Beijing’s metro network has over 20 lines and more than 370 stations — it’s genuinely extensive and reaches most places a visitor wants to go. For the big tourist corridor (Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Beihai, Wangfujing, Sanlitun), the metro is the fastest and cheapest way to move around the city. But Beijing is also huge, and some sights (the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven) require knowing which combination of lines and exits actually gets you there.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Fares and How to Pay
Beijing metro fares are calculated by distance:
- ¥3 for the first 6 km
- ¥1 extra for every additional 5 km
- Most tourist-area rides cost ¥3–¥5
- The Airport Express to/from Capital Airport is a flat ¥25
Payment Options
Alipay or WeChat Pay via the “Beijing Subway” code: Open Alipay, find the transit code feature (通勤码), select Beijing, and activate. This generates a QR code you scan at turnstiles. One of the best uses of Alipay in China — no physical card needed.
T-Union Transit Card: A physical contactless card that works across 300+ cities. Buy one at any staffed metro window (¥20 deposit + load money). Tap in and out. Works on buses too. Get a refund on the deposit when you leave.
Single-journey tickets: Bought from automated machines in every station. The machines have an English interface — select destination, pay, get a token. Fine for occasional use but slower if you’re making multiple trips.
The Most Useful Lines for Visitors
Line 1 (red, east-west) is the central tourist spine. Key stops:
- Tiananmen East/West (天安门东/西) — Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City approach
- Wangfujing (王府井) — major shopping street and Eastern Cathedral
- Xidan (西单) — big shopping area in the west
Line 2 (the loop line) circles the Second Ring Road through the former city wall positions. Key stops:
- Beijing Railway Station (北京站) — for trains (different from Beijing South or Beijing North)
- Yonghegong Lama Temple (雍和宫) — direct to one of Beijing’s best temples
- Qianmen (前门) — southern end of Tiananmen, access to Dashilar hutong area
Line 4 (blue, north-south through the center):
- Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站) — for G trains to Shanghai, Tianjin, etc.
- National Museum of Natural History area
- Zhongguancun (中关村) — tech/university district
Line 10 (the outer loop):
- Sanlitun area (via Tuanjiehu or Agricultural Exhibition Center stations) — nightlife, restaurants, embassies
- Guomao (国贸) — CBD, international hotels
- Connects to the Airport Express at Sanyuanqiao station
Getting to Major Sights
Tiananmen & Forbidden City: Line 1 to Tiananmen East (east gate approach) or Tiananmen West (west gate, Tiananmen Square). Note: Shenwumen (north gate of the Forbidden City) is accessible from Jingshan Park, which requires a short walk from Line 8 (Nanguoxiang station).
Temple of Heaven: Line 5 to Tiantan East Gate (天坛东门) or Line 5/Line 1 transfer to Tiantan West Gate. Either side works; East Gate is quieter and a nice approach through the park.
Summer Palace: Line 4 to Beigongmen (北宫门) station — this station was built specifically for the Summer Palace and delivers you to the north gate of the park. Straightforward.
Lama Temple (Yonghegong): Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong station. Exit A puts you at the south gate. One of Beijing’s best temples and extremely metro-convenient.
798 Art District: Not on the metro in a fully convenient way. Line 14 to Jiangtai (将台) station is the closest, then a 15–20 minute walk or short DiDi ride. Most people take DiDi from their hotel.
Great Wall (Mutianyu/Badaling): Not accessible by metro alone. Options include: tour bus from Beijing (several operators), hiring a car, or taking a combination of bus + cable car. Badaling has a dedicated shuttle bus from the city. Allow a full day.
Peak Hours and Practical Reality
Beijing metro at peak times (7:30–9am and 5:30–7:30pm on weekdays) is crowded. Line 1 through the CBD corridor can be genuinely packed. The Airport Express is manageable even at rush hour since it has separate boarding from the regular network.
Advice: If you’re making a tourist trip during peak hours, go to the sight first and plan to be already there when rush hour peaks. Or switch to DiDi for non-central destinations during peak times — the fare difference is manageable.
The metro runs from roughly 5am to 11pm on most lines. Some lines have slightly later closures; the Airport Express runs until about 10:30pm from the airport.
Lines Worth Knowing but Less Crucial for Tourists
Line 6 passes through the Drum Tower/Bell Tower area and is useful for hutong district exploration.
Line 8 gives access to some of the 2022 Winter Olympics venues in the north of the city.
Line 14 reaches 798 Art District (closest stop) and the CCTV Tower area.
Transfer Tips
Beijing’s transfer stations can involve long walks between platforms — Guomao (Lines 1 and 10 transfer) has one of the longer underground corridors. At major transfer points like Dongzhimen (Lines 2, 13, and the Airport Express), follow the signs carefully and allow a few extra minutes.
The metro map is intimidating at first but the English signage throughout is good. Every station has its name in both Chinese and pinyin, and platform signs indicate the direction of travel by listing the terminal station name.