Beijing has 27 metro lines and 490 stations, per the Beijing Subway Authority. You will use about four of them. The rest of the network serves suburbs and new districts that tourists rarely visit. Once you understand Lines 1, 2, 4, and 10, you can get to every major site in the city without a taxi. For the full China metro context: China Metro Guide.
The Four Lines You Need
| Line | Direction | Key Stations for Tourists |
| Line 1 (red) | East to west. Through Tiananmen. | Tiananmen East, Tiananmen West, Wangfujing, Guomao |
| Line 2 (blue ring) | Inner ring. Circles old city. | Qianmen (south axis), Dongzhimen (Airport Express), Jishuitan (Drum Tower area) |
| Line 4 (green) | Northwest to southeast. Crosses Line 1. | Beijing South station (HSR), Xuanwu Gate, Xidan, Zhongguancun, Summer Palace (Beigongmen) |
| Line 10 (dark blue ring) | Outer ring. Parallel to Line 2. | Sanlitun area, CBD, connection to Airport Express at Sanyuanqiao |
How to Pay
Alipay transit QR (recommended)
Open Alipay. Tap Transport. The QR code appears. Hold it at the entry turnstile scanner. Walk through. At exit, repeat. Fare deducted automatically. Works in every Beijing metro station. Setup guide: Alipay Transit Code Guide.
Metro card
Available at station service windows. ¥20 refundable deposit. Top up with any amount. Tap on entry and exit. 10% discount on fares. Useful if you are staying several days and making many journeys.
Single-journey token
Token machines at every station. English interface: select your destination station from the map or type the name. Pay by Alipay QR, bank card, or cash. Insert token at the entry gate, recover it at exit.
Surviving Rush Hour
Rush hour at major interchange stations in Beijing is an experience in its own right. Xizhimen (Lines 2, 4, 13) at 8:30am has queues that extend onto the platform. Rules: stand to the side of the door markings and let passengers exit completely before boarding. This is enforced by queue marshals at the busiest stations. If possible, avoid traveling between 7:30 and 9:30am and 5:30 and 7:30pm on Lines 1, 2, 4, and 10.
Useful Routes for Tourists
| Journey | Route | Time | Cost |
| Hotel (Drum Tower area) to Tiananmen | Line 2 or walk | 15 to 25 min | ¥3 to ¥4 |
| Forbidden City to Temple of Heaven | Line 1 to Chongwenmen, Line 5 to Tiantan East Gate | 20 min | ¥4 |
| Central Beijing to Summer Palace | Line 4 to Beigongmen | 35 to 45 min | ¥5 |
| Hotel to Beijing South (G-train to Shanghai) | Line 4 south to Beijing South station | Varies | ¥4 to ¥6 |
| Capital Airport to city (Airport Express) | Airport Express from T2/T3 to Dongzhimen, then Line 2 | 25 min + transfer | ¥25 |
Frequently Asked Questions
For Alipay transit setup: Alipay Transit Code Guide. For the full China metro guide: China Metro Guide. For Beijing overview: Beijing Travel Guide.