Understanding how to behave on a Chinese metro — and what to watch out for — makes the difference between a stressful, confusing experience and a smooth, efficient one. This guide covers the practical and cultural rules that guidebooks often overlook.
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Open Table of contents
Security Checks: What to Expect
Every Chinese metro station requires passengers to pass their bags through an X-ray scanner, similar to airport security. This applies to all stations on every line.
What the process looks like
- Approach the security check area (安检, ānjiǎn) just inside the station entrance
- Place your bag, backpack, or luggage on the conveyor belt
- Walk through the metal detector arch
- Collect your bag from the other end of the belt
- Proceed to the turnstiles
Time required: 20–60 seconds in low-traffic periods. 2–5 minutes during rush hour if queues form.
What’s checked
- Bags and luggage: X-ray scan for prohibited items
- Your body: metal detector (some stations also use handheld wands if the arch is triggered)
- Occasionally: security staff may ask you to open a bag for visual inspection
What’s prohibited
- Flammable liquids and gases (aerosols, lighter fluid)
- Oversized sharp items
- Firearms and explosives (obviously)
- Some stations temporarily restrict large items during major events
Liquids: no 100ml restriction — water bottles, drinks, and liquid-containing toiletry bags pass through without restriction (unlike airports).
Dealing with e-bikes and scooters
Lithium batteries have caused fires on metro cars in other countries. Chinese metros prohibit:
- E-bikes and electric scooters being brought on board
- Spare lithium batteries above a certain capacity (typically >100Wh or large standalone powerbanks exceeding limits)
Most standard phone powerbanks (20,000mAh or under) pass without issue.
Rush Hour Reality
Chinese city metros become extremely congested during peak hours:
- Morning peak: 7:30–9:30am weekdays
- Evening peak: 5:30–8:30pm weekdays
How to survive rush hour
Wait for the last carriage: on many lines, the end carriages (first and last) are less crowded than the middle ones — commuters often rush to board the carriage that aligns with their exit.
Stand back from the doors: the unspoken (and sometimes posted) rule is to stand on either side of the door to allow passengers to exit first before boarding. In practice during peak hours this breaks down at central stations, but trying to observe it is appreciated.
Secure your bags: keep bags in front of you or held against your body in crowded carriages. Pickpocketing is rare on Chinese metros (CCTV is everywhere), but standard travel security sense applies.
Use the grab handles: the overhead bars and handrails are important in crowded carriages — sudden acceleration is normal.
Unspoken Etiquette Rules
Eating and drinking
Eating is prohibited on Beijing Metro (strictly enforced with fines) and generally frowned upon or restricted on other city metros. Drinks in sealed bottles or cups with lids are generally tolerated.
Phone calls
Making loud phone calls in carriages is common among local commuters. Headphones and lower-volume calls are courteous but not enforced.
DO: use headphones for music and videos — this is widely observed etiquette.
Priority seating
Yellow/orange seats marked with elderly, pregnant, disabled, or young-child symbols are priority seating. Giving these up when needed is strongly socially expected.
Queuing at the platform
Yellow lines mark the boarding queue area. Standing behind these lines and waiting for passengers to exit before boarding is the official (and increasingly observed) norm. During peak hours at busy stations, this breaks down somewhat.
Escalators
The unspoken rule: stand on the right, walk on the left. This is broadly observed in tier-1 cities; less so in smaller cities.
Lost and Found
Losing an item on a Chinese metro is not necessarily permanent:
- Report immediately at the station where you think you left it (station service window / 服务中心)
- Or report at the terminal station if you realised only at the end
- What information to have: your boarding station, time, line number, approximate carriage position, and a description of the item
- Most metro systems have a centralised lost property office — the station will direct you
Lost property is typically held for 30–90 days depending on the city.
Accessibility
Chinese metro stations are designed with accessibility in mind:
- Elevators: available at all stations in modern systems (marked on the station map)
- Tactile paving: yellow/orange textured strips guide visually impaired passengers from entrances to key areas
- Accessible turnstiles: wider gates for wheelchairs, prams, and oversized luggage (use the accessible gate at the end of the turnstile row)
- Audio announcements: stops announced in Chinese and English on most lines
If you have accessibility needs, enter at the accessible gate (generally the end of the row, marked with a wheelchair symbol). Station staff can assist with elevators and transfers.
Emergency Procedures
Emergency call button
In every metro carriage, there is an emergency call button (紧急对讲, jǐnjí duìjiǎng) — typically a red button or panel. Press in a genuine emergency (fire, medical emergency, danger). You’ll be connected to the driver.
Do not press for non-emergencies — a ¥500–¥2,000 fine applies for misuse.
If the train stops unexpectedly
- Wait calmly — staff will announce the situation (usually in Chinese; sometimes English at metro systems with English-speaking operators)
- Do not open the emergency exit between carriages unless instructed
- Listen for platform announcements regarding whether to exit or remain on the train
If your belongings are stolen
- Report to the station staff (服务中心) and request they call the police (警察)
- The metro’s CCTV system covers every carriage and can provide evidence for police reports
- Keep a photo of your passport on your phone in case you need to report to police without your physical document
Photography Rules
Photography of metro stations and operations is a grey area:
- Taking casual photos at scenic stations or of the map is generally tolerated
- Photographing security operations, security equipment, or staff is not permitted
- Photography inside carriages is generally fine for personal travel documentation
Health in Chinese Metros
Air quality: Chinese metros are well-ventilated and generally fine. During major pollution events (mostly affecting surface levels, not underground), metro air quality is typically better than street level.
Crowds and illness: during cold and flu season (winter), masks are commonly worn by commuters. There’s no requirement to wear one as a foreign visitor, but you’ll see many locals doing so.
Heat: platforms and carriages are air-conditioned in all major cities. Expect a significant temperature difference between outside summer heat and the metro’s air conditioning — a light layer is useful.
Last updated: May 2026 · Rules and procedures may vary between cities and be updated following incidents or policy changes.