Chengdu Metro

Line 1

The first phase of Line 1 cost 7 billion yuan to construct.^[11] A natural ventilation system has been used in the underground section of Line 1 on the subway system from Southern Third Ring Road to Jincheng Plaza Station. Square ventilation units are built every 30 m (98 ft 5 in) along the subway top to allow fresh air from the ground enter the construction site underground. The method is used in subway construction in other countries as it cuts the construction cost and it saves energy. The subway system is the first in China to adopt such a ventilation system during construction. Chengdu Metro is planning to set up a section for subway fire control and introduce the latest fire fighting technologies and vehicles. Line 1's color is dark blue.^[12]

Line 2

Line 2 is a crosstown northwest–southeast trunk route. This line serves the Chengdu East railway station. Line 2 began operation on 16 September 2012. An 11 km (6.8 mi) long mostly elevated extension to Longquanyi began testing in April 2014 opened in October 2014. Line 2's color is orange.^[13]

Line 3

Line 3 runs in a northeast–southwest direction from Chengdu Medical College to Shuangliu West Station. Phase 1 of this line began construction on 28 April 2012, and opened on 31 July 2016. It was Chengdu's final line to use the lower capacity type B trains, subsequent lines favoring the longer and wider Type A cars. Line 3's color is magenta.

Line 4

Line 4 is the third line to enter revenue service on the metro network in Chengdu, Sichuan. Line 4 runs in an east–west direction, stretching from Wansheng in Wenjiang to Xihe in the Longquanyi. The first phase started construction on 22 July 2011, and began operation on 26 December 2015. Testing began on the east of west extensions of Line 4 as part of Phase II expansion on 10 December 2016. Line 4's color is green. It was the first line to use the longer and wider Type A trains, which are higher capacity.

Line 5

Line 5 is a crosstown north–south trunk line. Despite being numbered such, it was the seventh line to open, having started operation on 27 December 2019. Line 5's color is purple.

Line 6

Line 6 is a crosstown northwest–south-west pivotal line. It is the second longest metro line in Chengdu. It has more stations than any other metro line in China, with 54 currently plus two more infill stations coming later. It is one of the four lines to have started operation on 18 December 2020. Line 6's color is brown.

Line 7

Line 7 is a loop line which runs around downtown Chengdu. Despite the number, it was actually the sixth line to open, having started operation on 6 December 2017. Line 7's color is sky blue.

Line 8

Line 8 is a crosstown northeast–southwest metro line. It connects the Wangjiang and Jiang'an campuses of Sichuan University. Phase 1 began operation on 18 December 2020, the same day as lines 6, 9, and 18. Phase 2 opened on 19 December 2024. Line 8's color is chartreuse.

Line 9

Line 9 is planned to be the system's second circle line when it is fully completed according to plan. It is the first driverless metro line in Mid/West China. Phase 1 started operation on 18 December 2020. Line 9's color is bright orange.

Line 10

Line 10 serves Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It started operation on 6 September 2017. It was also the first line in the system to use the higher-capacity type A trains. Line 10's color is blue.

Line 13

Line 13 is a metro line in Central Chengdu. It started operation on 16 December 2025.

Line 17

Line 17 is a metro line in Central Chengdu. Phase 1, including phase 1 of line 19, started operation on 18 December 2020. On 22 September 2023, the Jinxing-Jiujiang North section was integrated into Line 19. Like line 18 is uses a special variant of Type A trains with one less door per side and using 25 kV AC overhead power, as opposed to the "standard" 1500 V DC most newer metros in China use. Line 17's color is pale green.

Line 18

Line 18 is the first express metro line in the city. It parallels the southern section of Line 1 serving Tianfu New Area. It started operation on 27 September 2020. Phase 2 started operation on 18 December 2020. It is the third longest metro line in China after Chongqing Line 6 being the longest and Shanghai Line 11 in second place. It is still however the longest line that does not have any branches. Like line 17, it uses a special variant of Type A trains with one less door per side and using 25 kV AC overhead power. Line 18's color is teal.

Line 19

Line 19 is an express metro line linking Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport. It partly shares the track with Line 18 between Tianfu Station and Tianfu Airport North. It started operation on 22 September 2023. Line 19's color is light purple.

Line 27

Line 27 is connects several northern regions of the city. It's the city's second metro line that use driverless trains. Line 27's color is light blue.

Line 30

Line 30 links Shuangliu International Airport and Longquanyi Railway Station. The metro station (Longquanyi Railway Station South) is located at the south side of the Longquanyi Railway Station (formerly known as Shilingnan Railway Station). It started operation on 16 December 2025. Despite its number, it was only the sixteenth line to open.

Line S3

Line S3 is an express metro line linking Futian in Jianyang, Chengdu to Ziyang North Railway Station in Ziyang. It is the first intercity rapid transit line of Chengdu Metro system. It started operation on 29 September 2024. Line S3's color is grey.

Tram Line 2

Chengdu Tram Line 2 serves the north-west part of the city without a metro line. The line uses low-floor trams derived from the Alstom Citadis. Tram Line 2's color is light green.

Inception

In 1985, the Chengdu Planning Bureau set up an integrated transportation planning office which began the process of the planning for a rapid transit network for Chengdu.^[14] By 1992, a proposal for the subway was sent to the National Planning Commission^[15] and was subsequently rejected.^[14] In 2004 before the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission Chengdu started reconstructing Tianfu Square with provisions for Tianfu Square station.^[16] The first phase of Chengdu Metro, consisting of Lines 1 and 2, were approved by the NDRC on 11 September 2005.^[17]

First phase projects

Second phase projects

Third phase projects

Fourth phase projects

Fifth phase projects

Lines under construction

As of December 2025, these are the lines that have been approved and are under construction.

Lines yet to start construction

The Chengdu Metro Phase 5 construction plan (2024-2029) was announced in 2023.^[106]

Long-term planning

In December 2020, Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources announced the long-term planning including Lines 1-33, D1-D6 and S1-S19.^[107]

Single ride card

Single Ride Card is an IC card for one trip. Riders can buy it through attendants in station's Service Centers or use ticket-vending machines. One ticket allows only one rider in with validity of the same day. If riders have not used the Single Ride Card, they may refund it at the same day at the same station.^[108]

From its opening until 1 June 2017, Chengdu Metro used a fare system based on station counts.^[109] With a 2-hour grace period in the subway system.^[110] In October 2016, Chengdu Metro held public meeting for price changing issues and set new pricing plans.^[111]

Since 2 June 2017, Chengdu Metro has used a new fare system based on distance.^[112]

Reloadable IC cards

The Tianfutong Pass is a reloadable IC Card accepted by the Chengdu Metro.^[113] Normal Tianfutong Passes provide 10% discounts. Student Tianfutong Passes provide 50% discounts. Senior Tianfutong Passes have special discounts depending on time of use.^[114][113] Additionally, passengers can pay for single rides directly using Debit IC cards offered by participating banks.^[115][116]

EMV cards

On 28 July 2025, Chengdu Metro started accepting EMV payments for both domestic and international bank cards on all lines. Cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and UnionPay are supported. Only Visa, MasterCard, American Express cards issued outside Mainland China are accepted.^{[117] [118][119]}.This makes Chengdu only the third city in the Chinese mainland (after Beijing and Shanghai) that provides this ‘tap and ride’ service using both domestic and international bank cards.^[119]

Signalling system

All Chengdu Metro lines are equipped with CBTC.^[123] Chengdu Metro Line 1, which opened to traffic in 2010, used a CBTC signaling system provided by Zhejiang Zhonghe Technology, a subsidiary of Zhejiang University,^[124] in collaboration with Ansaldo STS.^[125] This system is also used on Chengdu Metro Line 6^[126] and 10.^[127] Chengdu Metro Line 3, which opened in 2016, was one of the first adoptions of a domestic CBTC signal system implementation by Beijing Traffic Control Technology.^[128] Beijing Traffic Control Technology's CBTC system is also used in Line 5.^[129] Alstom's Urbalis 888 CBTC signal system in collaboration with CASCO is used on Line 18, 19, Chengdu Light Rail Line 2 and the fully automated GoA4 Line 9.^[130]

Type A trains

In response to congestion and high ridership, Lines 7, 8 and 10 are equipped with higher capacity 6-car aluminum alloy Type A trains. The total length of 140 metres (459 ft 4 in) and width is 3 metres (9 ft 10 in). All trains have a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). The capacity of a 6-car train is 1,828 passengers with a crush load capacity of 2,488 passengers. Line 7 trains are designed and managed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang with CRRC Chengdu performing manufacturing and assembly.^[131] Lines 5, 6 and 9 are equipped with even higher capacity eight car aluminum alloy Type A trains. The capacity of an eight car trainset is 2,480 passengers with a crush load capacity of 3,456 passengers.^[132]

Type B trains

Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 use six car stainless steel Type B trains with a total length of 120 metres (393 ft 8 in) and width 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in). The capacity of each train set is 1,460 people with a crush load capacity of 1,880 passengers.^[133] All trains have a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Lines 1 and 2 use CRRC Qingdao Sifang and CRRC Chengdu trains.^[134] Trains on Line 3 and 4 are manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and CRRC Chengdu.^[135] In 2008, Chengdu Metro in anticipation of the opening of Line 1, purchased and initial order of 17 six car trains sets from CRRC Qingdao Sifang.^[136] In April 2011, a further order was announced for trains from CRRC for Line 2, taking the total to 59 six car sets.^[137]

Light rail trains

Currently, only Chengdu Light Rail Line 2 is in operation. Light Rail Line 2 uses low floor light rail trains provided by domestic manufacturer CRRC. The tram system uses light rail trains, of each having 5 cars and 8 doors. Chengdu Light Rail Line R2 opened to public on 26 December 2018 and extended on 27 December 2019. It is 39.3 km (24.4 mi) long, with 35 stations (47 station when completed). In early 2020, this line is included in the latest Chengdu Metro's official system map.^{[138][139][140]}

High-speed intercity rail

There are also two high-speed intercity railways in Chengdu, not part of Chengdu Metro system: the Chengdu–Dujiangyan intercity railway and Chengdu–Pujiang intercity railway. They are operated by Chengdu Metropolitan Railway Company Limited, which is China's first joint venture between a local government and China's national rail operator. The city and the Ministry of Railways worked together in building high-speed intercity rail lines.^[141]