Beijing Subway

The Beijing Subway is the rapid transit system serving Beijing Municipality. It has 30 lines in total, including 25 rapid transit lines, two airport rail links, one maglev line, and two light rail tramway lines. The system covers 909 km (565 mi), serves 524 stations, and reaches across 12 urban and suburban districts of Beijing as well as one district of Langfang in neighboring Hebei. Opened in 1971, it is the oldest metro system in China and mainland East Asia, and after a major expansion period that began in 2002, it grew into one of the world’s largest urban transport networks.

Beijing Metro Map

Map of Beijing Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Beijing Metro map in PDF format.

Lines and Stations

The Beijing Subway is a huge public transport system with 30 lines and 524 stations. It includes 25 rapid transit lines, two airport rail links, one maglev line, and two light rail trams. The full network stretches 909 km (565 mi) across Beijing and into neighboring Hebei, making it a key part of city transport and transportation in the wider metropolitan area.

The network opened in 1971 and expanded especially quickly after 2002. The latest expansion took effect on December 27, 2025, when Line 18 opened and Lines 6 and 17 were extended. That continuing expansion has helped the system keep up with rising daily demand.

Some routes are especially important for getting around central Beijing. Line 1 runs east-west under Chang’an Avenue and links major commercial areas such as Xidan, Wangfujing, Dongdan, and the Beijing CBD. Line 2 forms the inner loop around the historic core and connects major transfer points including Xizhimen and Beijing Railway Station.

Other core lines shape the route plan for daily travel across the city. Line 4 serves the Summer Palace, Peking University, Zhongguancun, the National Library, Beijing Zoo, Xidan, and Beijing South railway station. Line 6 runs east-west north of Line 1 and is the second-longest line in the system after Line 10. Line 8 follows Beijing’s central axis through places such as the Olympic Green, Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang, Wangfujing, Qianmen, and Yinghai.

The outer-core and cross-city lines matter just as much. Line 7 links Beijing West railway station with Universal Resort, Line 9 connects key rail and urban destinations, and Line 10 forms the outer loop below or just beyond the Third Ring Road, intersecting nearly every line that crosses the central city.

Newer and longer routes, including Lines 14, 16, 17, 18, and 19, add coverage in expanding districts. Airport connections come through the Capital Airport Express and Daxing Airport Express, while suburban services include the Changping Line, Fangshan Line, Yizhuang Line, and the S1 maglev line.

Operating Hours and Frequency

The Beijing Subway operating hours usually run from about 5:00 am to 11:00 pm, though exact opening hours and closing time vary by line. Based on the timetable, first trains generally have a starting time between 4:37 am and 5:59 am, while the last train usually departs between 22:10 and 23:25.

Frequency also changes by route and time of day. During rush hour, trains can come very often; later at night, service is less frequent. At many stations, typical waiting time is around 5 minutes.

If you are checking timings today, schedule today details, or the last train for a specific trip, it is best to confirm the train schedule for your line in advance, especially for late rides and transfers. That matters because each line has its own opening times, working hours, and route timetable.

Fares, Tickets, and Cards

The Beijing Subway uses a distance-based fare system on all lines except the two airport express lines. For most journeys, the fare starts at ¥3 ($0.41) for trips up to 6 km (3.7 mi), then rises with distance. The Capital Airport Express has a fixed ticket price of ¥25 ($3.45) per ride. The Daxing Airport Express uses class-based pricing, with ordinary class from ¥10 to ¥35 ($1.38 to $4.83) and business class fixed at ¥50 ($6.90).

Same-station transfers are free on all subway lines except the two Airport Express lines, the Xijiao Line, and the Yizhuang T1 Line. For those, passengers need to buy a new ticket and pay a new fare.

Fare schedule

Children below 1.3 metres in height ride free when accompanied by a paying adult. Free travel also applies to senior citizens over 65, individuals with physical disabilities, retired revolutionary cadres, police and army veterans wounded in action, military personnel, and People’s Armed Police.

Tickets and fare cards

At stations, passengers can buy single-ride tickets from vending machines or ticket counters, or add credit to a Yikatong card. The Yikatong card is a rechargeable smart card used on the subway, on urban and suburban bus services, and for some other purchases. Single-ride tickets are RFID-enabled flexible plastic cards.

To enter and leave the system, passengers insert a ticket or scan a card at the gate. A Yikatong card needs a minimum balance of ¥3.00 ($0.41) to enter a station. Journeys are expected to be completed within four hours; after that, a ¥3 ($0.41) surcharge applies.

As of January 2025, passengers can also tap a contactless payment card or payment-enabled device directly at the gate, including international credit cards. For JCB, only cards issued outside Mainland China are available for tap-to-ride use.

Discounts and unlimited rides

Yikatong users may receive monthly credits after hitting certain spending thresholds. Since January 20, 2019, unlimited-rides tickets have also been available through the Yitongxing app, which generates a QR code valid from one to seven days. If you want a pass or day pass option, this is the main choice mentioned in the available fare information.

Integration with Other Systems

The Beijing Subway is tightly integrated with the city’s wider public transport network. Beyond standard metro lines, the system includes airport rail links, a maglev line, and light rail tram lines, and it also reaches into neighboring Hebei. In practice, it works as the backbone of local transport and city transport across the metropolitan area.

Airport links are a major part of that integration. The Capital Airport Express connects Beijing Capital International Airport with Line 5 at Beixinqiao, Lines 10 and 12 at Sanyuanqiao, and Lines 2 and 13 at Dongzhimen. The Daxing Airport Express links Beijing Daxing International Airport with Lines 10 and 19 at Caoqiao.

The subway also connects with suburban and regional-style routes. Line S1 is a low-speed maglev service linking Mentougou District with Line 6 in Shijingshan District. The Batong Line extends Line 1 into Tongzhou, while the Changping, Yizhuang, and Fangshan lines support travel between the urban core and outer districts.

Transfers inside the network are extensive. Many central lines intersect with seven or more other lines, and the Line 10 loop is especially important for moving passengers across the system. The network’s layout helps make cross-city journeys more efficient between business districts, railway stations, airports, and suburban areas.

Payment integration is strong too. The Yikatong card works on the subway and on urban and suburban bus services, while QR code ticketing and contactless bank card payments are also available. The Yitongxing app adds unlimited-rides ticket options for one to seven days.

Operational integration has also advanced. On January 18, the Fangshan Line and Line 9 began cross-line operation with CASCO’s signaling system during weekday peak hours, following earlier cross-line operation between the Batong Line and Line 1.

Beijing has also studied how non-rail modes connect with metro stations. One example at Wudaokou Station on Line 13 looked at bicycle parking and rental systems to extend the practical reach of stations. Specific station parking charges or parking charges per day are not provided here, but bicycle parking has been identified as part of the broader transport mix.

Airport Connectivity

The main dedicated airport rail route in the Beijing Subway system is the Capital Airport Express, also known as ABC or Airport Beijing City. It links Beixinqiao Station with Beijing Capital International Airport, serving Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, Terminal 3, and Terminal 2.

The line opened on July 19, 2008, and appears in purplish gray on the stations map. Trains run in both directions. The route starts from Beixinqiao, stops at Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao, continues to Terminal 3, then reverses to Terminal 2 before heading back toward the city.

This path train service is especially useful for airport transfers because it connects directly with other subway lines at Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao. It offers a fast alternative to road traffic for passengers heading between central Beijing and Capital Airport.

Stations on the Airport Express

Beijing Daxing International Airport is also connected by subway and other rail services. For Capital Airport, though, the Capital Airport Express remains the dedicated metro connection.

Tips

The Beijing Subway is fast, affordable, and usually the easiest way to get around. A little planning helps, especially if you are using the system for the first time.

• Avoid rush hour if possible, especially in the morning and evening, when trains are much more crowded.
• Use a rechargeable Yikatong card if you plan to ride more than a few times. It is more convenient than buying a ticket for every trip.
• Keep your ticket or card ready before you reach the gate so the line keeps moving.
• Check your route in advance with a stations map or app, and know which line and exit you need.
• Pay attention to the correct exit at your destination. Many stations have several exits leading to different streets.
• Expect security checks at station entrances. Bags are scanned before you enter.
• Stay alert on the platform and on the train, especially with luggage or during busy periods.
• Be ready for crowds and move confidently when boarding or getting off.
• If you are traveling late, check timings today, the closing time, and the last train for your route before you set out.
• The system is generally safe, but it still helps to watch your belongings in busy stations.

If anything feels unclear, asking for help is a smart move. Once you understand the basics, the system is straightforward to use.

A Brief History

The Beijing Subway history began with construction on July 1, 1965, after metro planning had started in the 1950s. The first phase was completed on October 1, 1969, and trial operation began on January 15, 1971. That initial section ran 10.7 km (6.6 mi) between Beijing Railway Station and Gongzhufen, though at first it was not open to the public without a recommendation letter from a work unit.

In the early 1970s, the line was extended to Yuquan Lu, then Gucheng, and later Pingguoyuan. During those years, the service was still tightly controlled and also faced reliability problems, closures for political reasons, fires, flooding, and accidents.

Management changed several times. The system came under the control of the People’s Liberation Army in 1970, moved to the Beijing Municipal Transportation Department in 1975, and was reorganized under the Beijing Subway Company in 1981, when it officially opened to the public. By then, the original line had reached 23.6 km (14.7 mi) with 17 stations, and annual ridership had climbed to 64.66 million.

Major changes followed in the late 1980s and 1990s. On December 28, 1987, the Line 1 and Line 2 realignment reshaped the core network. Line 1 later extended to Xidan in 1992, and the Fuba line opened in stages in 1999 and 2000 before becoming part of a longer east-west Line 1.

From 2002 onward, the system expanded rapidly. Line 13 opened in 2002 and 2003, the Batong Line opened in 2003, and Line 5 began service in 2007 as the city’s first north-south route. Fare policy changed in 2007 too, when the subway switched to a flat RMB 2 fare with unlimited transfers on most lines. In 2008, paper tickets were replaced by electronic fare media, and several lines opened ahead of the Summer Olympic Games.

Expansion continued through the 2010s and 2020s, adding airport links, suburban routes, and new urban sections. In December 2023, the Beijing Subway became the world’s longest metro system by route length, and the network keeps growing to meet rising transport demand.

Future Extensions

The Beijing Subway expansion is continuing because the existing system still does not fully meet the city’s transit demand. Under the approved Phase 2 construction plan, the network is expected to reach 998.5 km (620.4 mi) when completed, with public transit projected to account for 60% of all trips and the subway for 62% of those public transit trips.

The Phase 2 plan was revised in 2019. Updates included alignment changes for Lines 22 and 28, plus added projects such as the north extension of the Daxing Airport Express, the west section of Line 11, and the split of Line 13 into Lines 18 and 13 during construction.

Phase 2 Projects

Current information also includes the opening of Line 18 and the extensions of Lines 6 and 17, along with other works moving through trial and construction stages. These projects are meant to strengthen core corridors, improve links to major residential and business areas, and support the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center.

Phase 3 Projects

A separate Phase 3 construction plan released in July 2022 lists 11 projects, including Line 1 Branch, Line 7 Phase 3, Line 11 Phase 2, Line 15 Phase 2, Line 17 Phase 2 Branch, Line 19 Phase 2, Line 20 Phase 1, Fangshan Line Phase 3, Line M101 Phase 1, Line S6 Phase 1, and a connection between Yizhuang Line, Line 5, and Line 10.

Notable Facts

The Beijing Subway has 30 lines, 524 stations, and a network length of 909 km (565 mi), making it one of the largest metro systems in the world.

In December 2023, it became the world’s longest metro system by route length, surpassing the Shanghai Metro. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also the world’s busiest, carrying 3.8484 billion trips in 2018 and recording 13.7538 million trips in a single day on July 12, 2019.

Opened in 1971, it is the oldest metro system in China and mainland East Asia. Before the expansion that began in 2002, the network had only two lines.

The most recent expansion took effect on December 27, 2025, with the opening of Line 18 and extensions of Lines 6 and 17. Long-term plans call for 998.5 km (620.4 mi) of lines and projected daily ridership of 18.5 million trips.

The fare system changed significantly on December 28, 2014, when the subway moved from a fixed fare to the current distance-based pricing on all lines except the Capital Airport Express.

The system was first developed under central government control. Management later moved to the People’s Liberation Army, then to the Beijing Municipal Transportation Department, and then through later reorganizations into the current city-owned structure.

Today, the main operator is the wholly state-owned Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., which operates 15 lines.

Sightseeing via Beijing Metro

The Beijing Metro is a practical way to explore the city, especially when road traffic is heavy in the center. Thanks to the wide network, bilingual station signs, and easy transfers, many major sights are simple to reach by subway.

As of 2025, the system has 29 operating lines and more than 522 stations, and it is still expanding. For visitors, that means a lot of major attractions are accessible by metro at a relatively low cost.

Popular sights reachable by metro

• Line 1: Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, Wangfujing, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
• Line 2: Yonghe Temple, the Drum Tower, Shichahai, and Beihai Park.
• Line 4: the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo, and several major universities.
• Line 5: the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth.
• Line 6: Nanluoguxiang and Prince Kung’s Mansion.
• Line 7: Happy Valley Beijing and Olympic Park.
• Line 8: the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube.
• Line 9: Beijing World Park and Lianhuachi Park.

Useful metro stops for major attractions

Tips for sightseeing by metro

• Most stations have signs and announcements in both Chinese and English.
• Security checks are required at station entrances, so allow extra time.
• Avoid weekday rush hours if you can, especially in the morning and evening.
• Use the correct exit to cut down walking time to your destination.
• Stations are generally clean, organized, and easy to navigate.

For ticketing, you can use single-journey tickets, a rechargeable Yikatong card, or digital payment options such as QR codes. The fare is distance-based and starts at ¥3 ($0.41) for short trips. With a bit of planning, the Beijing Metro makes sightseeing around the capital pretty straightforward.