The Bluebirds fought back to earn a point in the Severnside derby.
Yousef Salech's late equaliser secured the draw following the Robins' second-half opener.
Cardiff City started the brighter of the two teams, with former Robin Callum O’Dowda testing Max O’Leary in the second minute.
The Bluebirds controlled the tempo and possession in the opening stages, though they couldn’t create any clear opportunities on goal.
As the half progressed, the visitors grew into the match, with Sinclair Armstrong occupying City’s backline. Despite this, neither team were able to produce any clear goal scoring chances, resulting in it being goalless at the break.
An eventful beginning to the second period saw City have three efforts on goal in the space of three minutes. The first meaningful opportunity of the match fell to Anwar El Ghazi, who headed Sivert Mannsverk’s whipped cross over the crossbar.
This was swiftly followed by Callum Robinson calling MaxO’Leary into action, as he tried his luck from distance. Moments later, Will Alves’ cross found El Ghazi, who headed back for Robinson, who saw his volley fly narrowly wide.
Following this, the visitors had their first chance of the match, as half-time substitute Yū Hirakawa cut in and forced a smart save by Jak Alnwick at his near post.
On the hour mark the deadlock was broken, as Bristol City captain Jason Knight headed in from Hirakawa’s inviting free-kick.
After an extended period of pressure, The Bluebirds finally earned an equaliser via Yousef Salech. Aaron Ramsey slid the ball through for Cian Ashford who fizzed it across the box for Salech finish.
In the final minute of proceedings Joel Bagan produced a heroic defensive block to maintain City’s point, as he threw himself in front of Nahki Wells’ late effort.
The affair finished 1-1, as the teams shared the points in a closely fought Severnside derby.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY
Cardiff City: Alnwick ©, Goutas, O’Dowda, Mannsverk (Ashford 81’), El Ghazi (Willock 71’), Bagan, Colwill, Alves, Rinomhota (Ramsey 62’), Ng, Robinson (Salech 71’). Subs not used: Horvath, Fish, Méïté, Šimić, Giles.
Bristol City: O’Leary, McCrorie (Tanner 57’), Bird, Twine (Hirakawa 45’), Mehmeti (Earthy 82’), Knight, Vyner, Dickie, Sykes (Bell 45’), Roberts, Armstrong (Wells 71’). Subs not used: Bajic, Cornick, McGuane, Morrison.