Chengdu Metro — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

The Chengdu Metro, or simply Metro as the locals call it, is a mass rapid transit system in the capital of Sichuan Province, China, Chengdu. The Chengdu Metro consists of three parts: the City Railway, the Metro and the Light Rail Train. The first joint venture in the country between the national railway operator and the local provincial government’s metro network, it began operations on 27 September 2010. The network currently has only 11 lines in operation. As the first heavy rail line in southern and western China, expansion plans are already underway, with 7 more lines expected to be completed over the next 30 years.The Chengdu Metro had a daily ridership of 1.176 million in 2014 and an annual ridership of 103 million in 2012, making its popularity a poorly kept secret.

Chengdu Metro Map

Map of Chengdu Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Chengdu Metro map in PDF format.

Chengdu Metro Lines

Line 1: This north-south line connects Weijian in the north to Science City in the south, passing through key areas such as Tianfu Square and South Railway Station.
Line 2: Line 2 runs from Sipu in the northwest to Longquanyi in the southeast, passing through key areas such as Chunxi Road, East Railway Station and Chengdu University of Technology.
Line 3: Line 3 runs from Taipingyuan in the northwest to Shuangliu West in the south, covering areas such as Chunxi Road, Giant Panda Research Base and Shuangliu Airport.
Line 4: This east-west line connects Xihe in the west to Wansheng in the east, with stops at Chengdu University and Sichuan Normal University.
Line 5: A north-south line running from Huagui Road in the north to Tianfu 5th Street in the south, covering major facilities such as Chengdu South Railway Station and Century City.
Line 6: Connecting Wankong Temple in the north to Lanjiagou in the south, Line 6 passes through key areas such as East Railway Station and Tianfu Square.
Line 7: This circular line circles the city centre and connects with other lines and key destinations such as Chengdu North Railway Station and Sichuan High School.
Line 8: Stretching from Longquanyi in the east to Shuangliu Airport in the southwest, Line 8 passes through major hubs such as Chengdu East Railway Station and the Hi-Tech Zone.
Line 9: This high-speed line runs from Huangtianba in the north to Financial City in the south, providing fast connections between the major financial and business districts.
Line 10: Line 10 connects Taipingyuan in the northwest to Xinjin in the south, with stops including Shuangliu Airport Terminals 1 and 2.
Line 18: A rapid transit line running from South Railway Station to Tianfu International Airport provides a fast link between the city centre and the new airport.

Chengdu Metro Timings and Schedule

General timetable

Start Time: Most lines start service between 6:00am and 6:30am.
nd Time: Most lines end service between 22:30 and 23:30.

Peak and off-peak times

Peak hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on weekdays.
During peak hours trains usually run every 3-5 minutes.
Off-peak hours: At off-peak times trains generally run every 6-10 minutes.

Line specific timetables

Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10: Approximately 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Line 5, 6, 7, 18: Approximately 6:00 am to 11:30 pm.

Chengdu Metro Fares, Tickets and Cards

Ticket prices vary depending on the length of the journey. Here is a general breakdown of the fare structure:

A distance of 0-4 km kilometres or more will cost 2 RMB, 4-12 km: 3 RMB, 12-24 km: 4 RMB, 24-36 km: 5 RMB, 36-48 km: 6 RMB, аbove 48 km: Increases by 1 RMB for every additional 12 km.

Discounted cards are available for students as well as senior citizens. Various other types of passes like, One-day pass, Three-day pass and Monthly pass, should be available by the end of the year.

Available for 1-day or 3-day periods.