Transport · Stations · Chongqing
Chongqing North Railway Station
重庆北站. Chongqing's primary high-speed hub, gateway to a city of terraced hillside streets, cable cars over the Yangtze, and the world's spiciest hotpot.
About this station
Chongqing North Railway Station serves one of China's most distinctive cities — a municipality of 32 million people built on cliffs above the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, known for its vertiginous topography, spicy cuisine, neon-lit night markets, and the observation points that look out over a skyline that was largely non-existent 30 years ago.
The station opened its current high-speed hall in 2012 and has been progressively expanded since. The north and south halls serve different platform groups, which creates the occasional navigational confusion for first-time visitors; clear communication from booking through to platform is the key to avoiding mid-dash platform changes.
Chongqing's highlights for visitors include: the Yangtze River cruise embarkation points (for the Three Gorges journey), the Hongya Cave stilted building complex above the river, the Liberation Monument district, the Dazu Rock Carvings (a UNESCO site, accessible by bus), and the Ciqikou ancient town. The hotpot culture here is widely considered the original and definitive version of the dish, with full-fat tallow-based broths.
Entry tips
Chongqing North is the city's main high-speed hub, though the older Chongqing station downtown also handles some services. The two buildings (north and south) of Chongqing North station are connected internally — confirm which side your train departs from. Allow 40 minutes.
Security flow
Three-stage process. The station is large and busy, particularly during the post-Spring Festival migration. English signage is present but less comprehensive than the megacity stations.
Food inside the station
Strong Chongqing representation: Chongqing hotpot broth stalls, spicy dandan noodles, and doubanjiang-based braised dishes. The city's cuisine is closely related to Sichuan's but with its own distinct hotpot style.
Food nearby
The Jiangbei district around the station has modern commercial development. For Chongqing's famous night eating culture and rooftop hotpot experiences, take the metro to Jiefangbei (the commercial core).
Transit to the city
Metro Lines 3 and 10 serve the station. Line 3 connects to Jiefangbei (the main commercial and historic district) in about 20 minutes. Taxis on the south plaza.