Chongqing—The largest high-speed rail hub in western China, Chongqing East Railway Station, officially opened its doors on June 27. It immediately drew crowds not just for its travel convenience but also for its architectural splendor and unique cityscape views.

As a key national project, Chongqing East Railway Station brings far more than the promise of "one hour to Chengdu, six hours to Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou." The integrated “station-city” development is energizing Chongqing’s growth, driving regional development, economic vitality, and innovation in rail transport. Yet beyond the strategic significance, the new station is quickly gaining fame online as a must-visit "check-in spot," with its golden halls at sunset drawing both travelers and locals for photos.

An aerial view of Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/China Railway 11th Bureau Group)

The plaza in front of Chongqing East Railway Station is bathed in golden sunset light. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

A Golden Hour Hotspot

The most popular photo location is at the station's west entrance. Here, as dusk falls, visitors find themselves immersed in a living painting—distant mountains etched in silhouette, mirrored by the city's high-rises, all set aglow by vibrant sunset colors. The station's façade gleams under the orange-pink light, wrapping the building in a luminous veil. In the foreground, the illuminated "Welcome to Chongqing East Railway Station" sign, shaped like an unfurled bamboo scroll, becomes an iconic backdrop for photos.

At night, glowing letters pair with landscape lights modeled after the region’s signature huangjue trees (the city tree of Chongqing), their warm yellow glow cascading over the plaza. To the south, the silhouette of mountain ridges is reflected in the station’s glass walls, echoing Chongqing's dramatic topography and offering a "window to the mountains" that has become a local poetic signature.

Crowds of citizens gather to take photos at the plaza in front of Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

Crowds of citizens gather to take photos at the plaza in front of Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

Crowds of citizens gather to take photos at the plaza in front of Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

Design Inspired by Nature

Step inside, and the station's grandeur continues. The waiting hall is topped by a spectacular 130,000-square-meter tubular curtain-style double-curved ceiling, which is interwoven with rhythmic, droplet-shaped skylights that flow seamlessly into columns inspired by Chongqing's iconic huangjue trees. Integrated island air-conditioning units, designed in the shape of camellia flowers (the city flower of Chongqing), "blossom" throughout the space, creating an atmosphere that’s both modern and uniquely Chongqing.

The white pillars branch upward like trees, supporting an “indoor forest” under the soaring dome. The ticketing area features red and yellow stairways, seating nooks for waiting passengers, and an overall sense of warmth and community, whether for returning residents or travelers embarking on new journeys.

Artistic staircase. (Photo/China Railway 11th Bureau Group)

The waiting hall of Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/China Railway Construction Engineering Group)

On the north side, a second-floor viewing platform draws visitors to capture the geometric symmetry of the hall, setting off Chongqing's "city of mountains" charm against distant horizons.

A New City Landmark

Chongqing East Railway Station is more than a transportation hub; it's a new symbol of the city’s character and hospitality. Facing east, it welcomes new arrivals; to the west, it catches the last rays of sunset. The station stands nestled between green mountains and the city’s urban sprawl, its central courtyard buzzing with everyday life.

Citizens walk through sunlight and shadow at Chongqing East Railway Station. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

Taking the elevator inside Chongqing East Railway Station’s strikingly designed building feels like traveling through time. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)

Beneath the sweeping shadows of huangjue trees—both real and reimagined in steel and glass—travelers find not only efficient transport, but also the romance and poetry unique to Chongqing. Here, every departure is a pursuit of new dreams, and every arrival an embrace of the city's warmth.