Getting to Chaotianmen Pier, Chongqing

Where Is Chaotianmen PierLOCATION

Chaotianmen lies in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers — the city's most iconic water-and-land gateway. The pier sits next to Raffles City, about a 10-minute walk from both Jiefangbei and Hongyadong, making transportation and accommodation very convenient.

Many travellers arrive in Chongqing a day early and visit downtown sights such as Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, and the Yangtze River Cableway before boarding — staying around Jiefangbei puts the pier within walking distance, the most stress-free choice before and after your cruise.

From Jiangbei AirportAIRPORT

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the first stop in Chongqing for most domestic and international travellers. It is about 28 km from Chaotianmen, with two main options:

· Taxi: about 28 km, roughly 50 minutes, around RMB 60-70 — the easiest option, best for travellers with large luggage or in groups;
· Metro: take Line 10, transfer to Line 6, then to Line 1, arriving at Chaotianmen Station. The trip takes about 1 hour and costs about RMB 7 — economical and unaffected by traffic jams.

From Chongqing's Railway StationsRAILWAY

Reference options from Chongqing's main railway stations to Chaotianmen:

· Chongqing North Railway Station: about 12 km from the pier; taxi around RMB 25-35; or take Metro Line 10 and transfer to Line 1 — about 40 minutes, about RMB 3;
· Chongqing West Railway Station: about 22 km from the pier; taxi around RMB 40-50;
· Shapingba Station: take Metro Line 1 directly, about 50 minutes.

Watch the station name when booking train tickets: Chongqing North is closest to the pier and the most convenient; Chongqing West and Shapingba are farther away, so allow more transfer time.

Boarding Pier & Time ArrangementsBOARDING

Chaotianmen has multiple piers along the river, numbered 1-17 and more. Different cruises and sailings berth at different piers — the exact pier number is subject to the ship's notice on the day. Our customer service will notify you of the pier number, meeting point, and time one day before boarding, so please keep your phone reachable.

As for timing, cruises departing Chongqing generally begin boarding around 18:00 and depart the same evening around 21:00. Check-in opens two hours before departure: present your order and original documents at the ship's main service desk, receive your room card, pass security, and board.

Note: In special situations such as channel controls, you may instead be transferred by coach to Fengdu or Fuling to board; customer service will notify you accordingly.

Practical TipsTIPS

Popular Ships & Extended ReadingEXPLORE

Among popular ships departing from Chaotianmen, we especially recommend:

· Yangtze Gold No. 3 — a mainstay of the Yangtze Gold Cruises fleet with excellent value for money;
· Century Glory — Century Cruises' super five-star flagship; fully electric propulsion keeps noise low, ideal for travellers who value sleep quality.

Once your sailing date is set, narrow down by room type and included sights. For the complete ship list, see the 8-level budget quick-reference table on the homepage.