Beijing Subway Guide for English Speakers — 2026
Beijing's subway gets you 90% of the way to every tourist destination — from Tiananmen and the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace, the 798 art district, even the access point to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. It's clean, fast, fully bilingual, and dirt cheap (¥3-9 per ride).
The only quirks are scale (27 lines is daunting at first) and security (every entry has airport-style bag scans, which add 2-5 minutes per ride). Once you internalize the 5 key lines below, the system becomes invisible — exactly what good public transit should be.
The 5 lines tourists actually need
Out of 27 lines, you'll mainly use these. Memorize the colors:
- Line 1 (red, east-west): The crown jewel. Stops at Tiananmen East / Tiananmen West (for Forbidden City), Wangfujing (food street), and Sanlitun (nightlife) is a short cab from Dongdan station.
- Line 2 (deep blue, ring line): Encircles the old city. Stops at Yonghegong (Lama Temple), Beijing Train Station, Qianmen (gateway to Tiananmen Square south).
- Line 4 (light blue, north-south): Connects the Summer Palace, Beijing University, and continues to South Railway Station. Also serves the National Library.
- Line 5 (purple, north-south): Yonghegong (Lama Temple), Temple of Heaven East (south end of Temple of Heaven), Dongdan, Lishuiqiao.
- Line 10 (light blue, ring): Outer ring. Reaches Sanlitun (food + nightlife), Liangmaqiao (embassy area), Beijing International Airport (PEK) via the Capital Airport Express.
Tiananmen East (天安门东) on Line 1 = the Forbidden City. Dongzhimen (东直门) = the airport express + Line 2 + Line 13 hub. From either you can reach most tourist destinations in 1-2 transfers.
Paying for the subway — three options
All work in 2026. Pick one and use it consistently.
| Method | Setup | Pros / cons |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay QR code | Already on phone (you set this up before flying — see Alipay guide) | Best for tourists. Just scan at the gate. No card needed. ¥3 minimum fare. |
| Yikatong (一卡通) physical card | ¥20 deposit at any metro station kiosk, ¥30 initial top-up | Worth it if you're staying >5 days. Works on buses + ferries too. Refundable at end of trip. |
| Single-ride paper ticket | Buy at automated machine (English option) at each station | Slow during rush. Use only if you literally have 1-2 rides. |
Fares and how they're calculated
Distance-based, very cheap by world standards:
- 0-6 km: ¥3 (about $0.40)
- 6-12 km: ¥4
- 12-22 km: ¥5
- 22-32 km: ¥6
- 32+ km: +¥1 per 20 km
- Capital Airport Express (line to PEK): ¥25 flat
- Daxing Airport Express (PKX): ¥35 flat
There's no day pass — but Beijing fares are so low ($0.50-1.50 typical rides) that you'd spend ¥20-30 total on a heavy tourist day. Compare to ¥100+/day for taxis.
Security checks at every entrance
Every metro entrance has airport-style bag scanners and metal detectors. This is unique to Beijing (and a few other tier-1 cities) — you'll go through it 6-10 times a day.
- Bags go through the X-ray belt. Personal items (phone, wallet) you keep.
- You walk through the metal detector (often skipped if not beeping).
- Bottles get a sip-test sometimes — staff asks you to open and taste your drink (verifying it's not flammable). Just take a sip.
- Total delay: 1-3 minutes during off-peak, 5-8 minutes during rush hour (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM).
If you're traveling light (small daypack, phone-only), some entrances have an 'express' lane for no-bag passengers. Look for the green sign showing only a person silhouette (no bag icon).
Peak hours to avoid
Beijing rush hour is brutal. Lines 1, 5, 10, and 13 are particularly bad. Stand-room-only at best, push-to-board at worst.
- Morning peak: 7:30 - 9:30 AM. Worst at 8:00-8:45.
- Evening peak: 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Worst at 6:00-6:45.
- Weekday transfers at Guomao, Dongdan, or Xidan: nightmarish during peak. Plan around them.
- Saturday + Sunday: usually fine until 11 AM, then crowded all afternoon.
How tourists actually use the metro — sample day
Here's a typical 'subway-only' Beijing day for orientation:
- 9 AM: Take Line 1 to Tiananmen East (天安门东). Walk to Forbidden City, enter Meridian Gate.
- 1 PM: Exit Forbidden City north → Line 5 from Tiananmen East one stop to Wangfujing for lunch.
- 3 PM: Line 1 → People's Park → Line 2 → Yonghegong (Lama Temple).
- 5 PM: Line 5 back to Dongdan, then Line 1 to Sanlitun for dinner.
- 11 PM: Last train back from Sanlitun is Line 10 at ~22:55 — check the schedule on your station's wall display.
Stations near Beijing's top tourist sites
- Forbidden City: Tiananmen East (Line 1) or Tiananmen West (Line 1)
- Summer Palace (Yiheyuan): Beigongmen (Line 4) — exit B for North Gate, recommended entry
- Temple of Heaven: Tiantan East Gate (Line 5) — east entrance, fewer crowds
- Lama Temple (Yonghegong): Yonghegong (Lines 2, 5)
- Houhai / Drum Tower: Shichahai (Line 8)
- 798 Art District: Wangjing South (Line 14) — then 10 min taxi or 30 min walk
- Olympic Stadium (Bird's Nest): Olympic Sports Center (Line 8) or Olympic Park (Line 8)
- Wangfujing food street: Wangfujing (Line 1)
- Sanlitun nightlife: Tuanjiehu (Line 10) or Dongsi Shitiao (Line 2)
Subway etiquette in Beijing
- Stand on the right of escalators, walk on the left. Big city; people are commuting.
- Let passengers exit before boarding — sounds obvious, observed inconsistently.
- No eating or drinking on the train (¥500-2000 fine, occasionally enforced).
- Priority seats clearly marked — give them up for elderly / pregnant / disabled.
- Don't sit on the floor. Just don't.
- Phone calls are OK but keep voices low. Locals do it constantly.
Frequently asked questions
How early does the Beijing subway open?
Can I use Alipay or WeChat Pay on the Beijing subway?
Is the Beijing subway safe at night?
How crowded is the subway during peak hours?
Do I need to buy a Yikatong card if I'm only staying 3 days?
Are there bathrooms in Beijing subway stations?
Can I bring luggage on the Beijing subway?
Does the Beijing subway connect to both airports?
Verified POIs, vlog routes, AI chat — built for foreign visitors.