Our Location:
No. 99, Jiazi Road, Chengdu
The first time I took the Beijing subway, I stood at the ticket machine for a full three minutes before realizing I didn’t have the right change. Then I watched a local woman tap her phone against the gate and walk through in two seconds. That was the moment I understood: the Beijing subway isn’t hard — but most guides make it sound harder than it is.
This isn’t a comprehensive breakdown of every line and every rule. It’s what you actually need to know before your first ride.
Quick Answer: The Three Things You Need to Know
- Use Alipay or WeChat for payment. Download either app before you arrive, find the “Transport” or “City Service” menu, and activate the Beijing metro QR code. This is the fastest and most common method.
- Use Amap (Gaode Maps) or Baidu Maps for navigation. These apps are far more accurate for Beijing’s subway than Google Maps. They tell you exactly which line, which direction, which transfer station, and which exit letter to use.
- Always check your exit letter before you arrive. Stations like Xizhimen and Dongdan have multiple exits that lead to very different streets. A wrong exit can add 15 minutes of walking to your journey.
How to Pay: The Three Main Options
Most visitors overthink this. Here is the reality of what works.
Option 1: Mobile QR Code (Best for Most Tourists)
This is the default method for 90% of riders in Beijing. You do not need a separate app. If you already have Alipay or WeChat, you are set.
- Alipay: Open the app, tap “Transport” (出行), select “Metro” (地铁), and follow the prompts to activate the “Beijing Metro” card. The QR code will appear.
- WeChat: Search for the mini-program “City Service” (城市通) or “QR Code for Transport” (乘车码). Switch the city to Beijing and activate the metro code.
At the gate, you hold the QR code up to the scanner on the turnstile. It takes about one second. The system deducts the fare automatically when you scan out.
One catch: If your phone has a weak signal underground, the QR code can take a few seconds to load. Open it before you reach the gate.
Option 2: Physical Yikatong Card (Best for Frequent Riders)
The Beijing Yikatong (市政交通一卡通) is a reloadable contactless card. You can buy one at any station’s service window for a 20 RMB deposit. You tap it on the reader to enter and exit.
This is the most reliable method. It works even if your phone is dead. It also gives you access to the monthly discount system (more on that below). The downside is you need to keep track of a physical card and remember to charge it.
Option 3: Single Journey Ticket (Worst Option)
You can buy a blue plastic token from a vending machine using cash (5, 10, 20 RMB notes) or WeChat/Alipay. You tap it to enter, and you insert it into the machine to exit.
This is slow. The machines often have queues, especially at tourist-heavy stations like Tiananmen East or Nanluoguxiang. Avoid this if you can.
The Two Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make
Mistake 1: Not Checking the Exit Letter
Beijing subway stations are large. A station like Ping’anli (平安里), where Lines 4, 6, and 19 meet, has 11 exits. If you need to get to a specific street and you pick the wrong letter, you might end up walking an extra 500 meters above ground.
The fix: Before you get off the train, check your navigation app for the specific exit letter (e.g., “Exit B”). Follow the signs inside the station to that letter. Do not just follow the crowd.
Mistake 2: Riding in the Wrong Direction on a Loop Line
Lines 2 and 10 are loop lines. Tourists often get on the train without checking which direction it is going. The train will eventually go around the whole loop, but it might take 40 minutes instead of 10.
The fix: Look at the map above the doors. The station you are at will be marked. The arrow shows the direction of travel. If your destination is two stops clockwise, make sure the train is going clockwise.
The 4-Hour Rule (Don’t Get Stuck)
Once you tap into the paid area (through the gate), you have a maximum of 4 hours to exit. If you stay longer, you will be charged an extra 3 RMB minimum fare on top of your journey cost.
This is rarely an issue for normal travel, but it can happen if you get lost in a large transfer station or decide to sit and rest on a platform bench for a long time.
What to Do If Your Phone Dies
This happens. If you tapped in with your phone and it dies before you can tap out, do not panic.
Go to the station’s customer service center (客服中心). Tell the staff member you have no power. They will ask for your phone number or ID, verify your entry point, and let you out. It takes about two minutes.
Transfer Stations: The Ones That Require a Long Walk
Not all transfers are equal. Some are simple cross-platform moves. Others involve a 10-minute underground walk.
- Xizhimen (西直门): Transferring from Line 2 to Line 13 requires walking above ground through a pedestrian bridge. It takes about 12 minutes. This is the most famous “long walk” in the system.
- Dongzhimen (东直门): Transferring from Line 13 to Line 2 takes about 6 minutes through a dedicated passage.
- Songjiazhuang (宋家庄): Lines 5 and Yizhuang Line share the same platform. This is one of the easiest transfers.
If your navigation app says a transfer takes 10+ minutes, factor that into your schedule.
Practical Info Block
- Operating Hours: Generally 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Lines vary. Check the specific line’s timetable on the official Beijing Metro app or at the station.
- Fare: Starts at 3 RMB for the first 6 km. Increases by 1 RMB for every additional 20 km after 32 km. A typical cross-city ride costs 5–7 RMB.
- Children: Children under 1.3 meters tall ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.
- Baggage: Items must weigh under 30 kg and measure under 1.8 m in length. No electric scooters or folding bikes allowed inside the station.
- Security Check: All bags go through the X-ray machine. You will be asked to take a sip of any bottled water or drink you are carrying.
FAQ
Should I Buy a Physical Subway Card?
Only if you’re staying for a week or more, or if you don’t want to rely on your phone. The Beijing Yikatong (市政交通一卡通) costs 20 yuan for the card itself, plus whatever you load onto it. You can buy one at any station’s service window.
The advantage: it works even if your phone dies. The disadvantage: you need to remember to return it before you leave, and not all stations handle refunds. The refund machines are only at certain stations — check the official list before you go.
For most short-term visitors, the QR code method is simpler.
Which Subway Lines Do Tourists Actually Use?
Most of Beijing’s major attractions sit on two lines: Line 1 and Line 8.
Line 1 runs east-west and hits Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Wangfujing, and the National Museum. Line 8 runs north-south along the central axis and connects the Drum Tower, Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang, and the Olympic Park.
If you’re planning a typical tourist itinerary, you’ll spend most of your time on these two lines. Everything else is a transfer.
How Do I Avoid Getting Lost at a Transfer Station?
This is where most first-timers get stuck. Beijing’s transfer stations are large, and some require walking 5–12 minutes between platforms.
The key: before you enter the station, check your map app for the exit letter you need. Write it down or screenshot it. When you arrive at your destination, follow the signs for that specific exit — don’t just follow the crowd.
At stations like Xizhimen (西直门), where Line 2 connects to Line 13, the walk takes about 12 minutes and involves going above ground and crossing a bridge. At Dongzhimen (东直门), the Line 13 to Line 2 transfer takes about 6 minutes through a dedicated corridor.
The map apps are generally reliable for this. But I’ve found that Google Maps sometimes shows the wrong exit letter — use Gaode (高德) or Baidu Maps instead.
What's the 4-Hour Rule?
Once you scan your QR code or card to enter the paid area, you have four hours to exit. If you stay longer, you’ll be charged an extra 3 yuan minimum fare.
This matters if you’re planning to spend time inside a station — maybe you’re meeting someone, or you’re waiting for a friend. It also matters if you get lost. I once spent 45 minutes inside a transfer station because I took the wrong corridor. I was fine, but I’ve heard stories of people who wandered for three hours and had to pay extra.
The rule is simple: don’t linger inside the paid area. If you need to wait, wait outside the gates.
Can I Bring Luggage on the Subway?
Yes, but there are size limits. Your bag can’t weigh more than 30 kg, and its dimensions can’t exceed 180 cm in length with width and height each under 50 cm. In practice, a standard carry-on suitcase is fine. A large checked bag might be tight.
You’ll also need to put everything through the security scanner at the entrance. Water bottles need to be taken out and sometimes tested. I’ve seen tourists get held up because they had a sealed bottle of water and the security guard asked them to drink from it.
What About the Airport Express?
The Capital Airport Line and Daxing Airport Line are separate from the main subway system. They have their own pricing — 25 yuan for Capital Airport, 35 yuan for Daxing — and they don’t participate in the monthly discount program.
If you’re flying in or out, budget extra time. The transfer at Dongzhimen for Capital Airport involves a dedicated corridor, but it’s still a walk.
Is There a Tourist Pass Worth Buying?
Yes, if you’re planning to ride the subway more than 4–5 times in a single day. The electronic day pass costs 20 yuan and gives you unlimited rides for 24 hours. There are also 2-day (30 yuan), 3-day (40 yuan), 5-day (70 yuan), and 7-day (90 yuan) passes.
You buy them through the Yitongxing app. Once activated, they’re valid for the specified period and cover all lines except the airport express.
For most tourists, the day pass is worth it if you’re doing a full day of sightseeing. For a typical 3-day trip where you take 3–4 rides per day, buying single tickets with your phone is usually cheaper.
