Beijing Subway

Beijing Subway — Key Facts 2026

History of the Beijing Subway

The Beijing Subway is the oldest metro system in mainland China. Its origins date back to 1953, when Soviet experts proposed building a metro modelled on the Moscow Underground, with influence from East German engineering. The initial project envisaged more than 100 stations and 117 km, but the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations forced China to proceed on its own.

Construction began on 1 July 1965, controversially requiring the partial demolition of the city's inner walls. On 1 October 1969, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the People's Republic, the first 21 km section opened. During the 1970s the metro was militarised and public access was restricted. The first civilian operating company was established in 1981, and Line 2 (the inner ring) opened in 1984. For two decades the system remained at just two lines.

The turning point came in 2001, when Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympic Games: the government launched an unprecedented expansion investing over US$7.6 billion. By 2008 the network had grown to 8 lines. Growth has continued since: in 2012 it crossed 400 km, in 2015 550 km, and in 2023 it passed 800 km, making it the world's longest metro network ahead of Shanghai.

Beijing Subway train

Network overview 2026

The network comprises 27 lines (including airport lines, suburban lines and the S1 maglev) with ~490 stations and ~836 km. The table below lists the main lines of the urban system:

Essential lines for tourists

• Line 1 (red) — The east-west axis of the historic centre. Connects Tiananmen East, Tiananmen West, Wangfujing (the main shopping avenue) and Guomao (CBD).
• Line 2 (dark blue) — The inner ring, following the route of the old city walls. Serves Qianmen (access to the Temple of Heaven from the south) and Beijing Railway Station.
• Line 4 (teal) — North-south. Serves Peking University, Zhongguancun (China's Silicon Valley) and Beijing South Station (high-speed rail to Shanghai). Operated by Beijing MTR Corp.
• Line 6 (brown) — East-west through the northern centre. Stops at Nanluoguxiang (historic hutong neighbourhood), highly recommended for visitors.
• Line 7 (beige) — Access to Beijing West Station (trains to Xi'an, Chengdu, Kunming) and Universal Resort Beijing (open since 2021).
• Line 8 (dark green) — North-south. Passes through the Olympic Park (Bird's Nest, Water Cube), Shichahai (historic lake) and Nanluoguxiang.
• Line 10 (sky blue) — The large outer ring. Key for connections: Sanyuanqiao links to the Airport Express; Guomao to L1.

Tiananmen Square — access via Line 1 (Tiananmen East/West stations)

Airports: Capital Airport Express and Daxing Airport Express

Capital Airport Express — T2 and T3

The Airport Express links central Beijing with Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). The full Dongzhimen–T3 journey takes approximately 19 minutes. Stations:

• Dongzhimen (connection to L2 and L13) — city centre departure point
• Sanyuanqiao (connection to L10)
• Terminal 2 — serves terminals 1 and 2
• Terminal 3 — the world's largest terminal by floor area

Fare: 35 yuan (one-way), 65 yuan (return). Hours: approx. 06:00–23:00. Does not accept Yikatong card; pay by bank card, paper ticket or QR code.

Daxing Airport Express — Daxing Airport

Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), opened in 2019, has been served by metro since day one. The Daxing Airport Express covers ~41 km to the city centre in under 20 minutes. Stops:

• Caoqiao (connection to L10)
• Xingyi
• Daxing North (connection to L4/Daxing Line)
• Daxing International Airport

Fare: 35 yuan. Hours: approx. 06:08–23:00.

Olympic Park Beijing — access via Line 8

Fares 2026

The fare system is distance-based. There are no zones: the price is calculated from the kilometres between origin and destination:

Special fares:

• Capital Airport Express: 35 yuan (one-way) / 65 yuan (return)
• Daxing Airport Express: 35 yuan
• S1 Maglev: 6 yuan flat fare

Free travel: Children under 1.2 m tall accompanied by an adult. Adults aged 65+ with Chinese ID. Persons with recognised disability.

Time limit: Tickets are valid for 4 hours from first validation. Exceeding this adds a 3 yuan surcharge.

Beijing Subway distance-based fare table

Yikatong card and discounts

The Yikatong card (一卡通, "one card for all") is Beijing's rechargeable transit card. It works on the metro, suburban rail, urban and inter-city buses throughout the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Available at ticket machines in any metro station (refundable deposit: 20 yuan); top up at machines or via the Yikatong app.

Monthly discount system (based on cumulative metro spending):

Counter resets on the 1st of each month. Discounts do not apply to the Airport Express or Daxing Airport Express.

Yikatong card monthly discount system

Payment options for tourists

• QR code (Alipay / WeChat Pay): fastest method for those with these apps set up. Scan directly at the turnstile. Since 2023, Alipay accepts international Visa/Mastercard cards for top-ups.
• Tap to Ride (contactless): tap your physical bank card (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay contactless) at the turnstile. Works on all main network lines since 2022. Fare deducted directly.
• Paper ticket: buy at station machines (accepts notes, coins; some also accept bank cards). Fine for occasional use, but queues can be long at peak hours.

Tip for tourists: For stays over 2 days, the Yikatong or Tap to Ride are the smoothest options. For short visits, Alipay QR is most convenient if already active.

Accessibility

Most stations have lifts, escalators and Braille signage. Newer trains (lines 6, 7, 8, 14, 16, Airport Express, Daxing) have wheelchair spaces and platform screen doors (PSD). Inner network stations (L1, L2) have more limited accessibility due to their age. Station staff can assist passengers with reduced mobility; it is recommended to alert them in advance at major stations via the assistance intercom.

Xi'erqi Station — Line 13 / Changping Line interchange

Rules and security

All Beijing Subway stations have mandatory security checks at the entrance: luggage must pass through an X-ray scanner and in some cases a handheld metal detector. This can cause queues at busy stations (Dongzhimen, Guomao, Beijing South Station) during peak hours.

Basic rules:

• No eating or drinking in the carriages.
• No smoking in any part of the station.
• No bulky luggage or certain hazardous items.
• Give up priority seats to elderly, pregnant passengers or those with disabilities.
• Do not block the doors.
• Fare evasion can incur a fine of 200 yuan.

Navigation: recommended apps

Important: Google Maps does not work in mainland China (it is blocked). Reliable alternatives:

• Amap (高德地图) — best option for general navigation and public transport. English interface available.
• Baidu Maps (百度地图) — very comprehensive, but mainly in Chinese.
• MetroMan (地铁通) — dedicated metro app for Chinese cities, excellent for route planning and fares. Works offline.
• WeChat Mini-Program — inside WeChat, find the official Beijing Subway mini-program for timetables and QR ticket purchase.

Peak hours and busy sections

The busiest sections during rush hour are on L1, L2 and L10 in the centre, and at the interchanges of Guomao, Dongzhimen and Xizhimen. Avoid these lines during 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30 where possible. Suburban lines (Changping, Fangshan, Yanfang) are also very crowded in the early morning towards the centre.

Future expansion 2026–2035

• 9 urban projects with ~150.6 km of new track, including extensions of lines 3, 6, 8, 12, 17 and 19.
• 2 suburban projects with ~90.5 km to improve connections with metropolitan area municipalities.
• Fushouling ghost station (L1, between Wanshoulu and Gongzhufen): closed since construction, planned to reopen as a cultural heritage site.
• The 2020–2035 plan targets a 1,000 km metropolitan network.

Beijing: one of the cities with the largest metro networks in the world

Connections with other transport

The metro integrates with an extensive bus network (over 1,000 routes) operated by Beijing Public Transport Holdings (BPT). The Yikatong card is valid across the entire Beijing public transport system.

Main railway stations with direct metro connections:

• Beijing Station (北京站) — L2; medium and long-distance trains including international services to Moscow, Ulaanbaatar, Pyongyang and Hanoi.
• Beijing South Station (北京南站) — L4/L14; high-speed rail to Shanghai (4h 28 min), Tianjin, Nanjing.
• Beijing West Station (北京西站) — L7/L9; trains to Xi'an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming.
• Beijing North Station (北京北站) — L4 (Xizhi Men); trains to Zhangjiakou (2022 Olympic venue).

Curiosities

• Beijing Subway surpassed Shanghai in length in 2023, becoming the world's longest metro network.
• It is mainland China's oldest metro (since 1969), predating Shanghai (1995) and Guangzhou (1997).
• The S1 line uses medium-speed maglev technology — the first commercial maglev metro in China.
• The Fushouling ghost station (between Wanshoulu and Gongzhufen on L1) was built but never opened; it remains almost intact since the 1970s, with reopening planned for 2026 as a museum space.
• The metro was militarised between 1970 and 1976: during the Cultural Revolution only military personnel and officials could use it.
• The network is managed by 5 different operators, all majority-owned by the municipal government.
• Line 10 (outer ring) has 45 stations — more than any other metro line in the world.
• On national holidays (1 October, 1 May), some lines extend night service until 02:00.

Tiananmen, accessible via Line 1 (Tiananmen East/West stations)

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Beijing Subway cost?

The base fare is 3 yuan (~€0.40) for journeys up to 6 km. The fare rises by 1 yuan for each additional distance bracket, up to a maximum of 7 yuan for over 32 km. Airport lines have special fares: 35 yuan for the Capital Airport Express and 35 yuan for the Daxing Airport Express. Check current fares at bjsubway.com/en/prices.

How do I get to Beijing Airport by metro?

To Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK, T2 and T3): take the Capital Airport Express from Dongzhimen (L2/L13) or Sanyuanqiao (L10). Journey time: ~19 min to T3. Fare: 35 yuan. To Daxing Airport (PKX): take the Daxing Airport Express from Caoqiao (L10). Journey time: ~20 min. Fare: 35 yuan.

How many lines does the Beijing Subway have?

The network has 27 lines (including suburban lines, the S1 maglev and two airport lines), with ~490 stations and ~836 km of total route. New lines and extensions are under construction, with openings planned before 2030.

What time does the Beijing Subway open and close?

Generally, first trains depart between 05:00 and 05:30 and last trains arrive at terminal stations between 22:30 and 23:30, varying by line. Line 10 has some of the latest last trains (~00:20 on certain sections). Check exact timetables on the MetroMan app or at bjsubway.com.

Does Google Maps work on the Beijing Subway?

No. Google Maps is blocked in China. The best alternatives are Amap (高德地图), available in English, and MetroMan for offline metro route planning.

Are there security checks on the Beijing Subway?

Yes. All stations have mandatory X-ray luggage screening at the entrance. At major stations (Dongzhimen, Guomao, South Station) checks can take several minutes at peak hours. Bags and backpacks must go through the belt; liquids and drinks may be inspected manually.

What to see near main stations