Chongqing Jiangbei Airport to the city centre: metro, taxi, airport bus or a private pickup

Quick answer

Checked September 2026. Since 23 December 2025, all flights at Jiangbei Airport use Terminal 3 (T3). T3 to Jiefangbei is about 21–25 km: about 40 minutes by car with no traffic, and up to about an hour at rush hour.

• Cheapest: Metro Line 10 to Qixinggang, then change to Line 1 for one stop to Jiaochangkou (Jiefangbei). 6 yuan, about 46 minutes on the train. To get into the Yuzhong Peninsula, board Line 10 at T3 by about 23:00 at the latest.
• Most direct: a metered taxi, about 50–70 yuan by day. After 23:00 the night rate applies, which is a little higher.
• Latest public transport: the K01 airport express runs until 30 minutes after the last arriving flight of the day. It takes about 65 minutes to Jiefangbei and costs 15 yuan.
• Lots of luggage, travelling with older parents or children, or first time in China: book our airport pickup in advance. The driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign and takes you straight to your hotel. You can book the pickup on its own, without a tour.

Which terminal will I land at?

All domestic, international and regional flights use T3. Since 23 December 2025, the last four airlines still at T2 have also moved to T3. T3 has two buildings, T3A and T3B. Check-in, security and baggage claim are all in T3A. If your plane parks at T3B, the airport's driverless shuttle train takes about 3 minutes to T3A. So pickups, taxis and the metro are all on the T3A side.

• Gates starting with J, K, L or M are in T3B.
• T2 has no flights now, but Lines 3 and 10 both still have a station called Jiangbei Airport T2 (江北机场T2航站楼). Do not get off there. For T3, take Line 10 to Jiangbei Airport T3 (江北机场T3航站楼).
• Signs at the airport are in Chinese and English.

How many ways are there into the city, and which suits me?

On your own, with little luggage and arriving by day, the metro is cheapest, about 6 yuan. Two or three of you with lots of luggage: a taxi is the most direct, about 50–70 yuan by day and around 40 minutes. If you land late and the metro has stopped, there are still the K01 airport express and taxis. With older parents or children, or on your first trip to China, booking a car in advance is the least hassle.

From T3 to Jiefangbei

Fares and journey times are reference figures for September 2026. Taxis charge by the meter.

How do I take the metro from T3 to Jiefangbei or Hongya Cave?

Only Line 10 serves T3. For Jiefangbei, take Line 10 towards Lanhualu, change at Qixinggang to Line 1 and ride one stop to Jiaochangkou: 6 yuan, about 46 minutes on the train. For Hongya Cave and the Yangtze River Cableway, go to Xiaoshizi station. The official route has two changes, 6 yuan, about 38 minutes. Below are the official recommended routes from T3 to the stations people use most.

From T3: official Chongqing Rail Transit route planner, 30 September 2026

"On the train" is the time given by the official planner. It does not include walking from arrivals to the metro station, changing lines inside stations or walking out.

Getting in and paying

• From arrivals, follow the metro signs in Chinese and English to Jiangbei Airport T3 station.
• The ticket machines have no English screen. The easiest way is to scan the Alipay transport code at the gate. At major transport hubs and metro stations you can buy tickets with foreign cards such as Visa, Mastercard and JCB. WeChat and Alipay linked to a foreign bank card also work for scanning in (Chongqing Municipal Transport Commission, September 2026).
• With large suitcases, take the lift. Large luggage is not allowed on the escalators. One item can weigh up to 20 kg, with length, width and height adding up to no more than 2 metres. A 28-inch checked suitcase is within the limit.
• Some older guides tell you to change at Hongtudi to Line 6 and ride to Xiaoshizi for Jiefangbei. For Jiefangbei, the official route planner gives the change at Qixinggang to Line 1, so follow the table above. Hongtudi is one of the deepest stations on the whole network (about 94 m at its deepest). With a suitcase in tow, skip every change you can.
• Just off a long-haul flight with several large suitcases, the metro is not the easiest choice.

For lines, exits and day tickets, see our Chongqing metro guide.

After what time can I no longer get into the city by metro?

The last Line 10 train from T3 towards the city leaves at 00:03 on working days and 23:23 on holidays. But Jiefangbei and Hongya Cave both need a change, and the lines you change to stop first: the last Line 1 train from Qixinggang towards Jiaochangkou leaves at 00:01, and the last Line 9 train at Shangwanlu at 23:21. So to get into Yuzhong, board Line 10 at T3 by about 23:00 at the latest. After an international flight, allow an hour for border control and baggage. If you land after 22:00, plan on a taxi, the K01 or a pickup.

• If you are only going to Chongqing North Station South Square, Line 10 goes there direct, so the last train time is all you need.
• First train: 06:30 every day from T3 towards the city.
• On public holidays the metro often runs later. Go by the official notice for the day.

We worked these times out station by station from the official Chongqing Rail Transit first and last train timetable (26 September 2026 version): T3 to Qixinggang takes about 37–39 minutes, T3 to Shangwanlu about 10 minutes, plus a few minutes to change.

How much is a taxi from the airport, and how do I get one?

In Chongqing's main urban area, taxis by day (06:00–23:00) charge 10 yuan for the first 3 km and 2 yuan per km after that. At night (23:00–06:00) it is 11 yuan for the first 3 km, then 2.3 yuan per km. T3 to Jiefangbei is about 21–25 km, so by day the meter usually shows 50–70 yuan, a bit more with traffic or a detour. From arrivals, follow the taxi signs to the taxi rank and queue for a car.

• Paying: taxis take WeChat and Alipay linked to a foreign bank card, by scanning a code (Chongqing Municipal Transport Commission, September 2026).
• Giving the address: most drivers do not speak English. Save your hotel's Chinese name and Chinese address on your phone and show them to the driver. It works better than saying the English name. Many Yuzhong hotels have entrances on different levels, so say which road to stop on. See how to get around Chongqing.
• Queues: normally the taxis line up at the rank waiting for passengers. The last night of a long holiday is the exception: at 23:40 on 7 October 2025, Chongqing Daily photographed long lines of both taxis and passengers at the T3 taxi rank, with staff guiding the queue.
• Only take a licensed taxi or a car booked through an app: ignore anyone in the arrivals hall who comes up and asks if you need a car. Chongqing's transport enforcement officers have run a crackdown on ride touting at T2 and T3.
• Three people sharing one taxi: at 60 yuan, that is about 20 yuan each, and you save yourself the changes and the dragging of bags.

Can I use DiDi at Chongqing airport?

Yes. After booking, go to the T3 pickup point shown in the app and wait there. The price is whatever the app quotes. In September 2026 the Chongqing Municipal Transport Commission said it is guiding DiDi and Amap's taxi service to improve the English booking process for overseas users.

• Install the app and link your card before you set off. It is easier than doing it after you land.
• T3 is big, and the pickup point is some way from arrivals. When the driver calls, they will mostly speak Chinese, so you can ask your hotel's front desk to take the call.
• If you would rather not deal with apps, go straight to the taxi rank.

How do I take the K01 airport express?

The K01 runs from T3 to Jiefangbei, stopping at Jiazhou Huayuan, Damiao, Shangqingsi and the Great Hall, and ends at Jiefangbei. It costs 15 yuan per person and a single trip takes about 65 minutes. Buses leave the airport every day from 08:30 until 30 minutes after the last arriving flight of the day. Once the first passenger is on board, the bus leaves within 30 minutes at most.

• Landing late, the metro has stopped, and there are only one or two of you: the K01 is the cheapest option.
• It ends at Jiefangbei. If your hotel is not on the route, you will need a taxi for the last part.
• From Jiefangbei back to the airport there is no fixed timetable; you have to phone to ask (in Chinese). Do not count on it for an early flight.

From landing to getting in a car: how long, and what are the steps?

From landing on an international flight to walking out of arrivals, allow an hour: leave the plane, pass border control, collect your bags and go through customs. If your plane parks at T3B, take the shuttle train to T3A first. With lots of luggage or a long queue at border control, it takes longer. For our pickups, we send the driver to arrivals for your landing time plus one hour.

1. You can fill in the arrival card online in advance: since 20 November 2025, foreign visitors can fill in their arrival details online before coming to China, on the National Immigration Administration website, the NIA 12367 app (移民局12367), or its WeChat or Alipay mini program. After landing you can also scan a code at border control or fill in a paper card. Use only the National Immigration Administration's official channels.
2. Visa-free transit: Jiangbei Airport is a 240-hour visa-free transit port. For the conditions and what to bring, see our Chongqing airport layover guide.
3. Baggage claim: all in T3A.
4. Leaving arrivals: Jiangbei Airport has a service window for foreign visitors. If you need help, ask the staff.
5. Getting to your ride: for the metro, taxis and the K01, follow the signs. For ride-hailing, go to the pickup point in the app. If you booked with us, we meet you at the exit.

How does our airport pickup work?

Send us your flight number, how many of you there are, how many large suitcases you have and your hotel name. You can book the pickup on its own, without a tour. We check your landing time by flight number, send the car to match your flight time and adjust it if your flight changes. The driver waits for you at the T3 arrivals exit with a name sign, helps put your bags in the car and takes you straight to your hotel door. If you want to see the Hongya Cave lights and have a hotpot on the day you land, a guide comes too: the car is yours until 23:00, and the guide stays with you for the plan we agreed.

• Vehicle by group size: two guests with a pickup only and no guide get a 5-seat car. Two guests with a guide: a 7-seater. 3–4 guests: a 7-seater. 5–6 guests: a 9-seater. 7–8 guests: a 15-seater. For larger groups, tell us how many of you there are and we match the vehicles to the group.
• Vehicle by luggage: tell us how many large suitcases you have, and we choose the vehicle to fit.
• Which level we drop you at: many Yuzhong hotels have entrances on different levels. The driver stops on the side where cars can stop, closest to the lobby.
• Your first evening: check in first, walk around Jiefangbei in the early evening, then after dark watch Hongya Cave light up from Qiansimen Bridge, and finish with a hotpot set to how spicy you like it. This is day one of our Chongqing night tour and 2-day private tour.
• Price: a pickup on its own is quoted by group size and vehicle. As part of a private itinerary, it is quoted with the whole trip. See how our pricing works.

How early should I leave for the airport when I fly out?

For an international flight, plan to reach the airport 3 hours before take-off. Check-in closing time depends on your airline. For a domestic flight, Jiangbei Airport's official site advises arriving 2 hours before take-off, and check-in closes 40 minutes before departure (airline rules apply). From Jiefangbei the drive usually takes about 40 minutes; allow an hour at rush hour. For example, for an 11:00 international flight, leave Jiefangbei by 7:00 at the latest; for an 11:00 domestic flight, leave by 8:00.

• Planning your last day: put the places near the airport last. Guanyinqiao is in Jiangbei, on the way to the airport. Ciqikou and Huangjueping are in the west of the city and not on the way, so do them the day before. Your bags go in the car when you leave the hotel, and after the last stop you go straight to the airport.
• Very early flights: the first metro is not until 06:30, and the K01 has no fixed departures from Jiefangbei. For a very early flight, use a taxi or a car booked in advance. If you book our drop-off, we send the car to match your flight time.
• Should you stay near the airport the night before a very early or very late flight? Only if you land extremely late or take off extremely early. If you stay near the airport, you have to go back and forth every day for the night views and the old town. See where to stay in Chongqing.

How do I get from the airport to the Three Gorges cruise pier, Chongqing North Station or Guanyinqiao?

Chaotianmen pier is about 25–30 km by car, 40 minutes to an hour. By metro it takes two changes and costs 6 yuan; with big luggage for the cruise, we suggest going by car. For Chongqing North Station South Square, Line 10 goes direct: about 25 minutes, 5 yuan. For Guanyinqiao, the metro costs 6 yuan with two changes, and it is closer by taxi. See the metro table above for details.

• Landing and boarding the same evening? Send us your flight number together with the pier number on your cruise ticket, and we plan back from your boarding time. For boarding details, see taking a Three Gorges cruise from Chongqing.

Where each figure comes from

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