Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Tina

Planning to travel from Chengdu to Chongqing by high-speed train? During my recent trip to China, I took the train from Chengdu East Railway Station (Chengdudong) to Chongqing North Railway Station (Chongqingbei), and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the whole experience was.

Before my trip, though, I had plenty of questions.

• When should I book my ticket?
• Which railway station should I choose?
• How early should I arrive?
• What happens at the station?
• Do I need a printed ticket?
• Where should passport holders queue?

If you’re wondering the same things, this guide walks you through my experience from booking the ticket all the way to arriving in Chongqing.

🎬 Want to see the whole experience?
If you prefer watching instead of reading, I’ve documented my entire journey, from booking the train ticket and navigating Chengdu East Railway Station to boarding the high-speed train and arriving in Chongqing.

👉 Watch my Chengdu to Chongqing High-Speed Train Guide on YouTube

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Booking the Train Ticket

I booked my train ticket just two days before my trip.

I wasn’t sure how far in advance I needed to book, but after doing some research, I learned that the earlier you book, the better, especially if you’re traveling during weekends, Chinese holidays, or other busy travel periods when seats can sell out quickly.

I booked my ticket through Trip.com, which turned out to be one of the most useful apps I used while traveling around China. Besides train tickets, I also used it to book hotels and activities throughout my trip.

👉 Book your China train tickets, hotels, and activities here.

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Which Railway Station Should You Choose?

One thing that confused me while booking was deciding which railway station to use.

Both Chengdu and Chongqing have several railway stations, and I wasn’t sure which one would be closest to my hotels.

I simply asked ChatGPT where I was staying in both cities, and it recommended the most convenient stations.

For my trip, I traveled from:

• Departure: Chengdu East Railway Station (Chengdudong)
• Arrival: Chongqing North Railway Station (Chongqingbei)

If you’re staying in central Chongqing near Jiefangbei, Chongqing North is a convenient option because it’s connected to the metro.

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Choosing Your Seat

When booking, you’ll notice several seat options.

• Second Class
• First Class
• Business Class
• Standing

I chose Second Class, which has a 3+2 seating layout.

Trip.com also lets you choose whether you prefer a window or aisle seat.

I requested a window seat on the two-seat side, but the app clearly states that preferences aren’t guaranteed.

When my ticket was confirmed, I actually received an aisle seat on the three-seat side instead.

What Does a Standing Ticket Mean?

A Standing ticket simply means you don’t have a reserved seat.

If seats become available after departure, you may be able to sit down, but during busy periods you should expect to stand.

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How to Get to Chengdu East Railway Station

Trip.com recommends arriving 90 minutes before departure, especially if it’s your first time using a Chinese railway station.

I was staying at Chengdu Nova Traveller Lodge, near Taisheng South Road Metro Station.

From there, I took the Chengdu Metro to Chengdu East Railway Station.

After getting off the metro, there’s a short walk to the railway station entrance.

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Entering the Station

One thing that surprised me was that you don’t need a paper train ticket.

Instead, simply scan the same identification document you used when booking.

Since I booked using my passport, I scanned my passport to enter the station.

After that, you’ll go through an airport-style security screening before entering the departure hall.

From there, simply head to the departure gate shown on your train ticket.

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Passport Queue vs Chinese ID Queue

This was probably the most confusing part of my journey.

I arrived early at my departure gate, but there were several different queues, and I wasn’t sure which one to join.

Since almost nobody was waiting, I picked the empty line.

Later, after asking a local, I found out I had accidentally joined the queue for passengers using Chinese national ID cards.

Passport holders need to use a separate queue because passports are scanned manually before entering the platform.

By the time I realized my mistake, the passport queue had become much longer.

Fortunately, a local told me to simply join that line once boarding started, and thankfully everyone was very understanding.

Tip: If you’re traveling with a passport, look for the lane with the larger passport scanner.

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Boarding the Train

Boarding started around 20 minutes before departure.

Your passport is scanned once more before entering the platform.

The train was already waiting.

Simply find your assigned carriage and seat.

The whole process was surprisingly smooth.

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Inside China’s High-Speed Train

My journey took exactly 1 hour and 41 minutes, just as stated on my ticket.

Inside the train you’ll find:

• Overhead luggage racks for smaller bags
• Luggage storage near the doors for larger suitcases
• Comfortable seating
• Clean carriages

Since I only had a small backpack, I kept it with me at my seat.

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Arriving at Chongqing North Railway Station

Chongqing North Railway Station is connected directly to the Chongqing Metro.

Simply follow the signs toward South Square to reach the metro station.

I stayed at Lily Hotel in Jiefangbei, near Linjiangmen Metro Station.

From Chongqing North, I took:

• Line 10
• Transfer at Zengjiayan
• Line 2
• Get off at Linjiangmen Station

From there, it was just a short walk to my hotel.

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One Small Payment Issue

One unexpected issue I encountered was buying metro tickets.

For some reason, my Alipay didn’t work at the metro ticket machines during my stay in Chongqing.

Luckily, I had cash with me, so I was still able to buy tickets.

It’s always a good idea to carry a little cash while traveling in China, just in case digital payments don’t work.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, taking China’s high-speed train was much easier than I expected.

The stations may look intimidating at first because they’re so large, but once you understand the process, it’s actually very straightforward.

If you’re planning to visit Chengdu and Chongqing, I definitely recommend traveling between the two cities by high-speed rail.

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Watch the Full Video

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