Great news for travelers! Chongqing East Railway Station (Chongqingdong) officially opened on June 27, 2025, revolutionizing travel between Chongqing and Zhangjiajie. This new transport hub – Chongqing’s third major rail terminal – now offers direct high-speed connections to Zhangjiajie, Furong Ancient Town, and Fenghuang Ancient Town. No more transfers at Huaihua South!
Direct High-Speed Rail Service (Updated July 2025)
- 24 daily departures from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie
- Primary station: 16 trains daily depart from Chongqing East Railway Station
- Alternative stations: 4 from Chongqing West, 3 from Chongqing North
- Journey time: As fast as 1 hour 58 minutes (vs. 6+ hours previously)
- One-way fares:
- Chongqing East → Zhangjiajie West:
- Second Class: ¥222
- First Class: ¥357
- Business Class: ¥680–735
- Chongqing North → Zhangjiajie West: From ¥237 (Second Class)
- Chongqing East → Zhangjiajie West:
Check Live Train Schedule
| Route | Duration | Frequency | Fares (2nd Class) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chongqing East → Zhangjiajie West | ~2 hrs | 16/day | ¥222 |
| Chongqing West → Zhangjiajie West | ~2.5 hrs | 4/day | ¥240 |
| Chongqing North → Zhangjiajie West | ~3 hrs | 3/day | ¥237+ |
| Check live schedule: https://www.trip.com/trains/china/ | |||
 | Chongqing to Zhangjiajie, Chengdu to Zhangjiajie, Changsha to Zhangjiajie, Xian to Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie, Furongzhen to Zhangjiajie, Guilin to Zhangjiajie |
 | Hotels close to Wulingyuan Forest Park, Hotels close to Tianmenshan Park |
 | Zhangjiajie Park (Wulingyuan etrance ticket, Cableway, Bailong elevator), Tianmenshan Park (entrace ticket, Cableway, Line A, Line B package) |
 | Flights to or from Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport |
Chongqing Rail Transit:
- Chonqging Metro official website (English version): https://www.cqmetro.cn/indexEng.html
Choosing Your Chongqing Departure Station
Here's how Chongqing's major stations compare for Zhangjiajie trips:
1. Chongqing East Station (Chongqingdong)
- Location: Nan’an District (Tea Garden New Area)
- Metro Access: Line 6 (transfer at Liujiaping Station for downtown)
- To Jiefangbei: 40 minutes
- Why choose: Direct trains to Zhangjiajie (16 daily), fastest route to Wulong/Fairy Mountain (34 mins)
2. Chongqing North Station (Chongqingbei)
- Location: Yubei District
- Metro Access: Lines 3/4/10/Circle Line
- To Jiefangbei: 25 minutes
- Tip: Use North Square for high-speed trains (South handles regular trains)
3. Chongqing West Station (Chongqingxi)
- Location: Shapingba District
- Metro Access: Lines 5/Circle Line
- To Jiefangbei: 40 minutes
4. Shapingba Station
- Location: Downtown Shapingba
- Metro Access: Lines 1/Circle Line
- To Jiefangbei: 30 minutes
Pro Tip: For Zhangjiajie trips, Chongqing East is optimal – newer facilities, less crowded, and most direct trains.
Must-See Attractions
In Chongqing:
- Hongya Cave: 11-story stilted marvel over the Yangtze River
- Jiefangbei CBD: Shopping epicenter with panoramic city views
- Ciqikou Ancient Town: Ming-Qing architecture and spicy snacks
- Yangtze River Cableway: Aerial river crossing (30% cheaper after 8 PM!)
- E’ling Park: Best cityscape viewpoint at night
In Zhangjiajie:
- Zhangjiajie National Park: “Avatar Mountains” and glass-bottomed bridges
- Tianmen Mountain: Walk through Heaven’s Gate natural arch
- Grand Canyon: World’s longest glass bridge (430m high!)
- Furong Ancient Town: Waterfalls cascading through stilt houses
- Fenghuang Ancient Town: Night-lit river town (1hr from Zhangjiajie)
Trusted Online Ticket Agents:
Option 1: Trip.com is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc
Option 2: China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
