Planning a trip to Chongqing

Getting There

Jiangbei Airport is 25km (15 miles) north of Chongqing, and 30 minutes by taxi (around ¥67). It offers daily domestic service to Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, and Xi'an; it offers service to Lhasa twice a week. International destinations include Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, and Dusseldorf. The Minhang (CAAC) airport shuttle bus (tel. 023/6386-5824) leaves every half-hour from 6am to 9pm from Shangqing Si, Yuzhong District, for ¥15. Domestic and international air tickets are also on sale here from 7:30am to 6:30pm. Dragonair has offices in the Metropolis Building (Daduhui Shangsha), Zourong Lu 68 (tel. 023/6372-9900).

The Main Railway Station and Long-Distance Bus Station are next to each other on Nanqu Lu, near the Yangzi River. Trains from Shanghai and Beijing take approximately 28 and 25 hours, respectively. Trains from Chongqing Bei Zhan (Chongqing North) to Chengdu take 3 1/2 hours, costing ¥51. The soft-seat waiting lounge is on the far right of the station complex.

Luxury buses with a uniformed attendant and bathroom onboard connect Chongqing to Chengdu; the 4-hour trip costs ¥107. The bus makes two stops in Chongqing: the first, at Chenjia Ping, for those going to the wharf; the second, at the Long-Distance Bus Station. As you exit, ignore the throng of private drivers vying to overcharge you. Walk across the parking lot to the taxi queue in front of the railway station. Insist on using the meter. The ride to any of the major hotels is ¥20 to ¥30. Large Volvo and Mercedes buses leave the Long-Distance Bus Station for Chengdu every half-hour throughout the day for ¥107. Buses to Le Shan leave from the Jiefang Bei Qiche Keyun Zhan (Liberation Monument Bus Station) at Linjiang Lu 60.

Getting Around

There are two types of taxis. Rates for the midrange yellow cabs are ¥5 for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.80 per kilometer thereafter. The white cabs charge ¥7 for the first 3km (2 miles), then ¥2.40 per kilometer afterwards. Both rates are increased by 20% from 10pm to 7am. In addition to the 10 bridges that span the Jialing and Yangzi rivers are two cable car lines. One leaves from Cangbai Lu to cross the Jialing, the other leaves from Xinhua Lu to cross the Yangzi; both cost ¥2. The Jialing Cable Car runs from 6:30am to 10pm, the Yangzi, from 6:15am to 9:45pm. Buses/trolleys serve all parts of the city. Rides with air-conditioning are ¥1.50 to ¥2.50; rides without are ¥1 to ¥1.50. Cable cars and some buses/trolleys have attendants. At the moment, the light rail only has one line running from Yuzhong District center (Jiao Chang Kou) to the Jialing River side, to Jiulongpo District, and ending at Dadukou District's Xinshancun. Fare is ¥2 to ¥5; from 6:30am to 10:30pm. Two more lines -- one connecting Chaotianmen and Shapingba -- are scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Visitor Information

CITS is located near the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang). This branch, at Zaozi Lanya Zheng Jie 120, second floor (tel. 023/6385-0693; fax 023/6385-0196; citscq@cta.cq.cn.), is particularly helpful.