Updated 4 October 2026 · LocalKey consultant team
The fastest Chengdu to Chongqing high-speed trains take 1 hour 2 minutes, from Chengdu East to Shapingba, and most trains take between about 1 hour and 2 hours 40 minutes depending on the Chongqing station. On 12306 for a sample October 2026 date, Chengdu East showed more than 100 bookable trains to Chongqing West, Chongqing North and Shapingba; book with your passport and pick the station by where you are staying.
How long does the Chengdu to Chongqing high-speed train take?
The fastest Chengdu to Chongqing trains take about 1 hour: on 12306 for Wednesday 14 October 2026, the quickest was 1 hour 2 minutes from Chengdu East to Shapingba, while most trains took about 1 h 15 min to 2 h 10 min to Chongqing West and about 1 h 25 min to 2 h 40 min to Chongqing North.
According to China Railway, the Chengdu–Chongqing high-speed railway is 299.8 km long, opened in December 2015 at 300 km/h, and its middle section has run at up to 350 km/h since 24 December 2020. The 12306 live search for that sample date showed these bookable services from Chengdu:
| Route | Bookable trains (12306, Wed 14 Oct 2026) | First–last departure | Fastest | Most trains take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu East → Chongqing West | 54 | 06:33–22:15 | 1 h 06 min | about 1 h 15 min to 2 h 10 min |
| Chengdu East → Chongqing North | 45 | 06:10–21:23 | 1 h 17 min | about 1 h 25 min to 2 h 40 min |
| Chengdu East → Shapingba | 11 | 08:17–21:37 | 1 h 02 min | about 1 h 02 min to 1 h 35 min |
The same search also listed six trains from Chengdu East to Chongqing East, with a fastest journey of 1 hour 51 minutes; six to Jiangbei Airport station, with a fastest journey of 1 hour 40 minutes; Chengdu South showed 6 trains to Chongqing West (fastest 1 h 25 min), 3 to Chongqing North and 1 to Shapingba. Chengdu West showed five slower conventional trains to Chongqing North, with a fastest journey of 2 hours 48 minutes. Chengdu Railway Station showed no trains to Chongqing. A further 14 outbound Chengdu–Chongqing trains in that same search showed sales paused for a timetable adjustment and are not counted above; timetables change, so check 12306 again close to booking and read the station signs on the day.
CCTV, reported by CQCB, described the first Fuxing trains between Chengdu East and Shapingba as taking about an hour. In the reverse direction on the same sample date, Shapingba showed 12 trains to Chengdu East (fastest 1 hour 2 minutes), Chongqing West 56 trains between 06:32 and 21:52 (fastest 1 hour 4 minutes), and Chongqing North 47 trains from 05:25 (fastest 1 hour 16 minutes).
Which Chengdu and Chongqing stations should you use?
Chengdu East is the starting point for almost every high-speed train to Chongqing. In Chongqing, Chongqing West has the widest choice of trains, Shapingba suits Xiaoshizi, Chaotianmen, Ciqikou and Hongyadong, and Chongqing North suits Yubei District.
| Station | District | Metro lines | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu East | Chenghua District | Lines 2 and 7 | Almost every Chengdu–Chongqing high-speed train |
| Chongqing West | Shapingba District, Shangqiao area | Loop Line and Line 5 | Widest choice (54 on the sample date); Line 1 via Line 5 to Shiqiaopu |
| Shapingba | Shapingba core shopping district | Lines 1, 9 and Loop Line | Xiaoshizi, Chaotianmen and Ciqikou on Line 1; Hongyadong about 700 m from Xiaoshizi |
| Chongqing North | Yubei District | North Square: Lines 4 and 10; South Square: Lines 3, 10 and Loop Line | Yubei District; Jiefangbei via Line 3 + Line 2 |
| Chongqing East | Nan'an District | Line 6 | Nan'an, only when a suitable train is listed |
Chengdu South can work if a listed train fits your hotel, but this guide does not verify its metro connections.
Shapingba station sits in the Three Gorges Square shopping district, and Chongqing West is in the Shangqiao area of Shapingba District. Chongqing East is in Nan'an District and opened on 27 June 2025; use it only when the train and your accommodation make it the sensible choice.
The Chengdu and Chongqing destination pages can help you match the station to the wider shape of your trip.
How do foreigners book and board the Chengdu–Chongqing train?
Foreign passengers buy real-name tickets with a valid passport. The 12306 English website accepts only valid foreign passports for registration, and activated, identity-verified accounts can buy e-tickets on 12306.cn or the 12306 mobile app.
- Create and activate a 12306 account using your valid foreign passport. For the full registration sequence, see 12306 Train Tickets for Foreigners.
- Search the exact departure and arrival stations. Chengdu East, Chongqing West, Chongqing North and Shapingba are separate choices, so do not select a station only because the city name looks familiar.
- Choose a bookable train and enter the passenger details exactly as shown on the passport. Ticket sales normally run from 15 days before departure until 30 minutes before departure, although the cut-off for mainland departures is subject to the station. The 12306 sales and endorsement window runs from 05:00 to 01:00 the next day, and from 05:00 to 23:30 on Tuesdays.
- Keep the e-ticket details and the same passport used for purchase. You need that passport to enter the station, pass the ticket gate, board and exit. A printed itinerary sheet is not a ticket.
- Allow enough time for security, identity checks and the ticket gate. Ticket checking stops before departure at a time set by the station announcement, so follow the signs and announcements rather than relying on a generic arrival rule.
- Recheck the train status close to departure. Some services may have sales paused during a timetable adjustment, and the station signs on the day take priority for the platform and boarding information.
Our China train stations for foreigners guide covers the station walk in more detail.
How do you get from the station into Chongqing (and from Chengdu East into Chengdu)?
Use the metro: Shapingba links to Lines 1, 9 and the Loop Line, Chongqing West to the Loop Line and Line 5, Chongqing North to Lines 3, 4, 10 and the Loop Line, and Chengdu East to Chengdu Metro Lines 2 and 7. For Xiaoshizi and Chaotianmen, Shapingba is the simplest arrival because Line 1 runs straight towards Xiaoshizi and Chaotianmen.
Shapingba: take Line 1 towards Xiaoshizi and Chaotianmen, with stops at Ciqikou; Hongyadong is about 700 m north of Xiaoshizi along Cangbai Road, and the Line 9 concourse interface serves the high-speed station.
Chongqing West: use the Loop Line or Line 5, which share a same-platform interchange; Line 5 meets Line 1 at Shiqiaopu.
Chongqing North: North Square has Lines 4 and 10, while South Square has Lines 3, 10 and the Loop Line; both squares lead to the same waiting hall, and for Jiefangbei take Line 3 to Niujiaotuo, then Line 2 to Linjiangmen.
Chengdu East: use Lines 2 and 7; the metro entrance is on the same level as the rail exit, Line 2 goes to Chunxi Road and Tianfu Square, and taxi and ride-hailing pickup is at West Square level B1.
For metro payment and practical transfer guidance, use China Metro for Foreigners. Metro lines, station arrangements and signs can change, so check 12306 and the station signs on the day.
Should you take the train or fly between Chengdu and Chongqing?
For the city-to-city hop, take the train: the fastest services take about an hour, and Chengdu East, Shapingba, Chongqing West and Chongqing North all sit in city districts with metro links. If you are heading to Chongqing's airport anyway, 12306 listed 6 trains from Chengdu East to a Jiangbei Airport station (fastest 1 h 40 min) on the sample date, so check that option on 12306 before you look at a flight.
The train is especially straightforward when your trip begins in Chengdu and continues into central Chongqing, because you can choose Shapingba, Chongqing West or Chongqing North according to your hotel.
If you want a sample Chengdu and Chongqing route rather than a transport-only plan, see Chengdu Private Tour 2026: Pandas, Sichuan Basin, and Chongqing Add-On. For your first evening after arrival, use Chongqing at Night 2026: A Night Views Map and Route; for a photo-led trip that ends the transfer day with a Chongqing night shoot, see photography experiences.
Plan this with LocalKey
Choose Independent for travel on your own with the LocalKey app and 24/7 backup. LocalKey books the trains, and optional add-ons include airport pickup, a private car/driver or a local guide, such as a station meet at Chongqing West.
Choose Private Guided for a private guide and driver/car across the trip. Your guide handles station entry and the passport ID check, and your driver meets you at the Chongqing station.
Families with luggage or strollers can add a station meet; see our China family tours.
Both options support your own China trip — planned, booked and backed. Contact a 1:1 specialist through 7×24 WeChat/WhatsApp to match the arrival station to your hotel and travel style. Explore our private China tours.
Sources
- 12306 China Railway — live timetable search, sample date 14 October 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-04
- 12306 English FAQ — real-name tickets, e-ticket ID check, itinerary sheet, ticket-check cut-off — verified_on 2026-10-04
- 12306 English registration — foreign passports only — verified_on 2026-10-04
- MTR High Speed Rail — buying on 12306, 15-day presale — verified_on 2026-10-04
- China Railway — Chengdu–Chongqing high-speed railway 350 km/h upgrade — verified_on 2026-10-04
- CQCB / CCTV — first Fuxing trains Chengdu East–Shapingba — verified_on 2026-10-04
- West China City Daily — Chengdu East entrances and transfers — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chengdu East station — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chengdu Metro Line 2 — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing Transport Bureau — Loop Line to Chongqing West; Chongqing North squares — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing Municipal People's Government — Line 5 south section and Shiqiaopu interchange — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing Municipal People's Government — Shapingba hub transfer hall — verified_on 2026-10-04
- CQCB — Shapingba transfer hall and high-speed station interface — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing Bendibao — Chongqing North north and south squares — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing West station — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Shapingba station — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing North station — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing East station — verified_on 2026-10-04
- Chongqing Rail Transit Line 1 — verified_on 2026-10-04
- iChongqing — Hongyadong access — verified_on 2026-10-04
