In Chongqing, you should wonder, “Where is the Chongqing train through building?” The answer is: the Liziba Station of Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2. Chongqing is a city marvelous for its unique topography and ingenious spatial design, famous for its undulating and intricate mountainous cityscape.
How to get to Liziba Station
Route: Take Chongqing Metro Line 2 (red line), which runs along the river and is a great scenic route in itself, allowing you to enjoy the view on your way to your destination.
Exit: When you arrive at “Liziba Station”, follow the signs to Exit A and walk down for about 5 minutes to the “Liziba Observation Deck”, where you can witness the spectacular view of the train passing through the building.
Operating hours: The subway operates from 6:30 to 22:30, with intervals of about 5 minutes, and one-way fares range from 2 to 7 yuan.
Suggestions for sightseeing
Observation Deck Photography: Waiting for the train to enter the building from the observation deck, which runs every 5 minutes, is a perfect opportunity to photograph this spectacle.
Fun photo ops: Use the staggered shot technique to take a fun photo of “eating the light rail” from the observation deck. At night, when the lights come on, you can also capture a cyberpunk-style photo of the train intertwined with the light and shadow of the building.
Best time to take photos: 7:00-9:00 a.m. (morning light shots) or 15:00-17:00 p.m. (backlit silhouettes) are the best times to take photos.
Theme Exhibition Hall: On the 6th floor of the station’s concourse level, there is an exhibition hall (free of charge) on the theme of the “Light Rail Through the Building”, where you can view a 3D model of the construction process and learn about the story behind the construction of this marvel.
How it was built
Topographical constraints: When the building was constructed in 2004, the building where the Liziba station is located was a necessary route for the LRT due to topographical constraints.
Separation of station and bridge design: A unique “separation of station and bridge” design was adopted, whereby the bridge of the LRT tracks is independently load-bearing and maintains a 20-centimeter gap between it and the residential buildings.
Floor Functions: The 1st-5th floors of the building are commercial spaces, the 6th-8th floors are LRT station halls and railroad tracks, and the 9th floor and above are residential buildings.
Elevator Setting: The elevators of the residential building are divided into “LRT Special Passage” and “Residential Passage” to ensure that they do not interfere with each other.
How to reduce noise
Nitrogen-filled rubber tires: The cross-seat monorail system uses nitrogen-filled rubber tires, which reduce noise by more than 10 decibels compared to steel wheels.
Acoustic seams: The 20-centimeter acoustic seams between the track and the building are filled with sound-absorbing material.
Sound insulation screen: 3-meter-high curved sound insulation screens are installed on both sides of the track.
Soundproof glass: The windows of the residential buildings were uniformly replaced with three layers of hollow soundproof glass.
Neighboring Attractions and Transportation Guide
Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum:
Introduction: Located in Yuzhong District, it is a good place to learn about the history and culture of Chongqing. The museum has a rich collection covering several cultural relics categories. Across the street, the People’s Auditorium is a combination of Chinese and Western architecture.
Transportation: Take Line 2 from Liziba Station to Zengjiayan Station and walk 700 meters to get there.
Yangtze River Ropeway:
Introduction: A “sky bus” across the Yangtze River, overlooking the confluence of the two rivers and the city skyline.
Transportation: Metro Line 2, get off at Linjiangmen Station and walk 1 kilometer.
Food Recommendation
Liziba Liangshan Chicken
Address：No.60, Liziba Main Street, Yuzhong District, Chongqing (near Exit 1 of Liziba Station of Metro Line 2)
Specialties: Liangshan Chicken, Sister Zhao’s Chicken Minced Pork, etc.
Dining time: 10:00-22:00
Reason: This restaurant has won the praise of many tourists for its unique flavor and excellent service. Liangshan Chicken is a perfect combination of spicy and medicinal food, and the chicken is tender and juicy, definitely worth a try.
Precautions
Chongqing has a complicated topography, so please remember that “the first floor is not necessarily the ground floor”. At Liziba Station, the observation deck is on the 1st floor (river side), while the entrance to the residential building is on the 8th floor (mountain side).