Liziba Station: A Unique Urban Wonder in Chongqing, China
Travel in Chongqing
Hot China City Tours
Which city in China has a train through a building? It’s Chongqing. If you travel to Chongqing and skip Metro Line 2, you’re missing out. It winds through the city like a casual sightseeing ride. But exactly where is the train through the building in Chongqing? That would be Liziba Station, a star spot along the line.
Watching it pass through is one of those moments you don’t expect to be that cool, and somehow every photo you take just turns out great. So, when planning a trip to Chongqing, don’t forget to add Liziba Station to your itinerary.
Liziba Station Facts
Why Is Liziba Station Famous?
You might be wondering why Liziba Station in China and the whole “eating the light rail” trend blew up. Part of it is just fun, but it also comes down to the city itself. Chongqing is full of steep hills, making this architectural marvel look surreal—you won’t really see anything like it anywhere else.
Then social media took over, people started posting creative photos and videos of Liziba Station, and it quickly became one of those must-try moments on your Chongqing tours.
Liziba Station Architecture and Design
Completed in 2004, the track occupies the 6th to 8th floors of a mixed-use building. This unusual Chongqing Liziba Station architecture was actually born from a 1998 dilemma: rerouting the planned metro line through the hilly terrain was simply too expensive, and the developer refused to give up the land. The bold solution was to just build both together.
To pull this off without driving the residents crazy, the Chongqing Liziba Station designers, led by Chongqing University's Ye Tianyi, had to be clever. The rail pillars and the building’s supports are completely separate, leaving a 20 cm gap so they don't actually touch. Combined with rubber train tires and air springs, the noise is kept down to a quiet 60 decibels, letting people live there in peace.
Things to Do at Liziba Station
Visit the Liziba Train Through Building Exhibition Hall
There’s a small “train-through-building” exhibit on the second floor of Liziba station, with a scale model and some old photos. It’s free to check out and gives you a better idea of how this whole setup actually works.
Discover the Cultural and Creative Shop
This shop inside Liziba Monorail Station has a bunch of fun Chongqing-themed souvenirs, like light rail keychains and illustrated maps. If you’re into collecting stamps, this place is worth a quick stop since they’ve got quite a few to try.
Delve into Bayu Old News Gallery
This spot of Liziba Station in Chongqing Mountain City is filled with old Chongqing newspapers and photos from the late Qing and Republic era, and you can kind of get a sense of how the city used to be.
Explore Attractions Nearby
There are a few nice spots around Liziba Station if you want to explore more during your Chongqing travel. Liziba War Relics Park is free and much quieter, while the Stilwell Museum nearby costs a small fee and gives a glimpse into Chongqing’s past. You can also check out Eling Park, an old-school garden that’s just a great place to relax and catch a nice view over Chongqing.
Best Photography Spots for Liziba Station
Taking pictures at Liziba Station is also one of the most popular things to do in Chongqing. The train passing through the building just looks different every time it comes by. Give it a minute, and you’ll probably walk away with a few shots you actually like. To help you capture the perfect Liziba Station photos, here are the best spots to capture the action.
Classic Photo Spots
Viewing Platform A
Located by the Jialing River, this is the most iconic spot to capture the transit passing through the building. Try shooting from a low angle with a wide lens to get that dramatic perspective. Even if you arrive late and find Liziba Station closed for the night, this outdoor platform remains open.
2nd Floor Experience Area / Near Exit 2
This spot gets you really close to the train. You can actually hear it coming and feel the moment it passes by, even just standing near the exit or behind the glass.
Fun Creative Photo Spots
Beibin Road Across the River
For a completely different angle of Liziba Station, head across to Beibin Road. Just navigate to the “Chongqing Municipal Education Commission” and walk down to the river. This is the spot for those funny photos where people pretend to “eat” the train.
Yellow Building (Xiao Huang Lou)
This old yellow building gives off a totally different vibe. With the light rail passing above it, the contrast feels a bit surreal, like old and new mixed together in one frame.
Hidden Photo Spots
Near Shangqingsi Police Station
Walk down from the Lansheng Pavilion toward Exit 2 of Liziba Station, and you’ll find this quieter spot along the slope. The train passes right between two old buildings, and you can also see the Luhai International Center in the background.
Lansheng Pavilion
This one is a bit more hidden and usually less crowded. From here, you can look down over the Liziba Station, which feels completely different from street level. If you’re lucky, you might even catch two trains passing at the same time.
Best Time to Visit Liziba Station
The best time to visit Liziba Station in Chongqing is in spring or autumn, during which Chongqing's weather is mild, and the scenery is at its most beautiful. Summers can be intense with heat and humidity, while winter tends to be a bit gray and damp. Late afternoon is a good time to go, the light is softer, and it’s better for photos. Try to avoid the morning rush hour, since it can get pretty crowded.
How to Get to Liziba Station
By Light Rail
The simplest way is to take Light Rail Line 2 and get off at Liziba Station. The viewing platform is just across the street from Exit 1.
By Bus
It’s easy to get to Liziba Station by taking bus routes like 808, 503, 261, 219, and 429 from places like the Liberation Monument and Hongya Cave.
By Taxi
You can also take a taxi or use ride-hailing apps like DiDi and just set your destination to “Liziba Viewing Platform.” It’s quick and pretty hassle-free.
Travel to Liziba Station in Chongqing with ETC
Experiencing Liziba Station is just one small part of what makes Chongqing so interesting. If you’re planning to explore the mountain city, you can travel with ETC, and we’ll help customize a Chongqing trip that fits your style. You can also take a look at our ready-made Chongqing tour packages with Liziba for a bit of inspiration.
