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Beijing Subway

With the first line opened in 1971, Beijing subway is the fastest transportation in downtown and it is a good way to avoid frequent traffic jams. Beijing had 27 subway lines in operation, including two airport express lines and two tram lines. At present, Beijing's rail transit has a total mileage of 879 kilometers (546.2 miles), with 420 stations, including 98 transfer stations, connecting the downtown areas like the Tian’anmen Square, Qianmen, and Wangfujing with many suburban areas.

At present, there are 8 subway lines under construction. According to the long-term plan, by 2035, Beijing will own a metro network with over 30 lines.

Beijing Subway Lines in Operation

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Line 1: Gucheng ↔ Sihuidong
Length: 31 kilometers (19 miles)
Main Stops: Babaoshan, Wukesong, Gongzhufen, Junshi Bowuguan (Military Museum), Xidan, Tian'anmenxi, Tian'anmendong, Wangfujing, Jianguomen, Guomao

Line 2 (circle line): It is a line running beneath the 2nd Ring Road.
Length: 23.1 kilometers (14.4 miles)
Main Stops: Xizhimen, Gulou Dajie, Yonghegong, Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen, Jianguomen, Beijing Zhan (Beijing Railway Station), Qianmen, Xuanwumen, Fuxingmen

Line 3: Dongsi Shitiao ↔ Dongba North
Length: 14.7 kilometers (9.1 miles)
Main Stops: Workers' Stadium, Chaoyang Park, Dongba North

Line 4: Anheqiaobei ↔ Gongyi Xiqiao
Length: 28 kilometers (17 miles)
Main Stops: Yuanmingyuan, Peking University East Gate, Zhonguancun, Renmin University, National Library, Beijing Zoo, Xizhimen, Xidan, Taoranting, South Railway Station

Line 5: Tiantongyuanbei ↔ Songjiazhuang

Length: 27.6 kilometers (17 miles)
Main Stops: Heping Xiqiao, Yonghegong, Dongsi, Dengshikou, Dongdan, Chongwenmen, Temple of Heaven East Gate

Line 6: Jin'anqiao ↔ Lucheng
Length: 53 kilometers (33 miles)
Main Stops: Pingguoyuan, Cishousi, Chegongzhuang, Ping'anli, Nanluogu Xiang, Chaoyangmen, Hujialou, Tongzhou Beiguan

Line 7: Beijing West Railway Station ↔ Huanqiu Dujiaqu (Universal Resort)
Length: 40 kilometers (25 miles)
Main Stops: West Railway Station, Caishikou, Ciqikou, Shuangjing, Happy Valley, Huazhuang, Huanqiu Dujiaqu (Universal Resort)

Line 8: Zhuxinzhuang ↔ Yinghai
Length: 51.6 kilometers (32.1 miles)
Main Stops: Aolinpike Gongyuan (Olympic Park), Aoti Zhongxin (Olympic Sports Center), Gulou Dajie, Shichahai, Nanluogu Xiang, Wangfujing, Qianmen

Line 9: Guogongzhuang ↔ National Library
Length: 16.5 kilometers (10 miles)
Main Stops: Guojia Tushuguan (National Library), Junshi Bowuguan (Military Museum), West Railway Station, Liuliqiao, Fengtai Nanlu

Line 10 (cricle line): Taking Bagou as terminal.
Length: 57.1 kilometers (35.5 miles)
Main Stops: Bagou, Haidian Huangzhuang, Mudanyuan, Sanyuanqiao, Liangmaqiao, Nongye Zhanlanguan (Agriculture Exhibition Center), Guomao, Shuangjing, Panjiayuan, Caoqiao, Shoujingmao, Fengtai Railway Station, Gongzhufen

Line 11: Xinshougang ↔ Jin'anqiao
Length: 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles)
Main Stops: Xinshougang, Beixinan, Jin'anqiao, Moshikou (not open yet)

Line 12: Sijiqingqiao - Dongba North
Length: 29 kilometers (18 miles)
Main Stops: Remin University, Dazhongsi, Sanyuanqiao, Dongba North

Line 13: Xizhimen ↔ Dongzhimen
Length: 40.5 kilometers (25 miles)
Main Stops: Xizhimen, Dazhongsi, Wudaokou, Qinghe Railway Station, Huilongguan, Beiyuan, Shaoyaoju, Dongzhimen

Line 14: Zhangguozhuang ↔ Shangezhuang
Length: 50.8 km (31.6 miles)
Main Stops: Yuanboyuan (Garden Expo Park), Dawayao, Qilizhuang, Xiju, Lize Shangwuqu (Lize Business District), South Railway Station, Shilihe, Chaoyang Park, Wangjing

Line 15: Qinghua Donglu Xikou ↔ Fengbo
Length: 41.4 kilometers (25.7 miles)
Main Stops: Aolinpike Gongyuan (Olympic Park), Wangjing, Guozhan (China Int'l Exhibition Center), Shunyi

Line 16: Bei'anhe ↔ Yuyuantan Dongmen
Length: 31.9 kilometers (19.8 miles)
Main Stops: Yongfeng, Xiyuan, Wanshousi, Guojia Tushuguan (National Library), Yuyuantan Dongmen

Line 17: Jiahuihu ↔ Shilihe
Length: 45.7 kilometers (28.4 miles)
Main Stops: Ciqu, Shilihe, Workers' Stadium, Xibahe

Line 19: Xingong ↔ Mudanyuan
Length: 22.4 kilometers (13.9 miles)
Main Stops: Xinfadi, Caoqiao, Niujie (Ox Street), Jishuitan, Mudanyuan

Daxing Line: Xingong ↔ Tiangongyuan
Length: 21.8 kilometers (13.5 miles)
Main Stops: Xihongmen, Huangcun Railway Station, Shengwu Yiyao Jidi (Biomedical Base)

Changping Line: Qinghe Zhan ↔ Changping Xishankou
Length: 31.9 kilometers (20 miles)
Main Stops: Shisanling Jingqu (Ming Tombs), Changping Dongguan, Shahe Gaojiaoyuan (Shanhe University Park), Shengming Kexueyuan (Life Science Park), Qinghe Railway Station

Yizhuang Line: Songjiazhuang ↔ Yizhuang Huochezhan (Yizhuang Railway Station)
Length: 23.3 kilometers (14.4 miles)
Main Stops: Xiaohongmen, Yizhuang Wenhuayuan (Yizhuang Culture Park), Ciqu, Yizhuang Railway Station

Fangshan Line: Dongguantounan ↔ Yancundong
Length: 32 kilometers (20 miles)
Main Stops: Shoujingmao (Capital Univ. of Economics & Business), Guogongzhuang, Liangxiang Daxuecheng

Yanfang Line: Yancundong ↔ Yanshan
Length: 14.4 kilometers (9 miles)
Main Stop: Fangshan Chengguan, Xingcheng, Yancun

Line S1: Pingguoyuan ↔ Shichang
Length: 10.2 kilometers (6.3 miles)
Main Stops: Sidaoqiao, Liyuanzhuang, Sidaoqiao, Jin'anqiao

Capital Airport Express Line: Beixinqiao ↔ Dongzhimen ↔ Sanyuanqiao ↔ T3 ↔ T2 (Capital Airport)
Length: 29.8 kilometers (18.5 miles)
Ticket Fare: CNY 25

Daxing Airport Express Line (New Airport Line): Caoqiao ↔ Daxing Xincheng ↔ Daxing Airport
Length: 41.36 kilometers (25.7 miles)
Ticket Fare: CNY 10 to 50

There are two modern trams lines:

Xijiao Line (West Suburban Line): Bagou ↔ Xiangshan

Length: 9.4 kilometers (5.8 miles)

Main Stops: Summer Palace West Gate, Botanical Garden, Fragrant Hills

Yizhuang T1 Line: Dinghaiyuan ↔ Quzhuang

Length: 13.25 kilometers (8.2 miles)

Main Stops: Beijing Etrong Int’l Exhibition & Convention Center, Rongchang Dongjie

Ticket Fare of Beijing Subway

Distance	Fare
First 6km (3.7 mi)	CNY 3
6 – 12km (3.7 - 7.5mi)	CNY 4
12 – 22km (7.5 - 13.7mi)	CNY 5
22 – 32km (13.7 - 20mi)	CNY 6
Over 32km	CNY 2 for every additional 20km

Notes:
1. A child shorter than 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) cannot ride metro alone. If an adult takes one child below 4.3 feet high on the metro, the child is free of charge; if two, one of the children is free of charge.
2. Tickets are issued for one-day use only.

Front Side of Beijing Subway Ticket

Back Side of Beijing Subway Ticket

How to pay for Beijing subway?

Payment is super easy and you don’t need to know any Chinese to make the payment. Four payments methods are available as below.

Bank cards including MasterCard, VISA & UnionPay: Tap and go

All Beijing subway stations are equipped with gate machines supporting international cards. Tourists with MasterCard or VISA card issued overseas can take any subway lines and also Daxing / Capital Airport Express trains just by tapping on the gate just like locals do.

Handy Beijing Pass / Beijing Yikatong – get one at airports or railway stations

Beijing Pass, designed for foreigners, is a multi-functional card to pay for all public transportation in Beijing, entrance to parks and attractions like Badaling Great Wall. Tap and swipe is all you need to do. You can buy one at the Beijing Service counter at international arrival halls of two airports and also railway stations. Beijing Yikatong, the top-up card with a deposit of CNY 20 used by most locals, is also sold at all subways stations and airports or railway stations.

Alipay / WeChat Pay Transportation QR Code: experience digital payment

Digital payment is a norm in China. Now registration of Alipay for foreigners is getting easier even with an international phone number like country-prefix dash number. After registration, press transport on homepage and choose Beijing to get the transport QR code to anywhere you want just by scanning. Also, WeChat Pay works basically the same: search for Beijing transportation to find the QR code.

Buy Tickets on Spot

There are ticket vendors with English service available at every station. Tickets are also sold at service centers which are all manned. You can buy a ticket with cash, or VISA/Mastercard/Alipay.

Subway Route Planning

MetroMan China – Excellent Route Planner

Recommended by many international tourists in China, MetroMan, with timely update, shows the shortest, cheapest transfer methods, fare, duration, which exit to take and scenes outside exits. After exiting from subway stations, use the DiDi app as GPS to find the building.

Paper Map – Conventional Way

You can see bilingual map of whole Beijing subway system and each line at every station and inside the metro train to help your route planning. The station staff are always there for help, just feel free to ask them anything.

Subway Stations nearby Major Attractions

Forbidden City – Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West of line 1
Summer Palace – Beigongmen of line 4
Temple of Heaven – Tiantan Dongmen of line 5
Lama Temple – Yonghegong of line 5
Beihai Park – Beihai North of line 6
Houhai – Jishuitan of line 2 or Beihai North of line 6
Bird’s Nest – Olympic Sports Center of line 8
Sanlitun – Tuanjiehu of line 10
Wangfujing Street - National Art Museum of line 8

Travel Tips on Taking Beijing Metro

Not to Take

Alcohol;
Over 120ml sunscreen spray or similar spray bottles;
More than two lighters;
Over two boxes of matches;
Knife of any kind;
Inflammable and explosive articles and Harmful chemicals.

Tips

1. The announcements are in both Chinese and English. So you don’t need to know any Chinese to take Beijing subway.
2. Avoid rush hours of 07:00 – 10:00 and 17:00 – 20:00 on weekdays.
3. Security check is required every time you enter a station. Put every bag into the security check machine and you may be asked to take a sip if you take any liquid.
4. Eating is not allowed inside the metro train.
5. It’s not advised to use speakers on electronic devices, so wear your headphones.
6. Free toilet is available at almost every station.
7. Figure out which exit you should take. A wrong exit causes longer walking distance.
8. The metro stations are clean and have English signs directing tourists to the exits and nearby places that you are likely trying to find.

- Last updated on May. 20, 2025 by Gabby Li -