Beijing Subway, Metro

Beijing Subway

Rickshaw Bicycle Waterway Tourist Bus Tourist Train Public Bus Subway Taxi

In Beijing, a blue sign marked with '北京地铁 (Beijing Subway)' indicates that there is a subway station nearby. Access to the subway station is marked by a square grey pillar on top of which is a lighted blue sign with the letter 'B'. The ticket window is at the entrance of the subway station. After buying a ticket, go downstairs to the platform to which you gain access by inserting your ticket into a machine, and wait there for the train. Inside the subway station, notices on the pillars provide detailed information and direct you to your destination. Station names are broadcast on the train in both Chinese and English.

The subway station is equipped with rest rooms, a commutation ticket office, entrance and exit lifts (elevators), public phones, and a lost and found office. Additionally, there are bookstalls, photo developing shops, bakeries, convenience stores, food stores and more.

Fare
Two Yuan Flat Fee System is implemented on the existing five Beijing subway lines. People can use 'Yikatong' IC cards or cash to buy tickets. A ticket entitles an adult to take one child whose height is less than 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) for free. Children less than 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) in height are not allowed to take the subway alone. The machine that examines the IC card requires just 300 milliseconds to recognize it. Swipe the card over the scanner, and wait until a beep is heard that informs that the IC card has been successfully read by the machine.

Subway Lines
Now, there are five lines in operation-the Subway Line 1, Subway Line 2, Subway Batong Line, Subway Line 13, and the Subway Line 5. Generally, the first run is at 05:00, and the last is at about 23:00.

Existing Subway:
Line 1 (straight line)
Line 2 (loop line)
Line 13 (above ground railroad)
Batong Line (Line 1 Extension)
Line 5: Tiantongyuanbei-Songjiazhuang

Subway under Construction or to be Constructed:
Line 4: Majialou-Longbeicun
Line 6: Wulu-Dongxiaoying
Line 10: Landianchang-Songjiazhuang
Olympic Branch Line (Phase 1 of Line 8)
Airport Extension (Line L1)
Yizhuang Light Rail (Line L2)

Future Subway (layout for 2012):
Line 7: Beijing West Railway Station-Nanhuayuan
Line 8: Huilongguan-Di'anmen
Line 9: World Park-Baishiqiao
Line 14: Lugouqiao-Laiguangying

Future Subway (Under planning):
Line 11: Xiangshan-Songjiazhuang
Line 12: Mentougou-Langfang
Line 15: Zhongyang Dangxiao-Shunyi
Line 16: Huilongguan-Jijiamiao

Hot Line Service
Beijing Subway
Tel: 010-6834 0565 (Monday-Friday, daytime)
010-6834 0563 (Monday-Friday, night, the whole day of Saturday and Sunday)
E-mail: dtservice@bjsubway.com
Supervisor for passenger transport:
010-6827 5087 (round-the-clock service)

Comments and Questions

Hi
Can you tell me how to travel from Tianjin Airport to my hotel in Beijing, which is the
Beijing Continental Grand Hotel, situated next to the Beijing International Convention Center, Address: No. 8 Beichen Dong Road, Chaoyang District.

Also, I am travelling with my wife and three children aged 13, 10 and 5, and with our luggage- can we fit into one taxi?

Thank you,
William

Reply3/7/2010 6:51:00 PMWilliam Lim , Malaysia

David :3/8/2010 7:47:00 PM

You can take the airport shuttle bus from Tianjin airport to Tianjin Railway Station, and then take a train to Beijing, and last tke a bus or subway to the hotel.

David :3/8/2010 7:49:00 PM

you may share one taxi.

Jean ( Mauritius ) :7/4/2010 6:49:00 AM

Hi William,

I am travelling to Tianjin from Malaysia this month and I would like to ask if it's easy to get to downtown Beijing from Tianjin airport,,,any tips for me???

Best regards

Jean

My husband and I will be going to Beiging in a couple of months. The subway seems like a good way to get around. We would like to go to Tiananmen Square to see the evening flag lowering ceremony and lights; but we want to ensure that the metro is safe.

Can anyone tell me how safe the metro is at that time of night?

Reply6/7/2010 1:55:00 AMJane , United States

Brenda :6/7/2010 9:20:00 PM

i think it's safe, but you need to make sure you can catch the last metro.

In 2 weeks time I will be staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Wang Fujing. What is the best way to get to the convention centre and back for the 5 days that we will there. Thanks.

Reply5/30/2010 1:50:00 PMDeborah Chen , Jamaica

anna :5/31/2010 9:52:00 PM

hi, which convention center do you refer to?

Deborah Chen ( Jamaica ) :6/1/2010 10:14:00 AM

The CNCC - the Chinese National Convention Center - near the olympic stadium. Thanks.

anna :6/1/2010 9:13:00 PM

well, it is very convenient to take a subway.
you can walk to for about 500 meters to the Entrance A of Deshikou Station which is southwest to the hotel, take a subway Line 5 to Huixinxijie Nankou Station (Southern end of Huixin West Street Station), then subway Line 10 to Beitucheng Station, and then change to Subway Line 8 to the Olmpic Garden and exit at the Exit E, and walk for another 320 meters, you will find the conference center.

Deborah Chen ( Jamaica ) :6/2/2010 4:10:00 PM

Thanks very much Anna.

Hi All

I am going to beijing by the end of this month.. i am going to stay at days in forbidden city due to some good review about the location.. i have several question here

1. How do i get from the hotel if i want to go to Badailing Great wall and Ming tomb
2.I am aware that for forbidden city and tiananmen i just simply walk.. how about Temple of Heaven, the summer palace and the palace museum.. which metro or bus should i take from the hotel.
3. Is it worthed to visit Beihai park? and how do i go there
4. Where can i see the kungfu show.. is it far from days in forbidden
5. i will be staying for 5 days.. is it enough to cover all the itinerary mentioned

Sorry for tons of questions.. i am so excited for this trip and really want to make it smooth. Thanks before hand

Reply5/17/2010 5:52:00 AMFelix , Indonesia

Bella :5/17/2010 10:39:00 PM

1. you can take Bus No.82 at Donghuamen (Donghua Gate), and get off at the Drum Tower (Gu Lou); walk to Gulou Nan (south Drum Tower) and take Bus No.5 (Interzone), and get off at Deshengmen (Desheng Gate), and take Bus No.919 and get off at Badaling Great Wall.
2. you can take Bus No.802 from Taianmen and get off at East Gongzhufen; walk to north Gongzhufen, and take Bus no.817 and get off at the Summer Palace. or you can take the Subway line 1 at Tiananmen, and get off at Gongzhufen Station; walk to north Gongzhufen, and take Bus No.817 and get off at the Summer Palace. to Tiantan, you can take Bus No.120 at Tiananmen, and get off at Tiantan. the Palace Museum is another name for the Forbidden City.
3. Beihai Park is an Imperial Park, if you have time, you can go there for a visit.
4. for the Kungfu Show, you can refer to this website. http://www.beijingtrip.com/entertainment/monthly-activities.htm
5. 5 days are enough for the above sites, if you have time , you can stay longer and go to more places such as the 'Bird's nest'-the National stadium.

Felix ( Indonesia ) :5/18/2010 2:15:00 AM

Dou Xie Bella.. that's really helpful

Felix :5/18/2010 2:20:00 AM

Hi Bella

It's me Again.. do u think it would be easy if i take Tourist bus at Tiananmen in order to go to Badailing?

Bella :5/18/2010 8:46:00 PM

Hi Felix,
there are tourism bus at Tiananmen, and you can take the bus to Badaling, it is much more convenient but a little bit expensive.

Hi,
are there any metro stations near the Days Inn Forbidden City? They say sometimes taxi drivers can not easily find this hotel, how can the location be explained for them easier?
Thank you!

Reply5/13/2010 6:30:00 AMAlex

Bella :5/13/2010 8:45:00 PM

hi Alex, you can take the subway line 1 and get off at the Tiananmen East Station (Tain An
Men Dong), and then walk for about 10 minutes. if you want to take a Taxi, you can tell the driver you want to go to the Beijing Xiang Jiang Dai Si Jiu Dian (Days Inn Forbidden City) not far from Tiananmen Square.

Hello,

We stay at Leo hostel and would like to know how to there with public transport:
1. Badaling and Ming Tomb on the same day
2. Summer palace, or possible to do with bicycle ?

thanks in advance

sombat

Reply3/26/2010 1:01:00 PMsombat , Thailand

Lisa :3/26/2010 9:26:00 PM

To Badaling, take BUs No. 5 or No. 820 (inner-loop) to deshengmen, and then change to Bus No. 919.
From Badaling to Ming Tombs, Take Bus No. 919 to Minghuan Waxwork Museum, walk for a distance to Xiguan Huandao East sida, and then take bus No. 314 or Bo. 22 (Changping).
2. To Summer Palace, take bus No. 826 or 726. Since it will take about 2 hours by bus, I don't suggest you go there by bicycle.

hello, travilling to beijing on 3/31/10,arrive beiing at 8 pm,whats the safe,cheap,best options tranpost from airport to hotel in chongwenmen?estimated price of taxi and airport bus and how to travel in bus No? and how to go to badaling and ming tomb?thanks

Reply3/18/2010 1:22:00 AMJENNNIFER , Philippines

Linda :3/18/2010 9:22:00 PM

I think you can take the airport express to Dongzhimen and then change to Subway Line 2 to Chongwenmen. It costs about CNY200 by taxi.

To Badaling Great Wall: Take subway line 2 to Xinjiekou, walk to Deshengmen Bus Station, and then take Bus No. 919 to the Badaling Great Wall.

To Ming Tombs: Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantongyuan, and then change to Bus No. 643(upward.
Bus No.

However, I suggest you take a Beijing Bus Tour to visit Badaling and Ming Tombs in orer to have a enjoyable and smooth travel.

May I ask, if I am staying at the Beijing Continental Grand Hotel near the Olympic Games Village, what is the transport option I can take to go to the Mutianyu Great Wall? Please also tell me the approximate travel time, and whether the place to get off is at the Great Wall entrance or is there a distance to walk to reach the entrance?
Thank you.

Reply3/9/2010 2:41:00 AMWilliam Lim , Malaysia

Linda :3/9/2010 8:08:00 PM

You have to go to Dongzhimeng Bus Station by subway or bus firstly, and then Take Bus No. 936 to Mutianyu directly.

Hi there, I will check out from a hotel close to the summer palace on the 2nd of january; if I take the subway from there (nearest to the summer palace) to the airport, how long should the trip more or less take?

Reply12/29/2009 6:27:00 PMhans de vries , Netherlands

Cherry :12/29/2009 7:43:00 PM

I think about one hour or more.

I will go to Beijing next month. Can I buy IC smart card at the airport? Can I use the IC card for airport express train? When I leave Beijing, where I can return the IC card to get the deposit? I heard that I have to wait for 7 days? Is it true?

Reply9/25/2009 5:05:00 AMSomjai Karnchanawong , Thailand

BeijingTrip.com :9/26/2009 2:32:00 AM

Yes, you can buy the IC smart card at Bus No. 359 Terminal (before 18:00) at the airport. You can use the card for subway, including the airport express train. You can get it at once and do not have to wait. The IC card for short period can be used for only seven days. You can return it at Fuxingmen Metro Station or at the offices of China Citic Bank.

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