A CRH train leaving a tunnel on the Chengdu-Chongqing intercity railway at Jianyang.

China · High-speed

Chengdu–Chongqing High-Speed Railway

The Chengdu–Chongqing high-speed railway runs 308 km across the Sichuan basin, with 11 stations including Ziyang North, Neijiang North and Yongchuan East. A speed increase to 350 km/h in December 2020 brought the two cities within about an hour of each other, with services running from Chengdu East to Chongqing Shapingba.

Chengdu → Chongqing

Photo: Dingli35 · CC BY-SA 4.0

City pair: Chengdu → Chongqing
Scheduled time: 1h
Distance: 308 km
Operator: China State Railway Group (China Railway)

Route & corridor

Chengdu → Chongqing

City-to-city high-speed corridor. The map, ordered calls and any engineering detail shown below come from the published route record.

East from Chengdu East across the Sichuan basin through Ziyang North, Neijiang North and Yongchuan East to Chongqing Shapingba: 308 km with 11 stations, operated at up to 350 km/h.

308 km · Chengdu to Chongqing

Key stops

Chengdu East Railway StationZiyang North Railway StationNeijiang North Railway StationYongchuan East Railway StationChongqing Shapingba Railway Station

China · geographic corridor through verified stops · indicative alignment, not exact track geometry

Chengdu East Railway Station
China
Ziyang North Railway Station
China
Neijiang North Railway Station
China
Yongchuan East Railway Station
China
Chongqing Shapingba Railway Station
China

A CRH3A high-speed trainset at Chengdu East Railway Station. · Photo: Baycrest / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5

Why this connection

Why this route matters

Chengdu and Chongqing are two of the largest cities in western China and could hardly be less alike; one flat, green and unhurried, the other stacked in layers up the hills above the Yangtze. This line puts them about an hour apart across the farmland and low ridges of the Sichuan basin, which makes it possible to see both properly on one trip rather than choosing between them. As a piece of railway it is a good demonstration of what high-speed rail does to a region rather than to a country.

How it scores

Our current editorial assessment, for comparing journeys, a considered judgement, not a measurement.

SceneryModerate

ComfortStrong

Food & drinkLimited

Character of the trainStrong

Show the full editorial profile

More subjective

UniquenessModerate

Iconic statusLimited

PhotographyLimited

Travelling with childrenStrong

Not rated yet: value for money, seat quality, onboard service, slow travel quality, romance, remoteness.

Step-free access and assistance are set out with the practical detail further down rather than reduced to a score.

Evidence on demand

Practical reality

Route, onboard, season, fit and booking detail remain available without interrupting the journey above. Unknowns stay visible.

Time & itineraryChengdu → Chongqing

East from Chengdu East across the Sichuan basin through Ziyang North, Neijiang North and Yongchuan East to Chongqing Shapingba: 308 km with 11 stations, operated at up to 350 km/h.

View route map and verified stops

Chengdu East → Chongqing Shapingba

East from Chengdu East across the Sichuan basin through Ziyang North, Neijiang North and Yongchuan East to Chongqing Shapingba: 308 km with 11 stations, operated at up to 350 km/h.

308 km · Chengdu to Chongqing

Key stops

Chengdu East Railway StationZiyang North Railway StationNeijiang North Railway StationYongchuan East Railway StationChongqing Shapingba Railway Station

China · geographic corridor through verified stops · indicative alignment, not exact track geometry

Chengdu East Railway Station
China
Ziyang North Railway Station
China
Neijiang North Railway Station
China
Yongchuan East Railway Station
China
Chongqing Shapingba Railway Station
China

When to goYear-round

JanGood
FebGood
MarGood
AprGood
MayGood
JunGood
JulGood
AugGood
SepGood
OctGood
NovGood
DecGood

Good

Year-round: Good

Jan: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.

Month-by-month notes

Jan: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Feb: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Mar: Scheduled year-round; this is a busier travel period, so book earlier.
Apr: Scheduled year-round; this is a busier travel period, so book earlier.
May: Scheduled year-round; this is a busier travel period, so book earlier.
Jun: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Jul: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Aug: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Sep: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Oct: Scheduled year-round; this is a busier travel period, so book earlier.
Nov: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
Dec: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.

Good forSolo travellers · First-time rail travellers · Rail enthusiasts

Good fit for

Solo travellers
Especially good
Frequent departures and assigned seating make solo travel straightforward, with no need to plan around a single daily train.
First-time rail travellers
Especially good
A frequent, clearly signed, reservable service between major cities; one of the easiest ways to make a first long-distance journey in the country.
Rail enthusiasts
Especially good
A working high-speed railway running at its designed speed on purpose-built infrastructure rather than upgraded classic line.
Families
Good fit
Short journey, level boarding at the principal stations and toilets on board; luggage space is the usual constraint at busy times.

Also works for 2 more

Couples
Comfortable paired seating and a short journey, though this is transport rather than an occasion in itself.
Older travellers
Step-free access at the principal stations and a seated, reserved journey with no changes.

Think twice if

Less suitable for slow travellers
The point of this route is speed; travellers looking for a long, unhurried journey will find it over quickly.
You cannot just turn up
A reservation is required for this journey.

Reservation & bookingReservation required

Reservation: Required
Price: Dynamic pricing
Booking difficulty: Easy
Rail pass: Not accepted

Frequent real-name, seat-specific services booked through China Railway's 12306 website or app; a passport is accepted as identification for foreign passengers.
No extra reservation is needed with a rail pass.

Official journey information, China State Railway Group (China Railway)Compare similar journeys

We link to the operator's own journey page. No direct booking channel has been verified for this service, so availability and fares must be checked there. Journey length: 1h. Checked 11 Sep 2026 · China Railway · Chengdu–Chongqing line speed increase to 350 km/h.

Sources & freshnessOfficial evidence and its recorded review state.

The detailed source record remains at the end of this guide. Review the evidence.

Your next step

Choose the service, then confirm it with the operator.

Frequent real-name, seat-specific services booked through China Railway's 12306 website or app; a passport is accepted as identification for foreign passengers. No extra reservation is needed with a rail pass.

Official journey information, China State Railway Group (China Railway)

We link to the operator's own journey page. No direct booking channel has been verified for this service, so availability and fares must be checked there.

Far by Rail is a discovery guide, not a live timetable or booking service. Confirm times, fares and availability with the operator.

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