Chongqing, built across ridges, riverbanks, and deep gullies, it forces movement in three dimensions, up staircases, down slopes, across bridges, and through tunnels bored straight through hills. There's no "flat" here, and that changes everything about getting around. Locals mix metro rides with buses, ferries, footpaths, and even public elevators just to run errands.
For visitors, copying that mix is the key to seeing more without wasting time. At China Expedition Tours, we organize trips using exactly this kind of local logic, no shuttle vans waiting in parking lots, just real transit, timed and connected the way residents actually use it. The rest of this guide explains how it works on the ground.
The metro, operated as Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT), runs over 10 lines. Lines 1, 2, 3, 6, and the Loop Line handle most daily travel. Trains often climb steep inclines or disappear into mountainside tunnels, this isn't a glitch, it's by design. Line 2's elevated monorail section near Liziba passes right beside apartment windows, but commuters treat it like any other train.
Service runs from about 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Fares start at 2 RMB for short trips and top out around 10 RMB for cross-city journeys. Payment works via WeChat or Alipay QR codes, or single-use tokens from station machines. All stations have signs in English and Chinese, and transfers between lines usually take under 10 minutes.
More than 700 bus routes fill gaps the metro can't reach, especially in hilly residential zones or outer districts. Most buses are air-conditioned, low-floor, and display route numbers and end points on digital screens. The fare is flat: 2 RMB, paid by cash or phone scan, no matter the distance.
Key transfer points include Jiefangbei, Longtousi, and Chenjiaping. Buses can be slow during peak hours because roads twist and turn, but they go places trains don't like Ciqikou (Route 261) or along Nanbin Road (Route 375). Real-time tracking is available on Gaode Maps or Baidu Maps.
Public ferries still operate across both the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, mainly for commuters, not tourists. The busiest crossing runs between Chaotianmen Pier (downtown) and Jiangbeicheng or Tushan on the north bank. Boats leave every 10–20 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The ride costs 2 RMB, just scan your phone at the gate; no ticket needed. Crossings take 5–10 minutes and allow bikes. Avoid the nearby tourist cruises (priced at 100+ RMB); look for signs labeled "public ferry" or "regular service."
Only one cable car functions as real transit: the Jiulongpo Cableway. It connects Huangjueping (near the art institute) to the upper slope neighborhood. It costs 2 RMB, runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and takes about 3 minutes. The well-known Yangtze River Cable Car downtown is now almost entirely for sightseeing (20 RMB per ride) and rarely used by locals for commuting.
Walking isn't optional, it's part of the system. Covered skywalks link major metro stations to malls or offices (e.g., Jiefangbei Station to WFC). In older areas, you'll find public staircases, some with hundreds of steps, lit at night and fitted with handrails. Many also include free escalators or elevators. The Hongqihegou Vertical Lift, for instance, carries people 50 meters straight up a cliff face near Eling Park. If a street seems to dead-end, check for a staircase heading down, it might lead to a bus stop or ferry landing.
Taxis are widely available. The meter starts at 10 RMB for the first 3 km, then adds 2 RMB per additional kilometer. A 20% surcharge applies between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Most drivers speak limited English, so having your destination written out helps. DiDi works reliably, choose "Didi Express" for standard rides. Avoid unlicensed cars, especially near railway stations.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) sits about 20 km north of downtown. Metro Line 10 connects both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 directly to the urban core, 40 minutes to stations like Hongtudi or Central Park, for 6 RMB. Trains run from 6:30 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Chongqing North Railway Station serves high-speed trains to Chengdu, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and beyond, and links to Metro Lines 3, 10, and the Loop Line. Chongqing West Station, farther southwest, is served by Metro Line 5 and airport-style shuttle buses. Chongqing's transport works because it's layered, not perfect.
When one option slows down, a bus stuck on a hill, fog delaying a ferry, another usually picks up the slack. Locals don't rely on a single mode; they switch freely between rail, road, water, and foot. That flexibility is what makes the city navigable despite its terrain. And if you'd rather not piece it all together yourself, we organize every leg of your journey using this same practical approach so you move through Chongqing smoothly, without guesswork.
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