Metro or a ride to your door?
At Jiangbei Airport (重庆江北国际机场), Terminal 3 connects to Metro Line 10. Terminal 2 connects to Lines 3 and 10. The metro is great if you have a light bag and land during the day. Choose an official taxi or a booked transfer if you have heavy bags, travel with young children, or land late at night.
Find your hotel entrance
Save your hotel's Chinese name, full address and entrance photo on your phone. Ask reception which road the lobby opens onto. A map pin may show a street below your hotel, leaving steep stairs between you and the door.
Set up apps before you fly
Link a supported international bank card in Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. Use a phone number that can receive text codes from your bank. Carry a few small RMB cash notes as a backup. Keep a physical bank card ready for hotels and shops that take it.
Scan a code or show yours
In a small shop, scan the merchant's QR code. Type the total in yuan and tap confirm. In a bigger store, the cashier may scan your personal payment code. Show your screen to staff once the payment goes through. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut and Wise each have their own guide.
TenPayGo
TenPayGo is Tencent’s standalone payment app for visitors to China. Register with your email, then link an overseas Visa, Mastercard or JCB card, Apple Pay, or a partner wallet. At mainland Chinese shops that accept WeChat Pay, scan the merchant’s code or show your payment code. You can get started without a Chinese phone number, WeChat account or Chinese bank card. Download it from App Store or Google Play.
Book rides with DiDi
DiDi China: Ride Hailing (滴滴出行) offers English menus, overseas phone login and payment with international cards. Choose your exact street and pickup spot. At airports and train stations, walk to the marked ride-hailing area and check the car license plate.
Check your train station
Chongqing North (重庆北站) and Chongqing West (重庆西站) are two different stations. Chongqing North also has separate North and South squares. Always match the station name on your train ticket, and look for the right pickup bay in your app.
Two ways into Hongya Cave
To reach the upper plaza, go to Cangbai Road (沧白路), Floor 11, Gate 1. For the view at the bottom, go to Jiabin Road (嘉滨路), Floor 1, Gate 7. Pick the road you want before you start walking or call a ride.
Short distance, steep streets
Hills, outdoor stairs and stacked roads make short map walks take longer. If you have a stroller or a suitcase, look for step-free routes and lifts first. Use our map to see your hotel, sights and stations together. Then open our guide for the final walk to the door.
Breakfast noodles and street snacks
Start your day with a warm bowl of (重庆小面). Tell staff your requests for chilli, pepper and coriander before they cook. Near Jiefangbei (解放碑), Bayi Road (八一路) is a great snack street. Share dishes with friends, or pick one bowl and one snack if you travel alone.
Your first hotpot meal
Peijie's Jiaochangkou branch (珮姐重庆火锅较场口直营店) is a handy, central spot to try hotpot. If two people are dining, start with one meat or tofu dish, one green vegetable, and potatoes or mushrooms. Ask for fresh broth and check the broth price and sauce charges. Read our hotpot guide to find other great spots and branches.
Show cards before you order
Show the cards below for taste requests and a peanut allergy. For any food allergy, tell staff the exact ingredient. Ask about broth, sauces and cooking tools. Our full guide has more ingredients and a written allergy card.
Dining request cards
Show these cards to staff before they start cooking. Tap the sound button to hear each phrase.
No chilli, please.
不要辣椒No Sichuan pepper, please.
不要花椒No coriander (cilantro), please.
不要香菜I am allergic to peanuts.
花生过敏How much is it?
多少钱Please pack this to take away.
请打包Laundry and a delivery robot
Value brands like JI (全季), Orange (桔子) and Atour (亚朵) help you save money for sightseeing. The JI branch on Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street lists self-service laundry. Atour Jiefangbei Raffles City Riverview lists a delivery robot. Check the exact branch, room size and street entrance before booking. Bring your original passport to check in.
Order dinner to your lobby
Ask the front desk where to pick up food deliveries, and ask which local spots they recommend. For a hotel meal, paste your hotel's full Chinese address. Add 请送到酒店前台, which means "Please deliver to the hotel front desk." Our app guide shows how to use Meituan and Taobao Instant Commerce. Always state your spice level and food allergies before placing an order.
Skip unofficial rides and check prices
At airports and train stations, walk straight to the official taxi rank or your app pickup point. Say no to drivers who walk up to you inside the terminal. When you buy fresh food by weight, agree on the unit, weight and final price before buying. Always save your digital payment record or paper receipt.
Key emergency numbers
For urgent help, call 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, or 119 for fire services. Show your location written in Chinese characters. For daily questions, ask your hotel front desk. They can help you find a local shop, translate a phrase, or point out a flatter walk home.