Beijing Transportation, Tips of transport in Beijing, China

Home / City Guide / Beijing / Transportation

Beijing Transportation

Getting to Beijing

Beijing Capital International Airport
Airport Express Train
Airport Shuttle Bus
Terminal 1
Terminal 2
Terminal 3 -- Transfer in T3 & Services of T3 & Facilities of T3
Beijing Nanyuan Airport -- Services, Facilities, Transportation

By Train–Beijing Railway Station
Beijing South Railway Station
Beijing West Railway Station

By Long-Distance Bus

Getting Around Beijing

By City-Bus
Transportation Smart Card

By Subway – Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6 & 7, Line 8, Line 10, Line 13, Line Ba Tong
Beijing Subway Map

By Taxi
By Bicycle & Rickshaw

Beijing is a well-known transportation hub in northern China with a well-developed transportation system. As an inland city, there are several methods of transportation from which to choose to get to Beijing: plane, train and long-distance bus. All of them offer great convenience to visitors.

Beijing Capital Airport

Compared with other developed countries, the public transport in Beijing city started slowly. The first trolley car appeared in the city in 1924, and during the next 30 years, there were fewer than 100 trolleys altogether. It was extremely hard for people to travel around the city at that time. In 1949, only 49 were in good condition and rest of them didn't work. It was not until 1949 that the condition began to improve speedily. Now, after 58 years of development, there are over 1,300 public bus routes and 4 subway lines taking passengers to every corner of the city conveniently.

Beijing Capital Airport is the largest international airport in the country. Centered on Beijing, a complex railway net has been formed that leads to cities far and near in China. In addition, there are 12 national highways and 9 speedways radiating out in all directions. Nineteen long-distance bus stations have their main terminals in Beijing.

Beijing Subway

As a metropolis in a densely populated country, transportation in Beijing is a bit crowded, especially during rush hours (around 08:00 and 18:00). During rush hours, traffic jams are common and may cause significant delays. If possible, avoid taking buses at this time of a day as it may drain your limited vacation time. The city is large and the downtown district is encircled by 6 roads, all linked with one another. Together, they have a total length of 431 kilometers (268 miles). Many transportation options are available throughout the city: taxi, public buses and the subway (with the subway being the most time-effective). Walking is perhaps the best choice, provided the destination is not far. Rickshaws are also available around the city and are a great way to experience the ancient Peking culture while wandering around the Hutongs.

With the development of the economy, the living standard of the citizens has improved greatly. More and more people own their private cars. It is estimated that there are 3,000,000 motor vehicles in Beijing by now; they put a great pressure on the city traffic. To support the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the government took plenty of measures to relieve the transportation pressure in Beijing City. By the end of 2007, there will be 62 roads and 4 bridges that will be built or repaired with a total length of 169.5 kilometers (105 miles); 5 more subway lines have been finished before the Olympic Games; several Olympic Special Public Bus routes will transfer athletes and referees to and from the sports arena. Since then, Beijing's mass transportation is greatly promoted.

Tips:

Beijing Airport Express Train

1. When traveling around Beijing, ask for a card with the hotel's name in Chinese from the receptionist of your hotel. This will be very useful when directing taxi drivers or if you get lost.
2. Be aware of speed restrictions in Beijing:
2nd Ring Road, 3rd Ring Road, 4th Ring Road: 50 – 80 kilometers/hour (31 – 50 miles/hour)
5th Ring Road: 50 – 90 kilometers/hour (31 – 56 miles/hour)
Airport Expressway: 120 kilometers/hour (74 miles/hour)
Jing-Jin-Tang Expressway: 110 kilometers/hour (68 miles/hour)
Changan Avenue, Pingan Dajie, Liangguang Dajie, Qiansanmen Dajie: 70 kilometers/hour (43.5 miles/hour)

Travelers' Voices on Beijing Transportation

Sep. 10,2009 01:32 Reply

Mr.Clarence(China) said:

Beijing has tightened the security check as of September 9 in preparation for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China. Passengers who took the intercity buses starting with the number “9” had to present their ID cards for check. The bus conductors will not allow you to board on the bus if you don’t show your ID cards. The buses will be checked at the checkpoints.

Nov. 5,2009 04:07 Reply

Mr.MPG(PHILS.) said:

HI ! i'LL BE STAYING AT NOVOTEL XINQIAO HOTEL,1 CHONG WEN MEN,XI DA JIE,BEIJING. HOW DO I GET TO THE FOLLOWING TOURIST SPOTS VIA PUBLIC TRANSPORT :
1.BADALING GREAT WALL 2. SUMMER PALACE 3. OLYMPIC VILLAGE 4. DRUM TOWER/PALACE

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

Nov. 5,2009 20:36
Mr.Bruce replied:

1 Take subway line 2 from Chongwenmen Station and get off at Jishuitan Station, then walk to Deshengmen watchtower and take bus no. 919 to reach Badaling Great Wall.

2 Take subway line 2 from Chongwenmen Station and transfer to line 4 at Xuanwumen Station, get off line 4 at Beigongmen Station which is the north gate of Summer Palace.

3 Firstly take subway line 2 and transfer to line 5 at Yonghegong Station(雍和宫), then change to line 10 at Huixinxijienankou Station(惠新西街南口), lastly shift to line 8 at Beitucheng Station(北土城), get off at Olympic Park.

4 Take subway line 2 from Chongwenmen Station and get off at Guloudajie Station(鼓楼大街)——Drum Tower Street.

Nov. 4,2009 19:30 Reply

Ms.NORAHA(Malaysia) said:

Hi, I'll be coming to Beijing next year & recently booked a bus for 7 days. Is it a normal practice for a travel agent to request full payment being made upon arrival? I'm a bit afraid I get cheated.

Nov. 4,2009 21:47
Ms.Kay replied:

Hello:
As far as I know, the travel agency should do the arrangement before your arrival and pay for the hotel in advance. You’re requested to make a deposit and pay for the rest part upon your arrival. You need to confirm whether it is legal or not. If you are still afraid, please ask for receipt after giving the full payment.

Oct. 29,2009 22:39 Reply

Ms.Low(Malaysia) said:

I be travelling from Tiajing on 28.2.2010 to Beijing, I wonder is still in the "Golden week" in China? I worried my transport from Tiajing to Beijing.

Oct. 31,2009 01:19
Mr.Frankie replied:

It is not the golden traveling week, so you will not be in trouble with the crowded travelers. I guess you would like to go to Beijing by train, right? If so, it is suggested that you purchase the train ticket at least one day in advance. It is because it will just be the end of Chinese Spring Festival, there will be lots of students and workers backing to school or offices.

Oct. 16,2009 16:55 Reply

Mr.Jess(USA) said:

We are staying at the Forbidden Hotel and getting in at 9am in the morning. The hotel is locted at 1 Nanwanzi Alley Nanheyan Street , Dongcheng District Beijing. Can we find a rickshaw near the hotel to ride around the city and how much will on cost?

Oct. 18,2009 01:35
Mr.Qi replied:

That is impossoble to ride around the city. Rickshaws can onlu be found smong some hutongs, such as Shichaihai, Baochao Hutong, Yandai Xiejie, Nanluogu Xiang, etc. They will not go another place far away. It costs about 20RMB per person, about one hour. You should talk about the price with them in advance.

Oct. 11,2009 04:02 Reply

Ms.eleftheria(greece) said:

Hello,

I need some instructions to reach my hotel. I am arriving in Beijing airport 22:30 and I have booked the hotel Beijing Ai Hua Hotel (48B Tiantan Dong Li). Could you please let me know how I can go there?Is there public transportation that time? I am traveling alone, is it safe? And if somebody knows the hotel please give a review of it. Thanks a lot.

Oct. 11,2009 04:41
Mr.Shan replied:

The hotel is just located at the east gate of the Temple of Heaven. When you arrive at the Airport, please take the shuttle bus Line 7 (CNY16) and then get off at Ciqikou (磁器口) station. Please note that the last bus leaves from the airport at 24:00.

The Aihua Hotel is located about 2kms away to the south of Ciqikou. So, please hire a cab driving you there directly. The fare is CNY11.

Sep. 15,2009 10:56 Reply

Mr.Rick(Indo) said:

I will Arrive in Beijing railway Station from Shanghai. we will stay at Day inn Forbidden City Hotel
in Nanwanzi Alley Nanheyan Street/road which according to info i squite close to Tiananmen Square and forbidden city. which kind transport we can take beside taxi ? how much the taxi fare ?
Thanks

Sep. 16,2009 22:41
Mr.Bruce(Malaysia) replied:

hi Rick, this hotel is really close to the Tiananmen Square, you can walk to the Square within 4 minutes directly.

For the transportation from Beijing Railway Station to the hotel, you may take No. 10 bus from the railway station and get off at Nanheyan Stop, which is convenient and economical. Taxi fee is around CNY18.00.

Hope this information could give you some help:)

Sep. 17,2009 02:07
Ms.Shirley replied:

I don't think 4 minutes' walk can take you to the Tiananmen Square. Maybe about 10 minutes i'm not sure, but more than what you have said. You can walk out of the Days Inn Forbidden City Hotel to the street and then turn right, walk about 150 meters, a park is beside you. I suggest you go to the square through this park (it's for free), quiet and safe. Sometimes you may find the local people taking exercises in the park. It's interesting.

Sep. 15,2009 11:15 Reply

Mr.alvin(Indo) said:

How to go to Qlympic Stadium (bird nest) and water cube from Tiananmen square ? how far ?
by taxi / bus how much ?

Sep. 16,2009 05:04
Mr.Shan replied:

Taking subway is the cheapest and fastest one. At Tiananmen Square you could take the subway Line 1 and then transfer to Line 5 at Dongdan Station. Get off at Huixinxijie Nankou and then take Line 10 here, transfer to Line 8 (the Olympic Line) at Beitucheng. Finally get off at Olympic Center where the Bird Nest is located.

Sep. 15,2009 22:23 Reply

Mr.maribel(Philippines) said:

hello,
i am maribel from philippines, on sept 21, 2009 we are planning to take a tour first in hongkong then going to beijing. what are the mode of transportation are we going to to ride, please help us, going to china is my big dream.. thank you

Sep. 16,2009 04:55
Mr.Frankie replied:

Well, from Hong Kong to Beijing, it is suggested that you take a flight. Everyday, there are frequent flights from HK Airport to Beijing Capital Airport. You could search the flight schedule at http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-flights/

10.

Sep. 15,2009 09:40 Reply

Ms.Che(PI) said:

thank you very much mr sam, you're such a big help:-)

More Travelers' Voices (44)

Comment Reply