry and exit.

Metro Pros & Cons

Pros

• Quick, punctual
• Cheap
• English metro station announcements
• Avoid traffic

Cons

• Crowded during rush hour
• Stations can be super deep underground
• Exit points can be confusing since each street level may have multiple levels

Taking Taxis in Chongqing

Taxis are easy to grab within city-center neighborhoods.

You will know its a taxi because they’re usually yellow and have a meter inside.

Taxi Pricing

• Starting at around 10 RMB (starts slightly higher at night).
• Increases for every km.
• Night surcharge after certain hour.
• Taxi’s are SUPER cheap compared to the US and Europe.
• Jiefangbei to Hongyadong = usually under 20 RMB.

When to Take a Taxi

Ideal situations to take taxis:

• You have luggage
• Short distance uphill
• Late night
• You want door-to-door service

Taxi Tips for Foreigners

• Rarely speak English
• Know your destination in Chinese ahead of time
• Use Baidu Maps to show pickup and destination
• Avoid traveling during rush hour traffic (5pm–7pm)
• Communication is often easier with Didi.

How to Use Didi in Chongqing (Uber of China)

If you’re like me and want the easiest way to travel around Chongqing, use DiDi.

Think of Didi as China’s Uber.

Using Didi as a Foreign Visitor

Great news: Didi can be found inside Alipay.

You don’t even need a Chinese phone number if you use Didi through Alipay.

Steps:

• Open Alipay app
• Search “Didi”
• Fill in pick-up and destination
• Confirm pricing
• Automatic payment through Alipay

Didi Car Types

• Express (default)
• Premier
• Taxi Call Booking
• Large vehicle option

Express works for most tourists.

Why Didi is often better than a taxi

• Transparent pricing
• In-app translation
• You can type in your address
• See where your driver is on a map
• Can pay digitally

Transfer Options from Chongqing Airport

Whether you’re flying into China from the US or other parts of Asia, you’ll likely arrive into Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.

Option 1: Take the metro from the airport

The metro goes from the airport all the way into central Chongqing.

• Time: 40–60min
• Cost: Very inexpensive
• Ideal for: Solo travelers with light luggage

Option 2: Take a taxi from the airport

Taxi time from airport to Jiefangbei took us:

• 30–50 minutes (depends on traffic)
• Cost us about 60–100 RMB

Option 3: Take Didi from the airport

If you don’t mind spending a little extra, Didi from the airport is the most convenient option.

Benefits of using Didi from the airport:

• Clear pricing
• You will receive pickup instructions inside app
• Avoids negotiating with taxi drivers

Which Transport Method Should You Use?

Alright, now that you know all your options. Here’s a helpful cheat sheet for you:

I recommend using…

Metro if…

• You’re going to Liziba, Ciqikou, or big attractions
• You’re looking for the cheapest method
• During peak hours

Taxi if…

• You’re going a short distance
• Late night
• You have heavy luggage

Didi if…

• You don’t speak Chinese
• You want the convenience
• You want clear pricing

The challenges of navigating Chongqing

You may find that GPS apps don’t work well in Chongqing.

I’ve experienced things like:

• The pickup location is one level higher than you
• The mall you’re exiting has 3 different streets it touches
• Same roads exist on top of each other on bridges

My suggestion is to always triple-check:

• Street level you’re on
• Landmark closest to your street
• Your exact exit number if using metro

Is Transportation in Chongqing Safe?

YES.

You can rest assured that transportation in Chongqing is:

• Clean
• Regulated
• Extremely safe
• Friendly for female travelers

Crime is not an issue in main tourist areas.

Travel Tips for getting around Chongqing

• Download & set up Alipay ahead of time
• Have Chinese address of your hotel written down or screenshot.
• Avoid traveling during rush hour if you can.
• Give yourself extra time to arrive due to terrain.
• Use public metro for long distances/sightseeing.
• All public transit in Chongqing is pretty intuitive.

Conclusion

When you first look at Chongqing, it can seem overwhelming.

Highways on top of each other. Subway tracks slicing through apartment buildings. Endless bridges criss-crossing the river.

But honestly, once you grasp the fundamentals of how the metro, taxi, and Didi services work in Chongqing, getting around is quite simple.

For the average traveler, I suggest using:

The Metro + Didi method.

You get the best of both worlds.

Speed and affordability from the metro, and the convenience of Didi when you need it.

Trust me, once you understand how to use these two modes of transportation, you’ll wonder how you lived without them.