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Beijing Subway

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Beijing subway is the fastest transportation in downtown and it is a good way to avoid frequent traffic jams. Presently there are 22 subway lines plus one airport express line in operation. They connect city center stops such as Tiananmen Square, Qianmen, and the railway station with outlying areas.

Ticket Fare:

The price is charged according to the distance. It is CNY3 for the first 6km (3.7 miles), CNY4 for 6 to 12km( 3.7 to 7.5 miles), CNY5 for 12 to 22km (7.5 to 13.7 miles), CNY6 for 22 to 32km (13.7 to 20 miles), extra CNY2 for every additional 20km (12.4 miles) if distance over 32km (20 miles). A Transportation Smart Card can be used for paying. The stops are announced in both Chinese and English. Passengers can query the subway staff to avoid going in the wrong direction and wasting time.

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.
3. It is suggested to prepare loose change beforehand to take metro. At most stations passengers can buy the ticket either at the Customer Service Center or self-service ticket vending machine, but some stations are only equipped with ticket vending machines which accept 1RMB coins, 5RMB and 10RMB banknotes.

Operating Subway Lines:

Line 1 (East-West Line): Sihuidong – Pingguoyuan
Full Length: 31 kilometers (19 miles)
Main Stops: Wukesong, Gongzhufen, Military Museum, Xidan, Tiananmen, Wangfujing, Jianguomen, Yonganli, Guomao

Line 2 (Circle Line): (it is a line running beneath the 2nd Ring Road.)
Full Length: 23 kilometers (14 miles)
Main Stops: Xizhimen, Drum Tower, Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen, Jianguomen, Railway Station, Qianmen, Xuanwumen, Fuxingmen, Fuchengmen

Line 4: Anheqiao North – Gongyixiqiao
Full Length: 28.14 kilometers (17.5 miles)
Main Stops: Yuanmingyuan, Beijing University East Gate, Zhonguancun, Renmin University, National Library, Zoo, Xizhimen, Xinjiekou, Xisi, Xidan, Xuanwumen, Caishikou, South Railway Station, Majiabao

Line 5: Tiantongyuan North– Songjiazhuang (north to south)
Full Length: 27.6 kilometers (17 miles)
Main Stops: Heping Xiqiao, Yonghegong, Dongsi, Dengshikou, Dongdan, Chongwenmen, Temple of Heaven (east entrance)

Line 6: Jin'anqiao - Lucheng (west to east)
Full Length: 53 kilometers (33 miles)
Main Stops: Yangzhuang, Xihuangcun, Cishousi, Chegongzhuang, Pinganli, Dongsi, Chaoyangmen, Hujialou

Waiting for Subway Line 7: West Railway Station - Huazhuang
Full Length: 40 kilometers (25 miles)

Line 8: North Section: Zhuxinzhuang - National Art Museum of China; South Section: Zhushikou - Yinghai
Main Stops: Olympic Park, Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Guloudajie

Line 9: National Library - Guogongzhuang
Main Stops: National Library, West Railway Station, Liuliqiao, Fengtai Nan Lu

Line 10 (Cricle Line): Taking Bagou as Terminal
Full Length: 57 kilometers (35 miles)
Main Stops: Suzhoujie, Haidian Huangzhuang, Zhichunli, Shaoyaoju, Liangmaqiao, Jinsong, Songjiazhuang, Hujialou

Line 13 : Xizhimen – Dongzhimen
Full Length: 40 kilometers (25 miles)
Main Stops: Xizhimen, Wudaokou, Huilongguan, Beiyuan, Shaoyaoju, Dongzhimen

Line 14: West Section: Zhangguozhuang – Xiju; Middle & East Sections: Shan'gezhuang - South Railway Station
Full Length: 48 km (30 miles)
Main Stops: Zhangguozhuang, Garden Expo Park, Dawayao, Guozhuangzi, Dajing, Qilizhuang, Xiju, Shilihe, South Railway Station

Take the Subway Line 15: Qinghuadongluxikou - Fengbo
Full Length: 41 kilometers (25 miles)
Main Stops: New CIEC, Wangjing

Line 16: Bei'anhe - Xiyuan
Full Length: 50 kilometers (31 miles)
Main Stops: Bei'anhe, Malianwa, Xiaojiahe, Xiyuan

Batong Line: Sihui – Huazhuang
Full Length: 19 kilometers (15 miles)
Main Stops: Sihui, Communication University of China, Baliqiao, Guoyuan, Jiukeshu, Tuqiao

Daxing Line: Gongyixiqiao – Tiangongyuan
Full Length: 22 kilometers (14 miles)

Yizhuang Line: Songjiazhuang - Yizhuang Train Station
Full Length: 23 kilometers (14 miles)

Changping Line: Xierqi ↔ Changping Xishankou
Full Length: 32 kilometers (20 miles)

Fangshan Line: Guogongzhuang - Yancun East
Full Length: 27 kilometers (17 miles)

Yanfang Line: Yanshan - Yancun East
Full Length: 14.5 kilometers (9 miles)
Main Stop: Yancun East, Dashihe East, Xingcheng

Western Suburban Line: Xiangshan - Bagou
Full Length: 9 kilometers (5.5 miles)
Main Stops: Bagou, Xiangshan, Zhiwuyuan

Line S1: Shichang - Jin'anqiao
Full Length: 10 kilometers (6 miles)
Main Stops: Sidaoqiao, Qiaohuying, Liyuanzhuang

Airport Express Train: Dongzhimen – Capital International Airport (T2, T3)
Full Length: 28 kilometers (17 miles)
Main Stops: Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, Capital Airport

Beijing New Airport Line: Caoqiao – Beijing Daxing Airport
Stations: Caoqiao, Daxing New City, Daxing Airport Terminal Building
Duration: 19 minutes
Ticket Fare: CNY 10-35
Operating Hours: 06:00-22:30

Travel Tips on Taking Beijing Metro:

1. Commonly, there are four entrances in four directions for each stop. So, you should make sure which one to take when getting out of the station or you will probably get lost. You can find signs with the main destinations at crossings of the passageway.
2. The metro stations are clean and have English signs directing tourists to the exits and nearby places that you are likely trying to find.
3. In this city, the metro stations are marked with a blue sign with letter D inside a circle on it.
4. Passengers can find toilets on the platform level or in the ticket hall of each stop.
5. Take good care of your personal things as the crowded carriages have one or two pickpockets on peak hours now and then.
6. No pets can be taken on the metro.
7. Please keep out the yellow line when you are waiting for the metro.
8. There are many attractions worth visiting along the Subway Line 2.

Gulou Stop: Bell and Drum Towers, Hutong and Courtyard

Yonghegong Stop: Yonghe Lamasery, Guozijian, Temple of Confucius, Ditan Park

Jianguomen Stop: Ancient Observatory, Xiushui Market

Qianmen Stop: Tiananmen Square, Dashanlan

Front Side of Beijing Subway Ticket

Back Side of Beijing Subway Ticket

- Last modified on Aug. 17, 2020 -

Questions & Answers on Beijing Subway

Asked by Peter from SLOVAKIA | Nov. 06, 2019 11:20

How to buy Beijing subway tickets if you are changing lines?

Hello. I have read some guide that when buying tickets, you have to specific which station you are going to. What if we have to change stations? Do I have to buy tickets to the transit station and then another one to my destination or I can buy to the destination directly?

Answers (2)

Answered by Aiden from CAPE VERDE | Nov. 08, 2019 00:17

You just need to purchase to the destination directly.

Answered by Colin from UNITED KINGDOM | Nov. 27, 2019 06:18

I think the station selection is just to help you get the right fare which is based on how far you are going.. but the ticket then covers you for going to any station that would cost that amount.. and you can change lines as much as you need as long as you don't exit the station barriers (coz then it keeps your ticket).
In Beijing you can pay with 1CNY coins or 5 or 10 notes.

Asked by Tahira Naz from PAKISTAN | Oct. 15, 2019 06:12

I want to ask about how long it will take from beijing Nan railway station to Pakistan Embassy?

As i will take first time subway so i dont know much. Thanks

Answers (1)

Answered by Jacob from FRANCE | Oct. 16, 2019 02:07

In general, it will take around 40 mins on the way.
Take metro line 14 from South Railway Station to Shilihe Station and then transfer to metro line 10 to Agriculture Exhibition Center Station, Exit A. After that, walk west around 350 meters to find the destination.
The ticket fare is CNY5 per person.

Asked by Katie from AUSTRALIA | Sep. 22, 2019 13:30

Can you buy individual train tickets, rather than getting a metro card?

Answers (1)

Answered by Hamie from FRANCE | Sep. 24, 2019 19:48

Yes, of course.

Asked by Trivikram Pattanayak from SINGAPORE | Sep. 14, 2019 08:25

Is baggage allowed on board the Beijing subway?

Are large bags/luggage(example, suitcases) allowed on board the subway(as I heard that they needed to be checked by security at every station)? This is especially important to know if we want to go to our hotel by subway from the airport. If it is allowed, what is the size allowance?

Answers (1)

Answered by Roger from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 17, 2019 01:51

You can bring your luggage to take subway and there is no size limitation about it. But yes, the luggage is needed to be checked by security when you enter the subway station.