# Liziba Station, Chongqing > Liziba is a Line 2 monorail stop in Chongqing built into floors 6–8 of a 19-storey apartment block — the train runs straight into the building. Watch it from the free viewing platform across the road. Trains run roughly 6:30–23:00, every few minutes. Allow 20–30 minutes; the ride from Jiefangbei is about ¥2. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station - City: [Chongqing](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing), China - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Entry: Free; metro ride ≈ ¥2 - Opening hours: Viewing platform open 24 hours; Line 2 trains roughly 6:30–23:00 (unofficial) - With kids: Fine with kids - Viewing platform: Free — outside the fare gates, across the road from the building; no metro ticket needed - Fare from Jiefangbei: About ¥2 from Jiaochangkou: 6 stops, around 15 minutes - Trains: Every 3–8 minutes, more often at rush hour - Line 2 hours: Roughly 6:30–23:00 - Exit: Exit 2, then follow the 观景台 signs to the lifts and cross the road; Exit 1 also works but loops around - Works at the station: Unofficial reports of staged rebuilding, with some exits temporarily shut - Best time: Weekdays 7–9am: fewer people, more trains, sun on the façade - Paying for the metro: Alipay or WeChat transit QR code, or a single-journey token from the machine (cash) - Time needed: 20–30 minutes — enough for 3–4 trains - Line: Line 2, between Niujiaotuo and Fotuguan - Coordinates: 29.55555, 106.53382 - Facts checked: 04.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Floors 6–8** — of a 19-storey apartment block house the station: concourse on 6, platforms on 8 (source: English, Chinese and Russian Wikipedia) - **Built as one** — the building and station were designed together — the line wasn't punched through an existing block (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; The Paper / Chongqing Morning Post) - **Free** — viewing platform below the station, outside the fare gates (source: China Educational Tours; ChinaForTravelers) - **18 June 2005** — the station opened to passengers (source: English, Chinese and Russian Wikipedia) - **2018** — the viewing platform opened after photos of the train went viral (source: Chinese Wikipedia; iChongqing) - **840 m²** — of the platform set aside for photos; about 1,400–1,500 m² in all (source: Chinese Wikipedia; iChongqing; China Educational Tours) - **Ye Tianyi** — led the station's design team at Chongqing University (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia; The Paper / Chongqing Morning Post) - **Line 2** — China's first heavy monorail line, built with Hitachi technology (source: English Wikipedia, Line 2 (Chongqing Rail Transit)) - **5.45 km** — along the line from the Jiaochangkou terminus by Jiefangbei (source: English Wikipedia, Line 2 (Chongqing Rail Transit)) - **3 exits** — Exit 1 to Liziba Zhengjie, Exits 2 and 3 to Guihuayuan Road (source: Chinese Wikipedia) ## Where is the Liziba viewing platform, and is it free? The platform is **outside the station at street level**, across the road from the building, and it is **free**. You don't need to pass the fare gates: ride the metro and step out, or walk or take a taxi straight there. It's open around the clock, but trains only run roughly 6:30–23:00. About 840 m² is set aside for photos, with a glass walkway and a coach drop-off; the whole site is around 1,500 m² per Chinese Wikipedia, or 1,367 m² per another guide. There's no shade, so come early in summer and bring water. On public holidays staff run a one-way loop around the deck, and the wait for the front row can be long. > **Works at the station — follow the signs** According to ChinaForTravelers, Liziba is being rebuilt in stages: exits and halls close in turn and parts of the platform edge are fenced off. We couldn't find an operator notice, and trains still stop here. If Exit 2 is shut, follow the temporary 观景台 signs — the diversion may lead you through the shopping floors. ## How to get to Liziba Station 1. From Jiefangbei, walk 5 minutes to **Jiaochangkou** (较场口), the terminus of Lines 1 and 2, or board Line 2 at neighbouring **Linjiangmen** (临江门). 2. Take Line 2 towards **Yudong** (鱼洞) for 6 stops to **Liziba** (李子坝) — about 15 minutes and roughly ¥2. 3. Grab a window on the right-hand side: just before Liziba the track runs high above the Jialing River, then dives into the block. 4. Leave by **Exit 2**, follow the **观景台** (viewing platform) signs to the lifts, go down to the street and cross to the platform — about 5 minutes. Exit 1 gets you there too, the long way round. 5. Head back on Line 2, or climb to [Eling Park](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park) — 10–15 minutes uphill on stairs. ## Paying for the metro as a foreign visitor Chongqing fares go by distance; the fare table starts at ¥2 for up to 6 km, and Liziba is 5.45 km down the line from Jiaochangkou. The easiest way to pay is the **transit QR code inside Alipay or WeChat** with a linked international Visa or Mastercard — set it up before you fly, since it needs mobile data. No app? Buy a single-journey token at the ticket machine: it has an English menu and takes cash. Carry some small yuan notes — change can be short. We couldn't confirm whether foreign bank cards work directly at the gates. ## Is Liziba Station worth it? Yes — it's quick, free and sums up Chongqing better than most museums: a city on slopes where transport runs through buildings and a street on one level turns out to be a roof on another. It's 15 minutes from the centre and half an hour on site. Don't plan half a day around it. Riding **through** the building just looks like any covered station from inside — the show is from outside. Liziba works best paired with Eling Park above it, or on the way west from the centre. ## Best time to photograph the train **Weekdays between 7 and 9am.** At rush hour trains come about every 3 minutes, the deck is still quiet, and the tower's face catches the sun only in the morning. Midday the gap is 5–8 minutes; after 8pm, 6–8 minutes. The busiest stretch is about 10am–2pm, when tour coaches arrive. After dark you get a second good shot: a lit-up train sliding into a lit-up building. In 20–30 minutes you'll see three or four trains in both directions — plenty to nail the moment. ## Best spots to watch the monorail - **The official platform across the road** — the classic frame: the whole tower with the train going in. - **The street outside Exit 2** — turn right as you come out; the train is closer and bigger, but power lines get in the way. - **Lansheng Pavilion** (揽胜亭) up the slope — a 10–15-minute climb for the train, tower and Jialing River in one shot (unofficial). - **North Binjiang Road** by the river below — a wide view from the riverside road. - **The Eling footbridge** — looks down over the monorail near Liziba; a separate walk, see Eling Park. ## What makes Liziba special Liziba is an ordinary stop on **Line 2**, China's first heavy monorail line — but it sits on **floors 6–8 of a 19-storey apartment block**. The train swings round the hillside on a viaduct over the street, enters the wall, stops inside and slides out the other side a minute later. Shops fill the floors below, homes the floors above. The building and station were designed together by a team led by **Ye Tianyi** of Chongqing University and opened in 2005. The popular story that the line was forced through an existing block is wrong — Wikipedia says so explicitly — and noise-damping kit keeps the flats above livable. It became famous when photos of the train “flying” into the tower went viral, and in 2018 the city built the viewing platform below it. Today it's one of the defining images of Chongqing. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A weekday, arriving 7–9am - [ ] Alipay or WeChat transit QR set up, or cash for a token - [ ] 李子坝 and 观景台 saved on my phone for signs and taxis - [ ] Water and a hat — no shade on the platform - [ ] Phone charged, mobile data working - [ ] Next stop decided: Eling Park uphill or Line 2 back to the centre ## Liziba, Eling Park or the Yangtze cableway | | Liziba Station | Eling Park | Yangtze River Cableway | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Monorail through an apartment block | Hilltop garden with a tower | Cable car over the Yangtze, about 5 minutes | | Entry | Free | Free; the tower may charge | About ¥30 one way | | Time needed | 20–30 minutes | 1–1.5 hours | About an hour with the queue | | Metro | Line 2, Liziba | Line 1, Eling | Lines 1 and 6, Xiaoshizi | | Best time | Weekday mornings | Daytime and sunset | Evening, for the lights | Liziba and Eling are neighbours: start in the park on top and walk down to the station. The cableway is by Jiefangbei — save it for the evening. Prices are unofficial. ## Chongqing's best views compared Every Chongqing viewpoint rated by YesGo. - [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free - [Shibati](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/shibati) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Liziba Station](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; metro ride ≈ ¥2 - [Eling Park](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free; tower ¥0–10 - [Yangtze River Cableway](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/yangtze-river-cableway) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥30 one way, ¥50 return - [Wulong Karst: Three Natural Bridges](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/wulong-karst) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥125–155 incl. shuttle and lift ## Yuzhong's hills in half a day: Eling, Liziba and Hongyadong Top to bottom: the garden and tower in Eling Park, down the stairs to the train in the building, then Hongyadong and Jiefangbei for the evening lights. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Eling Park](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free; tower ¥0–10 2. [Liziba Station](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; metro ride ≈ ¥2 3. [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free 4. [Jiefangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/jiefangbei) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, open 24 hours > **Walk down, not up** Liziba sits at the foot of the slope; Eling Park is on the ridge above. Take Line 1 or a taxi up to Eling, wander the garden, then take the stairs down past the Eling Erchang creative quarter to the station. Let transport do the climbing and arrive in time for the next train. ## Good to know Liziba is a city monorail stop, not a railway station — long-distance trains leave from Chongqing North and Chongqing West. Chinese Wikipedia mentions a small museum of old Chongqing newspapers (巴渝旧闻馆) in the concourse; we couldn't confirm it elsewhere. The separate Liziba Park nearby is a different place. ## Tips - Come on a weekday, 7–9am: more trains, fewer people, sun on the tower. - Sit on the right-hand side heading to Liziba for the river view on the way in. - Exit 2 and the 观景台 signs are the quickest way to the platform; if works have closed it, follow the temporary signs. - The platform is outside the gates — if you arrive on foot, you don't need a metro ticket. - Want a shot from above? Climb to Lansheng Pavilion or up to Eling Park. - Evenings work too: a lit-up train gliding into a lit-up tower. - Keep 李子坝 on your phone — taxi drivers rarely read pinyin. ## Questions ### Is the Liziba viewing platform free? Yes. It's outside the station at street level, so no ticket is needed; you only pay the metro fare — about ¥2 from the centre — if you arrive by train. ### Which exit do I use for the viewing platform? Exit 2, then follow the 观景台 signs to the lifts and cross the road. Exit 1 also works but takes longer. During works, follow the temporary signs. ### How do I get to Liziba Station? Line 2 from Jiaochangkou or Linjiangmen near Jiefangbei towards Yudong — 6 stops from Jiaochangkou, about 15 minutes. ### How often do trains pass through the building? About every 3 minutes at rush hour, 5–8 minutes midday and 6–8 minutes in the evening (unofficial). You'll see several in half an hour. ### What is the best time to visit Liziba? Weekdays 7–9am for light, trains and space. Avoid roughly 10am–2pm, when tour groups arrive. ### How long do you need at Liziba? 20–30 minutes on the platform, plus about 15 minutes each way from the centre. ### Is Liziba Station open right now? Trains are stopping, but there are unofficial reports of staged works with some exits temporarily closed. Follow the signs on the day. ### Is it worth riding the train through the building? It's just a normal ride, and from inside it looks like any covered station. The spectacle is from outside, on the platform. ### Can I walk from Liziba to Eling Park? Yes, about 10–15 minutes uphill on stairs. It's easier the other way round: ride up to Eling and walk down. ### Are there height or age limits? No — the platform is open to everyone, which makes it an easy stop with children; just mind the road crossing. ## How we checked We found no official page for the platform and no operator notice about works, and the city government page wouldn't open from our server, so practical details are marked checking. Free entry and the platform's position outside the fare gates come from China Educational Tours, ChinaForTravelers and TopAsiaTour. Exit 2 comes from ChinaForTravelers and Baba Goes China; one Chinese note calls it exit “B”, so follow the 观景台 signs. Platform size differs: Chinese Wikipedia and iChongqing say about 1,500 m², China Educational Tours 1,367 m²; all agree on 840 m² for photos. Train intervals and morning sun come from ChinaForTravelers only. The ¥2 fare is from ChinaForTravelers and matches the fare table (¥2 up to 6 km, with Liziba 5.45 km from Jiaochangkou); Chongqing has discussed revising fares and we couldn't open a current official table. Only ChinaForTravelers reports staged works at the station; Chinese news searches turned up nothing, so we show it as a warning, not a fact. Some guides mention a small rail museum at the station — we couldn't confirm it; Chinese Wikipedia names a newspaper museum instead. The English core comes from search results and related questions. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Liziba station — Line 2, floors 6–8 of a 19-storey block, opened 18 June 2005, Ye Tianyi, built as one structure - Chinese Wikipedia: 李子坝站 — floors, three exits, viewing platform (2018, about 1,500 m², 840 m² for photos), newspaper museum - Russian Wikipedia: Лицзыба; Wikidata Q11095941 - English Wikipedia: Line 2 (Chongqing Rail Transit) — stations and distances, Hitachi monorail - The Paper / Chongqing Morning Post (2018): station design, “the building is the station” - iChongqing (2018): viewing platform opening, 840 m² for photos - China Educational Tours: free entry, about 1,367 m², 840 m² for photos, trains every few minutes - ChinaForTravelers: Exit 2 and lifts, platform outside the gates, train intervals, ¥2 from Jiaochangkou, works at the station - Baba Goes China (2024): Exit 2 and the lift to the platform, rush hours - TopAsiaTour: platform across the road, photo spots, weekend queues - Guangming Daily (2025): Chongqing metro fare table — ¥2 up to 6 km - YesGo's China and Chongqing notes: payment, fares --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.