Chongqing Local Transportation

The urban transportation system mainly consists of buses that go everywhere, taxis, and a subway and monorail mass transit system that is still under construction.

City Buses

Most people travel by bus. Since the signs are in Chinese and the routes and streets are often not in straight lines, taking the bus might be confusing. So go with a Chinese friend or be really sure about the bus number and the names of the stops. Tourists in Chongqing are warned that it is easy to get lost due to the many hills and valleys and the two rivers. The layout of the streets is confusing. Ticket prices run between 1 RMB and 2 RMB. The fare for some buses depends on the distance traveled.

If you are going to one of the city centers, here are the names. The four city centers in Chongqing are called Shapingba, Jiangbei, Nanping and Jiefangbei.

Taxis

Taxis are relatively cheap. They start at 5 RMB with an additional 1.8 RMB per kilometer. After mid-night, they start at 5.9 RMB with an additional 2.3 RMB per kilometer. Make sure you know how to say where you want to go to in Chinese, carry the address on a piece of paper, or go with a Chinese person. Few taxi drivers speak English.