In short
Chongqing North is the city’s main high-speed station, and reaching it from Jiangbei Airport does not mean going into the centre first. Metro Line 10 is the default: the concourse sits directly beneath Terminal 3, with Exit 4 connecting to the arrivals level, and trains towards Lanhua Road leave every few minutes, covering the run to Chongqing North station north square in 21 minutes for a distance-based ¥4 — one of the cheapest airport rail fares in China. For most travellers that is the whole answer, because it needs no timetable. There is also a national-rail option. Jiangbeijichang railway station sits on Level B2 under T3, on the airport branch of Chongqing’s eastern ring railway, and intercity trains reach Chongqing North in as little as 16 minutes from ¥13 in second class or ¥22 in first. The catch is frequency: a live query for the day returned only about eight departures from Jiangbeijichang towards Chongqing North, so this is not a turn-up-and-go service. Check the same-day timetable on 12306 and book ahead, and treat Line 10 as your fallback.
- Metro
- Line 10, 21 min
- Metro fare
- ¥4, distance-based
- First / last train (T3 → city)
- 06:38 weekdays / 06:33 weekends; last 23:23
- Intercity train
- Jiangbeijichang → Chongqing North, from 16 min
- Intercity fare
- ¥13 second class, ¥22 first class
- Rail station
- Under Terminal 3, Level B2
- Trains a day
- About 8 — check 12306 for the day
How to take each option
Metro Line 10 (recommended)
Time 21 minFare ¥4First 06:38Last 23:23
- After baggage claim, follow the Metro signs down one level; the Line 10 concourse is under Terminal 3 and Exit 4 connects to the arrivals level.
- Buy a single-journey token at the machines, which offer English, or tap in with a transport QR code in Alipay, WeChat Pay or Cloud QuickPass.
- Board a train towards Lanhua Road: Chongqing North South Square is about seven stops, and the north square is one stop further.
- Leave the train at Chongqing North north square and walk into the railway station entrance in the square; gates close about 20 minutes before departure.
The ¥4 is the distance-based fare published when the airport section of Line 10 opened, and it is unusually low for China. Trains run about every 7 minutes at peak, the whole ride is underground and immune to traffic, which makes it the safe choice when you have a train to catch.
East Ring intercity train (very few departures)
Time From 16 minFare From ¥13
- From arrivals follow the train or intercity signs; the station entrance lies between Terminal 3 Level B1 and the GTC Level B2, about five minutes on foot.
- Buy on 12306 with your passport, or at the concourse counter — ¥13 in second class, ¥22 in first.
- Pass the ticket gates with your passport: it is your travel document, and no separate paper ticket is needed.
- Go down to the Level B2 platforms and board a train towards Chongqing North; the ride takes from 16 minutes.
Only about eight trains a day run from Jiangbeijichang, so services are very sparse and this is emphatically not turn-up-and-go. Check the same-day timetable for Jiangbeijichang on 12306 and book before you count on it; if you are in a hurry, take Line 10 instead — 21 minutes for ¥4 every few minutes. Some services run through to Chengdu East, about 129 minutes from the airport.
Taxi
Fare Metered
- Follow the Taxi signs down to Level 1.
- Queue at the rank on the Level 1 platform between Terminal 3 and the GTC.
- Show the driver the Chinese name 重庆北站 and confirm the meter will be used.
Chongqing’s roads stack up through tunnels and across river bridges, so the metered distance can be far longer than the straight line on your map — allow plenty of time when catching a train.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
The airport’s current official table puts the last Line 10 departure from Terminal 3 towards the city at 23:23, though other sources list 22:52 — trust the boards on the day. Intercity trains from Jiangbeijichang stop even earlier, so do not plan on catching one after a late landing. After midnight your only options are airport express K01, which runs until about 30 minutes after the last arriving flight, and taxis or ride-hailing cars, both of which operate around the clock. The night tariff between 23:00 and 06:00 adds roughly 15% to the day rate.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Chongqing Jiangbei Airport to Chongqing North railway station?
Two ways: Metro Line 10 from under Terminal 3 towards Lanhua Road, 21 minutes to Chongqing North north square for ¥4 every few minutes; or the East Ring intercity train from Jiangbeijichang on Level B2, from 16 minutes, but only about eight departures a day.
How long is the train from Jiangbeijichang station to Chongqing North?
The East Ring intercity takes as little as 16 minutes with no changes. One figure elsewhere on this site quotes 14 minutes; the two sources disagree, so rely on the day’s departure list on 12306.
How much is the intercity train from CKG to Chongqing North?
¥13 in second class and ¥22 in first, as published when the eastern ring line opened; check 12306 for the live fare on your date.
How many trains a day run from Jiangbeijichang to Chongqing North?
A live query for the day returned only about eight departures towards Chongqing North. Services are very sparse, so check the same-day timetable on 12306 and book ahead.
Do I have to leave the airport to catch the train?
No. Jiangbeijichang is on Level B2 beneath Terminal 3, about five minutes from the arrivals level following the train signs, and the whole walk is indoors.
Where exactly is Jiangbeijichang railway station?
On Level B2 under Terminal 3, crossing the Line 10 concourse and linked to arrivals through the GTC. It has four platforms and eight tracks, on the airport branch of Chongqing’s eastern ring railway.
Can I book the airport-to-Chongqing-North train in advance?
Yes, and you should. Buy on 12306 with your passport — you can also search and book here — because with only about eight departures a day, turning up on spec can mean a very long wait.
Can I get a train from the airport to Chengdu?
Yes. Some East Ring services run through from Jiangbeijichang to Chengdu East, taking about 129 minutes. They are infrequent, so confirm the day’s departures on 12306.
How early should I plan if I am catching a train after landing?
International arrivals usually take 45–60 minutes from touchdown to the arrivals hall; add five minutes to reach the rail station on Level B2, so allow at least 1.5 hours. If you take Line 10 instead, the ride is 21 minutes, but planning on 1.5 hours is still the safer call.
Metro or intercity train — which should I take?
Line 10 is 21 minutes and ¥4 every few minutes with no timetable to check, so it is the default. The intercity is fastest at 16 minutes and gives you a seat, but with only about eight departures a day it is worth it only when you already hold a ticket that matches a departure.