Beijing Transportation Smart Card

Beijing Transportation Smart Card, aka Yikatong Card, is valid for nearly all means of transportation in the city, including city buses, subway, the Airport Express Train, S2 trains, taxis, and public bicycles. This ordinary transportation card is available to anyone and a passport is not needed. Payments in some supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and some 20 parks can also be made using the transportation card.
 
Smart Card
Smart Card

How much does a Transportation Card Cost?


Each card requires a CNY20 refundable deposit. Generally, it is suggested to store CNY50 for 2-3 days’ stay and CNY100 for one-week’s cost when buying the transportation card.

Succeeding top-up amounts must be in multiples of CNY10, and the maximum is CNY1,000. One can buy and use the card without registration. Once lost, it is hard to get it back. Therefore, storing a large sum on the card should be avoided.

 

Where to Buy & Top Up Yikatong Card


1. Customer Service Center of all subway stations

2. Ticket windows of the Airport Express Train: T3: 06:20 - 22:50; T2: 06:35 - 23:10 (also for card-return service)

3. Transportation Smart Card Service Centers:

Xidan branch: east of Cultural Palace of Nationalities, No. 45-21, Fuxingmen Inner Street, Xicheng District; 08:30 – 19:00

Dongzhimen branch: west of Dongzhimen Transportation Hub, Dongcheng District; 08:30 – 19:00

South Railway Station branch: city bus exchange hall, B1 Floor, South Railway Station; 08:30 – 19:30

4. The following branches of Agricultural Bank of China in Beijing, 09:00 – 16:00:
 
Xicheng No. 16, Fuxingmen Outer Street; No. 92, Xuanwumen Outer Street; No. Jia 15, West Chang’an Street; No. 12-16, Jinrong Street; No. 15, Maliandao Road
Dongcheng No. 15, Dongzhimen Inner Street; No. 10, Jiaodaokou East Street; No. 13, Chaoyangmen North Street
Chaoyang No. 11, West Beitucheng Road; No. 826, Jinsong Baqu; No. Jia 1, Anwai Ganshuiqiao; No. 1, East Dingfuzhuang; Kangyun Hotel, No. 78, Maizidian Street
Haidian No. 15, Baishiqiao Road; No. 95, East Zhongguancun Road; 1F, Jingmen Mansion, Yangfangdian Road, Fuwai Street; Cuiwei Mansion, No. 33, Fuxing Road
Fengtai No. 9, East Street; No. 2, Huayuan Sili; No. 109, West Xiaotun Road
Tongzhou No. 1, Baliqiao South Street
Daxing No. 27, Middle Section of Xinghua Street; No. 99-101, West Fuqiang Road
Fangshan No. 8, West Street, Chengguan Street; No. 28, West Liangxiang Road
Shunyi South of Fuqian Street, Xiaoying Town; No. 1, Zhangzhen Street
Huairou No. Jia 54, Qingchun Road, Huguang Community; 1-2F, No. 25, Fule Community Beili
Pinggu 1F, No. 20, Xinggu Road, Xinggu Industrial Development Zone; 1-3F, Block no. 5, No. 29, Yuyang Road, Yuyang Town
Miyun No. 37, East Gulou Street; No. 5, Block no. 697, Yangguang Street
Yanqing No. 101, Dongwai Street; No. 17, South Weishui Street

5. Beijing Yikatong Transportation Card Self-service Machines – to buy, top up or return a card

A. Indicated subway stations: Yong’anli on line 1, Qingnian Road on line 6, Guangqumennei on line 7, Fengtai Science Park on line 9, Guomao & Shoujingmao on line 10, Beishantan & Wangjing East on line 15

B. West Railway Station: south square; next to telephone booth on north square; next to escalator on north square

C. Transportation Smart Card Service Centers at Xidan, Dongzhimen and South Railway Station

D. Transportation junction at Sihui, Songjiazhuang, Xiyuan and Libafang

 

Where & How to Use Beijing Transportation Card


1. Bus: 50% discount on the normal fare is offered. Swipe the card when boarding the bus. If the door for disembarking has a card reader, it is necessary to swipe again when exiting the bus.

2. Subway: Use as a metro card without discount. Swipe it when entering and exiting the subway station.

3. Taxi: swipe on the card reader near the taximeter

4. S2 Train to Badaling Great Wall: swipe when entering and exiting the railway station

5. Public Bicycle: activate the bike rental function → find a public bike docking station → swipe the transportation card to unlock the bike → ride away → lock the bike → swipe the card to finish the return
Check-in Counter
Subway Check-in Counter
Exit
Exit of Subway


 Other functions of Beijing Transportation Smart Card for foreigners who work or live in Beijing for a long time:

 Payment at dedicated gas stations, supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, pharmacies & all public telephones……

 Parks' annual ticket in Beijing:
Beijing Transportation Smart Card should be activated for the park entry function first at the ticket offices of the following parks/attractions; meanwhile, CNY200 will be deducted from the card. Then it is allowed to enter these parks for unlimited times in a year:

Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Zhongshan Park, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Taoranting Park, Beijing Zoo, Fragrant Hills Park, Botanical Garden, Yuyuantan Park, Grand View Garden, Lianhuachi Park, Temple of the Moon, Temple of Earth, Water Cube, Fengtai Park, Wanfangting Park, International Sculpture Park and Shuangxiu Park.

 

How & Where to Return Beijing Transportation Smart Card

 
Beijing-Tianjin Transportation
Procedures to Return Beijing Transportation Smart Card
 

 Places to return Yikatong Card

1. Customer Service Center of designated subway stations:
 

Line 1

Wangfujing, Sihui, Gucheng

Line 2

Xizhimen, Beijing Railway Station, Jianguomen

Line 4

Lingjing Hutong, Haidian Huangzhuang, Jiaomenxi

Line 5 

Dongdan, Yonghe Lamasery, Lishuiqiao

Line 6

Ping’anli, Chegongzhuang West, Shilipu, Huangqu, Dongxiayuan

Line 7 

 Guang’anmennei

Line 8

Guloudajie, Huoying
Line 9  Qilizhuang, West Railway Station
Line 10  Shilihe, Shaoyaoju, Cishousi, Zhichunlu, Fengtai, Songjiazhuang
Line 13  Dongzhimen, Dazhongsi
Line 14  Jingtai, Songfeng Beiqiao, Jiulongshan, Wangjing, Dajing, Dawayao
Line 15  Wangjing West, Liudaokou, Nanfaxin, Hualikan
Line 16 Yongfeng South
Yizhuang Line Wanyuanjie, Rongchang Dongjie
Daxing Line Yihezhuang, Zaoyuan
Changping Line Shahe Univesity Park, Life Science Park

2. Transportation Smart Card Service Center at Dongzhimen, Xidan and Beijing South Railway Station

3. Long-distance Bus Stations: Muxiyuan, Zhaogongkou, Liuliqiao, Bawangfen, Xinfadi

4. The following branches of Post Offices in Beijing, 09:00 – 16:00:
 
Xicheng No. 12, Qianmen West Street; No. 4, Ox Street; No. 18, Baiwanzhuang Street; No. 16, South Street; No. 109, West Xidan Street; No. 19, North Fuchengmen Street
Dongcheng No. 553, North Dongsi Street; Building no. 7, Fuguiyuan Community, Donghuashi Nanli; No. 181, Anwai Street
Chaoyang Building no. 11, Anhui Beili; Building no. 102, Nongguangli Community; No. 9, Guangdongdian Street; No. 3, Balizhuang Dongli; No. 6, North Jintai Street; No. 1, Huajiadi Beili
Haidian No. 7, Wanshou Road; Building no. 1, Yanshuyuan, Shijicheng Community; No. 9, Zhongguancun Street; No. 1, North Fengwo Road; No. 35, Middle Beisanhuan Road; No. 37, Shuangyushu Dongli; No. 17, Chengfu Road; No. Jia 88-1, Yongding Road; No. 17, Zhongguancun South Street
Fengtai No. 94, South Xisihuan Road; No. 10, West Railway Station South Road; No. 22, Pufang Road; No. 8, West Muxiyuan; No. 4, Dijing Road
Shijingshan No. 52, Shijingshan Road
Mentougou Dongwangping Village
Changping  No. 20, Xinxing Road, Nankou Town
Huairou No. 88, Yujiayuan Community Area no. 1
Miyun No. 18-1, Xinzhong Street

 Further Reading: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Transportation Card – Jingjinji Card 
- Last updated on May. 23, 2023 -
Questions & Answers on Beijing Transportation Smart Card
Asked by fernando from ESPAÑA | May. 22, 2023 01:35Reply
Is one card necessary per person?
We are a family of three people who will spend a single day in Beijing; We will arrive at the airport (T3 and what to visit The Forbidden City and the 798 Art Zone. Will we need 3 cards or will one be enough? Thank you.
Answers (1)
Answered by Selena | May. 23, 2023 02:24
00Reply


Generally, 3 cards are needed.
Asked by CAROLINE AQUINO from PHILIPPINES | Jan. 18, 2020 02:56Reply
Beijing Yikatong Card
Since ticket windows of the Airport Express train will be closed by 23:10 in PEK T2, are there any service counters within T2 vicinity that are open 24 hours where I can buy the Yikatong Card?
Answers (1)
Answered by Nikki from USA | Jan. 18, 2020 22:32
00Reply


No, there isn't. You can buy Yikatong at subway station next day.
Asked by Mei Peng Marshall from AUSTRALIA | Jan. 16, 2020 20:40Reply
Can I buy the 3 day yikatong pass at the Beijing International airport?
Can you please point which counter I purchase this.

Xiexie
Answers (1)
Answered by Judith from UNITED KINGDOM | Jan. 16, 2020 22:11
00Reply


Well, as I know, you can buy the card at the service counter of Airport Express at PEK. In order to be sure, you are suggested to consult the airport staff when you arriving there. :)
Asked by mei from AUSTRALIA | Jan. 12, 2020 03:38Reply
Beijing Yikatong Tourist Short-Term Pass Packages
Can you purchase yikatong tourist short term pass packages for 3 days at international arrival hall at PEK. Can you please write it out for me in Chinese. XieXie.

Package Cost (CNY) Usage Limitation Deposit (CNY) (Refundable)
3-day pass 10 18 rides 20
Answers (1)
Answered by Sally from USA | Jan. 13, 2020 18:46
00Reply


As I know, people have to download "易通行" App to buy 3-day pass ticket. You could ask for help from airport staff.
Asked by Syaiful from INDONESIA | Jan. 03, 2020 06:15Reply
Can I return Yikatong Card in Beijing South Railway Station?
Answers (1)
Answered by Mona from USA | Jan. 05, 2020 23:49
00Reply


Yes, there are self-service machines for people to get refund.
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