Beijing Subway

The Beijing Metro is an urban and suburban transport system serving Beijing, the capital of China. As one of the world’s busiest metro systems, it is not only kept busy by China’s huge population, but also by its extensive coverage. The system recorded an unprecedented 3.78 billion trips in 2017.

With 370 stations spread over 608.2 kilometres (378 miles) and 22 lines, the Beijing Metro is the second largest metro system in the world, after the Shanghai Metro in China.

Established in 1969, it is the oldest metro system in mainland China. The management of this system is complex due to the presence of five different operators with different shareholders.

The Metro’s operating hours vary from line to line, but it generally operates from around 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. The basic fare for journeys of less than 6 kilometres (3.73 miles) is 3 yuan ($US 0.44).

The Beijing Metro, also known as the Subway, is a major public transportation system in Beijing, China. The Metro serves approximately 5,630,000 passengers daily.

The Beijing Metro does not operate 24 hours a day. The operating hours are from 5:00 am to 23:00 pm from Monday to Sunday. Trains are air-conditioned and passengers can walk between platforms on all lines. The Beijing Metro does not use driverless trains.

Partial Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) are available on Lines 8 and 10, and Partial Glass Doors (PGDs) are available on underground stations of Line 5.

The Metro is operated by Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., Ltd. and Beijing MTR Corp. Ltd. The fare for a trip on the Metro is 2 Yuan (approx. 0.15 EUR as of 2009).

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.

About Beijing

The City

Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is home to 21,150,000 people (2013), making it one of the most populous cities in the world. It’s also the political centre of the country’s Communist Party and a renowned city in China’s historical civilisation. Located in northeastern China, Beijing is the country’s second most populous city after Shanghai.

Recognised as a global tourism centre, Beijing welcomes millions of visitors every year. Its most famous sites include the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and remnants of the original Great Wall of China and the Grand Canal, each of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As modern advances have reached Beijing, the city has become a prominent hub of skyscrapers and business centres. Surrounded by mountains, the city’s divisions are further defined by its inner walls. The city has developed a major university and technology presence, with hubs such as Zhongguancun.

The city’s climate is typical of the northern hemisphere, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to -8°C in the colder months and reaching 30°C in the summer, although it can drop below 13°C.

The Metro

The Beijing Metro, the main mode of transport in Beijing, was inaugurated on 1 October 1969, marking the introduction of the first metro system in the People’s Republic of China. Until 2002, the system had only two lines. However, rapid expansion saw the addition of 20 more lines, bringing the total to 22 lines covering 608.2 kilometres (378 miles) with 370 stations. The goal was to reach a total length of 1000 kilometres (621.4 miles) by 2021.

The Beijing Metro has seen three generations of rolling stock in its history. However, since major construction work began in 2002, the system has used only rolling stock from Changchun Railway Vehicles Company Ltd, a subsidiary of China’s CNR Corp.

More recently, Beijing Metro has begun to integrate trains manufactured by Qingdao Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corp.

The metro is owned by the Beijing Municipal Government. However, five different operators are involved in its operation. The main one is the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Limited, which oversees 15 of the system’s lines. Four lines are operated by the Beijing MTR Corporation, a public company made up of Hong Kong Metro and the public company Beijing Capital Group. The other operators are Beijing MTR Operation Administration, Beijing Public Transit Tramway and Beijing Capital Metro. Each operates one line.

The metro system has an estimated annual ridership of 3.78 billion passengers.

• Name: Metro
• Length: 608.2 kilometers (378 miles)
• Rail Gauge: 1435 mm (4.71 ft)
• Number of Lines: 22
• Number of Stations: 370
• Maximum Speed: Regular speed is 80 km/h (49.7 mi/h), with 100 km/h (62.1 mi/h) on lines 6 and 7, and 110 km/h (68.4 mi/h) on the Airport Express Line
• Website: www.bjsubway.com
• Operator: Beijing Municipal Government (Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Limited, Beijing MTR Corp., Beijing MTR Operation Administration, Beijing Public Transit Tramway, and Beijing Capital Metro).
• Daily Ridership: 10.35 million (2017 average)
• Established: October 1, 1969

A Brief History

After China became a communist state following the civil war, it was heavily influenced by the Soviet Union in a number of areas, including transport. The first proposal for the construction of the Beijing Metro was made by Soviet experts in September 1953. The project, which drew inspiration from both the Moscow Metro and the technology of the German Democratic Republic, promised to be an architectural marvel with over 100 stations covering 117 kilometres (72.7 miles). However, due to a deterioration in relations between China and the Soviet Union, the project was abandoned. Construction resumed in 1965 as the Chinese people rallied behind the project, but the demolition of an internal wall to pave the way for construction caused considerable controversy.

On 1 October 1969, four years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the first 21-kilometre (13-mile) section of the Beijing Metro was opened. From 1970 to 1976, the metro, which had suffered several accidents, was militarised. It wasn’t until 1981 that a company was set up to manage the metro. A second line was opened in 1984, and for the next two decades the metro maintained these two lines.

In 2001, Beijing’s selection as the host city for the 2008 Summer Olympics led to a rapid expansion of the metro. A US$7.69 billion extension was planned to prepare 19 lines for the sporting event. Even after the Olympics, the urgency of the expansion continued, with a 1000 km (621.4 mi) network planned by 2020.

Lines and Stations

With 22 lines, the Beijing Metro is one of the largest metro systems in the world. While some lines are identified by numbers, others have specific names. The lines are also operated by different companies. Here’s an overview of the Beijing Metro lines:

Line 1

Opened in 1969, Line 1 was the first line of the Beijing Metro. It is now 30.4 kilometres (18.9 miles) long and has 23 stations, two of which are at ground level. The termini are Pingguoyuan in the Shijingshan district and Sihui East in the Chaoyang district. The latest extension was completed in 1999. The line is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp and is recognisable by its dark red colour.

Line 2

Line 2, the circular line of the Beijing Metro, runs mainly through the central zone of the city via the districts of Xicheng and Dongcheng. It was first opened in 1971 and last extended in 1989, making it the oldest line in the system. It has 18 stations over 23.1 kilometres and, like Line 1, is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation. Line 2 can be identified by its navy blue colour.

Line 4

Line 4 is a more recent addition, having been opened in 2009 and extended in 2010. It has 24 stations along 28.2 kilometres (17.5 miles), with one station at ground level. The terminus stations are Anheqiao North in the Haidian district and Gongyixiqiao in the Fengtai district. Line 4 is operated by the Beijing MTR Corporation and can be identified by its teal colour.

Line 5

Since its inauguration in 2007, Line 5 has not been extended. However, it has 23 stations, seven of which are at ground level, with a total length of 27.6 kilometres (17.1 miles). The termini are Tiantongyuan North in the Changping district and Songjiazhuang in the Fengtai district. The line, which is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation, is identified by its purple color.

Line 6

The third longest line in the Beijing Metro, Line 6 has 26 stations along its 42.8 kilometre (26.6 mile) route. It opened in 2012 and was extended in 2014. The terminus stations are Haidian Wuluju in the Haidian district and Lucheng in the Tongzhou district. The line, which can be identified by its light brown colour, is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp.

Line 7

Line 7, recognisable by its beige colour, is a recent addition, having opened in 2014 with no subsequent extensions. It has 19 stations along a 23.7 kilometre (14.7 mile) route. The termini are Beijing West Railway Station in the Fengtai district and Jiaohuachang in the Chaoyang district. The line is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp.

Line 8

Line 8 runs from Zhuxinzhuang in Changping District to Nanluoguxiang in Dongcheng District. It has 17 stations, one of which is at ground level, along a 26.6-kilometre (16.5-mile) route. Inaugurated in 2008 for the Olympic Games and last extended in 2013, Line 8 is also operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation and can be identified by its green colour.

Line 9

Line 9, recognisable by its apple green colour, is 16.5 kilometres long and has 13 stations. It was opened in 2011 and extended in 2012. The terminal stations are the National Library in the Haidian district and Guogongzhuang in the Fengtai district. Line 9, like many others, is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp.

Line 10

As the second circular line of the Beijing Metro, Line 10 connects a larger part of the city than Line 2 and is the longest line of the Metro at 57.1 kilometres (35.5 miles). It has the most stations, with a total of 45, and passes through several districts, including Fengtai. Line 10, operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp, can be identified by its sky-blue colour.

Line 13

This extensive line, marked yellow on maps, runs in a semi-circle through northern Beijing. Its termini are Xizhimen in the Xicheng district and Dongzhimen in the Dongcheng district. It is 40.9 kilometres (25.4 miles) long and has 16 stations, 15 of which are at ground level, making it one of the highest lines in the system. Opened in 2002 and last extended in 2003, it is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation.

Lines 14 West and 14 East

Currently operating separately but planned for future connection, these two lines share the light pink colour on maps. Line 14 West runs from Zhangguozhuang station in the Fengtai district to Xiju, also in the Fengtai district. It has 7 stations, 2 of which are at ground level, and extends for 12.4 kilometres (7.7 miles). It was inaugurated in 2013 and last extended in 2014. Line 14 East, opened in 2014 and extended in 2017, covers a longer distance of 28.6 kilometres (17.8 miles) and has 21 stations. The termini are Beijing South Railway Station in the Fengtai district and Shangezhuang in the Chaoyang district. Both lines are managed by the Beijing MTR Corporation.

Line 15

The dark purple line, operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp, runs from Qinghuadongluxikou Station in the Haidian district to Fengbo in the Shunyi district. It was inaugurated in 2010 and extended in 2017. With a total length of 45.7 kilometres (28.4 miles), it is the second longest line in the system, although it only has 18 stations, 7 of which are at ground level.

Line 16

Line 16, recognisable by its dark-medium green colour, was opened in 2016 and extended in 2017. It is the second newest line in the system. It is operated by the Beijing MTR Corporation. The line consists of 10 stations along a 19.6 kilometre (12.2 mile) route. The terminus stations are Bei’anhe and Xiyuan in the Haidian district.

Batong Line

Opened in 2003, the Batong Line is part of the eastern section of Line 1. It is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation. The terminus stations are Sihui in Chaoyang District and Tuqiao in Tongzhou District. The line is 18.9 kilometres (11.7 miles) long and has 13 surface stations. The Batong Line is identified by its dark red colour.

Changping Line

Opened in 2010 and part of Line 13 in northern Beijing, this line was last extended in 2015. It now has 12 stations along a 32 kilometre (19.9 mile) route, with 6 stations at ground level. The terminus stations are Changping Xishankou in the Changping district and Xi’erqi in the Haidian district. The line is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation and is recognisable by its pink colour.

Daxing Line

The Daxing Line, which extends Line 4 to the south of Beijing, has not been extended since its inauguration in 2010. It covers 21.7 kilometres (13.5 miles) and includes 12 stations, one of which is at ground level. The termini are Gongyixiqiao in the Fengtai district and Tiangongyuan in the Daxing district. Like Line 4, it is managed by the Beijing MTR Corporation and can be identified by its teal colour.

Fangshang Line

This line, which runs from Guogongzhuang in Fengtai District to Yancun East in Fangshan District, opened in 2010 and was extended in 2017. It is 27 kilometres long and has 12 stations, 10 of which are at ground level. The line is identified by the colour orange and is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation.

Yanfang Line

An extension of the Fangshang Line, the Yanfang Line is also orange. It runs from Yancun East Station in Fangshan District to Yanshan in the same district. The line, which opened in 2017, is 14.4 kilometres (8.9 miles) long and includes eight surface-level stations. This is the only line operated by the Beijing MTR Operation Administration.

Yizhuang Line

Opened in 2010, this line is 23.3 kilometres (14.5 miles) long and has 13 stations, 8 of which are at ground level. Identified by its fuchsia colour, it serves as an extension of Line 5. The terminus of the line is Songjiazhuang in the Fengtai district and Ciqu in the Tongzhou district. The line is operated by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation.

S1 Maglev Line

Located in western Beijing and opened in 2017, this line is unique for its short 8.25-kilometre (5.1-mile) route using magnetic levitation technology, making it the fastest commercialised train system. All 7 stations are at ground level. It operates independently of the rest of the Beijing Metro, with terminal stations at Jin’anqiao in the Shijingshan district and Shichang in the Mentougou district. The line is managed by the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation and is recognisable by its brown colour.

Airport Express Line

As its name suggests, this line serves Beijing Capital International Airport. Its terminal stations are Dongzhimen in the Dongcheng district in the city centre, and Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 stations in the Chaoyang and Shunyi districts respectively. The Airport Express Line operates in a continuous loop. Inaugurated in 2008, it covers 28.1 kilometres (17.5 miles) and includes 4 stations, one of which is at ground level. It is recognisable by its magnolia colour and is operated by Beijing Capital Metro.

Xijao LRT Line

Identified by the colour red, this line serves as the western extension of Line 10. It runs from Bagou in the Haidian district to Fragrant Hills, also in the Haidian district. Opened in 2017, it stretches over 8.8 kilometres (5.5 miles) and includes 6 surface stations. The line is operated by the Beijing Public Transit Tramway Company.

Integration with Other Systems

Beijing’s metro system has the distinction of being the busiest mode of transport in China’s capital. This has been reinforced by the rapid expansion that began in 2001. The metro system works with several other networks to provide a comprehensive service throughout the city.

In particular, Beijing buses, operated by Beijing Public Transport Holdings, Ltd. (“BPT”), play an important role. BPT currently manages 1020 unique routes. Another operator, Beijing Yuntong Bus Company, commonly known as Yuntong, provides bus services on a further 32 routes.

The bus system also includes trolleybuses. Four BTR lines criss-cross the city, connecting the cardinal points. The city’s double-decker and articulated buses are also noteworthy.

Beijing has three suburban railway lines: the S2 line, the Sub-Central line and the Huairou-Miyun line. These lines facilitate connections between various towns and the city.

The long-distance railway system also includes three major stations. Beijing Railway Station is connected to the Metro Line 2, East Railway Station is connected to Lines 7 and 9, and South Railway Station is connected to Lines 4 and 14. From these stations, passengers can board medium- and high-speed trains to cities such as Shanghai and Tianjin. There is also an international train service to Moscow, Ulaan Baatar, Pyongyang and Hanoi.

Airport Connectivity

Beijing Capital International Airport is the third busiest airport in the world, after London’s Heathrow Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. In 2008, Terminal 3 was inaugurated, claiming the title of the second largest terminal in the world, surpassed only by Dubai’s terminal.

A direct link to the Beijing Metro is provided by the Airport Express Line. It provides direct transport to Terminals 1 and 2 via Terminal 2 Station and to Terminal 3 via Terminal 3 Station. The route is circular, connecting Sanyuanqiao Station on Line 10 and Dongzhimen Station on Lines 2 and 13.

Operating Hours and Frequency

The operating hours of the Beijing Metro vary from line to line, but are generally between 5:00 am and close to midnight. Train frequencies also vary from line to line. Below are some specific line timetables and frequencies:

• Line 1: The first train departs from Sihui at 4:56 a.m. The last train departs from Sihui East at 11:15 p.m. Trains initially run every two minutes.
• Line 2: This is a circular line with the first train departing in the direction of Xizhimen-Fuxingmen-Dongzhimen-Xizhimen (Outer Ring) at 5:00 a.m. The last train arrives at Jishuitan Station at 10:59 p.m. Trains initially depart every two minutes, with the frequency changing throughout the day.
• Line 4: The first train leaves Anheqiaobei Station at 05:00 and the last train leaves Gongyixiqiao Station at 23:15. Trains run every 2 to 7 minutes throughout the day.
• Line 5: The first train leaves Tiantongyuan North Station at 4:59am and the last train leaves Songjiazhuang at 11:10pm. Trains run every 2 to 5 minutes.
• Line 6: The first train departs from Caofang at 5:15 a.m. The last train departs from Cishousi at 11:56 p.m. The average frequency is 2 minutes 50 seconds during weekday rush hours and 5 minutes at weekends.
• Line 7: The first train departs from West Station at 5:30 a.m. The last train arrives at Shuanghe at 11:56 p.m. Trains run every 4 minutes during peak hours and every 6 minutes during off-peak hours on weekdays. At weekends, trains run every 5 minutes during peak hours and every 7 minutes during off-peak hours.
• Line 8: The first train leaves Pingxifu at 4:55 a.m. The last train arrives at Yuzhilu at 23:43 p.m. Trains run every 3 minutes during rush hour.
• Line 9: The first train departs from Guogongzhuang Station at 5:20 a.m. The last train arrives at Fengtai Science Park Station at 11:47 p.m. Trains run every 3 minutes 15 seconds during peak hours.
• Line 10: This is the other circular line of the Beijing Metro. The first train departs from Bagou Station towards the outer circle (Chedaogou – Songjiazhuang – Guomao – Bagou) at 4:49 a.m. The last train arrives at Changchunqiao Station at 12:24 a.m. The frequency is 2 minutes 30 seconds in the morning rush hour, 2 minutes 5 seconds in the afternoon, and 5 minutes the rest of the day in the clockwise direction. Counterclockwise, the frequency is 2 minutes and 5 seconds in the morning peak, 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the afternoon and 4 minutes and 10 seconds the rest of the day.
• Line 13: The first train departs from Huoying Station at 5:00 a.m. The last train of the day arrives at Huilongguan at 12:09 p.m. The peak frequency is 3.5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the afternoon. The frequency varies between 6 and 11 and a half minutes for the rest of the day.
• Line 14 (West and East): On the west side, the first train leaves Zhangguozhuang station at 5:30 a.m. The last train arrives at Guozhuangzi at 10:36 p.m. On the east side, the first train leaves Shangezhuang at 5:00 a.m. The last train arrives at Laiguangying at 11:30 p.m. The frequency varies between two and six minutes.
• Line 15: The first train leaves Maquanying and Fengbo at 5:30 a.m. The last train arrives at Shunyi at 12:09 a.m. The frequency is four minutes during weekday peak hours and six minutes during weekend peak hours. At other times it’s every eight minutes.
• Line 16: The first train departs from Bei’anhe at 5:25 a.m. The last train arrives at Wenyanglu at 11:22 p.m. The frequency during peak hours is between two and four minutes.
• Batong Line: The first train leaves Tuqiao station at 5:20 a.m. The last train arrives at Linheli at 11:50 p.m. The frequency is between 3.5 and 6 minutes during peak hours. At other times the frequency is between 4 and 12.5 minutes.
• Changping Line: The first train departs from Life Science Park and Zhuxinzhuang at 5:40 a.m. The last train arrives at Ming Tombs Station at 11:42 p.m. The frequency is 4.5 minutes during rush hour and 6 minutes at other times.
• Daxing Line: The first train departs from Tiangongyuan station at 5:30 a.m. The last train arrives at Biomedical Base station at 11:38 p.m. The frequency varies between two and six minutes.
• Fangshan Line: The first train departs from Yancun East at 5:11 a.m. The last train arrives at Suzhuang Station at 11:57 p.m. The frequency is about 5 minutes and 10 seconds during rush hours and 8 minutes at other times.
• Yizhuang Line: The first train departs from Ciqu station at 5:23am. Service ends at 11:14pm with the last train arriving at Ciqu South. Frequency is between two and five minutes during peak hours.
• Yanfang Line: The first train departs from Yancun East Station at 5:05 a.m. The last train arrives at the same station at 11:16 p.m. The frequency is between two and six minutes during peak hours.
• Line S1: This modern line begins service at 6:00 am with the first electromagnetic train departing from Shichang station. The last train arrives at Xiaoyuan at 21:14. The frequency is between four and seven minutes.
• Airport Express Line: The first train departs from Dongzhimen Station at 6:00am to the city’s airport. The last train arrives at Sanyuanqiao station at 23:28. The frequency is slower due to the nature of this line, with a range of 12 to 20 minutes.

Fares, Tickets, and Cards

The Beijing Metro fare system is based on the distance travelled. Fares start at 3 yuan ($0.44 USD) and increase by 1 yuan ($0.15 USD) for each fare zone reached. The zones are based on the distance travelled, changing from every 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) to every 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) after 12 kilometres (7.5 miles), then to every 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) after 32 kilometres (19.9 miles). The fare for the Airport Express Line is 14 yuan ($2.05 USD).

Children under 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) tall travel free when accompanied by an adult. In addition, senior citizens over the age of 65, disabled passengers, retired revolutionary cadres, police and military veterans wounded in battle, military personnel and members of the People’s Armed Police can travel free.

If a journey exceeds four hours, an additional fee of 3 yuan ($0.44 USD) must be paid. The fares per distance are as follows:

• Less than 6 km (3.7 miles): 3 yuan ($0.44 USD)
• 6 km (3.7 miles) to 12 km (7.5 miles): 4 yuan ($0.59 USD)
• 12 km (7.5 miles) to 22 km (13.7 miles): 5 yuan ($0.73 USD)
• 22 km (13.7 miles) to 32 km (19.9 miles): 6 yuan ($0.88 USD)
• 32 km (19.9 miles) to 52 km (32.3 miles): 7 yuan ($1.03 USD)
• 52 km (32.3 miles) to 72 km (44.7 miles): 8 yuan ($1.17 USD)
• 72 km (44.7 miles) to 92 km (57.2 miles): 9 yuan ($1.32 USD)
• 92 km (57.2 miles) to 112 km (69.6 miles): 10 yuan ($1.47 USD)

Passengers can also opt for the Yikatong card, officially known as the Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card (BMAC). The card can be purchased and topped up at station ticket offices and can be used on the metro, suburban trains, city and suburban buses, among other services. The card requires a minimum balance of 3 yuan ($0.44 USD) to be used.

If passengers spend more than 100 yuan ($14.67 USD) in a calendar year, they receive a discount the following month. If they spend more than 150 yuan ($22.00 USD), they will receive a 20% discount on subsequent purchases. Spending between 150 yuan ($22.00 USD) and 400 yuan ($58.67 USD) will receive a 50% discount. 

Future Expansions

The Beijing Metro is aiming to reach 1000 km (621.3 miles) by 2021. This ambitious goal began in 2001 and involves the construction of new lines and major extensions that will connect over 350 kilometres (217.5 miles). The focus is on existing lines.

In particular, both ends of Line 14 will be connected, and the Fangshan Line will be extended to the third ring of the city, connecting with Lines 10 and 16. The opening of two new phases of Lines 6 and 8 is also underway.

Extensions to Lines 7, 14, 16, Batong, Fangshan and the Airport Express are planned for 2019. Other plans for 2019 include connecting Line S1 to the rest of the system and building the New Airport Line to connect to the city’s new airport.

If the outlined plans are fulfilled, Lines 3, 12, 17, 19, 28 and Pinggu will open by 2020. The Yanfang and Changping lines will also be extended.

Tips

Given the extensive nature of the Beijing Metro, it is important to remember a few tips to ensure a smooth and trouble-free journey. Some of these are

• Familiarise yourself with your chosen route before entering the system. The Beijing Metro is vast and there is likely to be a station near your destination.
• Know the total distance of your journey to ensure you buy the correct ticket, otherwise you could be fined.
• Depending on how long you’re staying in Beijing, it may be more convenient to buy a Yikatong card.
• The Beijing Metro uses Mandarin Chinese, Pinyin (the phonetic spelling of Chinese in Latin characters) and English in its naming system. A basic understanding of both languages is an advantage.

Notable Facts

• The Beijing Metro is the second largest in the world after the Shanghai Metro.
  It is the oldest subway system in China.
• The metro system has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding from 2 lines to 22. This trend is similar to other Chinese cities such as Shanghai.
• Although there are various operators of the system, it is mainly or partly managed by state-owned enterprises and regulated by the city government.

Sightseeing via Beijing Metro

Beijing is a paradise for millions of tourists every year. The city represents a fusion of traditional, historical China, including its dynasties and republics, with the modern, cosmopolitan and westernised China of recent decades. As the epicentre of this transformation, Beijing has become a fascinating and distinctive city that continues to attract visitors. The Beijing Metro is an ideal way to get around the city, with 22 lines providing access to hundreds of attractions. Some notable sites include

Beijing Zoo: This zoo is one of the world’s most famous for its vast variety of over 450 terrestrial and 500 marine species. Covering 89 hectares (220 acres), it’s a historic site established by the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the twentieth century. Visitors can easily access the zoo by getting off at Beijing Zoo Station on Line 4 and crossing the road.

The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City: This is one of the most iconic sites in Beijing. The Palace Museum, where the Emperor once held court, is a symbol of Beijing’s rich history. It’s advisable to buy tickets in advance as there is a daily limit. You can get to the museum by taking the metro to Dongsi station (lines 5 and 6) and walking along Wusi Street in Jingshan, or by getting off at Tiananmen East Station or Tiananmen West Station on line 1 and walking towards the Forbidden City.

Temple of Heaven: This imperial and religious temple in south-east Beijing is famous for its circular shape and its origins as a Taoist temple. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of Heaven is rich in symbolism characteristic of Chinese culture. To get to the temple, take the subway line 5 to Tiantandongmen station, which is near the temple’s East Gate.