How to Take the Beijing Metro? Route Maps and Tickets Guide
The Beijing metro is a public transit favorite for both travelers and locals. For Beijing residents, it's an indispensable part of daily life. At the moment, the network has 29 lines and over 522 stations, and it's still expanding!
In this guide, you'll get info about the Beijing metro system, including route maps, how to buy tickets, and nearby attractions. Ready to explore Beijing with us? Let's go!
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Beijing Metro Overview
Visiting Beijing for the first time and finding this big city a bit unfamiliar? Don’t worry—let me give you a quick intro! The Beijing metro is the urban rail transit system of China’s capital.
It opened in 1971, making Beijing the first city in China to have a metro—eight years earlier than Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong Line, which began service in 1979!
Photo Source: Baidu
Beijing Metro Route Map
As of 2025, it has 29 operating lines, 879 kilometers of track, and 522 stations, with plans to grow to 30 lines totaling 1,177 kilometers.
Credit: from Travel China Guide, Beijing Metro Route Map
How to Buy Beijing Metro Tickets?
Taking the subway in Beijing? Let the Trip.com team help you easily knock out your ticket-buying hassles!
Buy tickets with a physical card
- Beijing Transit Card: Looking for a tap-and-go Beijing “Octopus” card? Head to the subway station ticket window / self-service ticket machine to buy a Beijing Transit Card! Reload it and you can tap in and out like a Beijing local—and you can also pick one up at supermarkets and convenience stores!
- One-way ticket: Only planning one ride? Head to a ticket vending machine or the ticket window to buy a one-way ticket—choose your destination, pay, and it’s that simple! Pro tip: the vending machines accept cash and QR code payments, super convenient!
Buy Tickets on Your Phone
QR code rides: With your phone in hand, you’re pretty much set for Beijing. Open Alipay, WeChat, or the Yitongxing app to get your subway QR code, then scan it at the turnstile as you enter—beep! Easy entry!
Buy Tickets with Cash
If cash is your thing, no problem—you can also buy tickets with cash at the ticket vending machines or the ticket window.
Photo Source: Beijing News Radio
How much are Beijing metro fares?
The Beijing Subway (excluding the Airport Express) uses a distance-based fare system, starting at 3 yuan and increasing with distance, divided into several fare tiers. For trips over 32 km, each additional 1 yuan covers another 20 km, and there’s no upper limit to the fare. You can stay within the paid area for up to 4 hours per trip.
- Starting fare: 3 yuan, good for trips up to 6 kilometers.
- Between 6 km and 12 km, the fare is HK$4.
- Between 12 and 22 kilometers, the fare is 5 dollars.
- For distances between 22 km and 32 km, the fare is 6 yuan.
- For any portion beyond 32 kilometers, the fare increases by 1 yuan for every additional 20 kilometers.
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833961 booked
How to Make the Most of Beijing Metro Lines?
Beijing Metro Line 1
The sights along the route are truly spectacular! Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum (the Forbidden City), Wangfujing, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts—what a dazzling, dreamlike travel route!
Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world; standing there, you feel as tiny as a little ant! And the Forbidden City is the pinnacle of ancient Chinese imperial architecture—step inside and it’s like time travel, as if a palace drama is about to begin!
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 1
Tiananmen Square
4.8/5
735 reviewsA great place, though the two-hour wait in line for security spoiled the experience a bit. Surprisingly, the square wasn't crowded. It's a landmark in China, like Red Square in Russia.
Beijing Metro Line 2
Passing by Yonghe Temple, the Drum Tower, Shichahai, and Beihai Park, this route is a quintessential tour of Beijing’s culture!
Yonghe Temple is the city’s largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, steeped in solemnity and mystery. The Drum Tower and Shichahai are windows into old Beijing’s hutong life—want to soak up some authentic, everyday street vibes? This is the place to be!
Photo Source: Baidu
Reviews of Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 2
Lama Temple
4.7/5
957 reviewsSlightly less known attraction of beijing, absolutely unmissable! It has the world's biggest buddha statue made from a single wood piece, 18 meters tall!
Drum Tower
4.7/5
121 reviewsWow, wow! It's a very atmospheric place, so many people there, but it's worth a visit. The smell is also very memorable.
Beijing Metro Line 4
Line 4 is also a treasure hunt through history and culture! Along the route, you’ll discover two treasures—the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) and the Summer Palace—as well as major academic landmarks like Peking University and Tsinghua University.
Want to feel the grandeur of imperial gardens? The Summer Palace is waiting for you to check it off your list! Ready to time-travel through history’s dramatic twists? The Old Summer Palace won’t let you down.
Credit: from ResearchGate, Beijing Metro Line 4 Route Map
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 4
Yuanmingyuan Park
4.8/5
2419 reviewsThe Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) preserves the ruins of its past, a testament to foreign invasion. It's easy to imagine its former splendor and grandeur. The tour guide explained that the reason it's no longer restored is to ensure future generations remember the painful lessons of history—a truly regrettable situation.
Summer Palace
4.7/5
7384 reviewsAbsolutely beautiful. The gardens are the highlight — vast, peaceful, and stunning at every turn. We spent hours walking the grounds and enjoyed every minute of it.The Long Corridor and the lake views are worth the trip on their own. Booking through Trip.com was smooth and entry with our passports was quick.Highly recommended. One of our favourite places in Beijing.
Beijing Zoo
4.5/5
2111 reviewsThe park is huge!! We walked for 6 hours!! We were so tired that we started speedrunning the locations. Unfortunately, the otters hid from the heat, but we saw pandas (additional fee). The penguins were a bit of a bummer – it took a long time to get to them, and there were only two of them... The food prices in the park are okay. The aquarium isn't worth a visit.
Beijing Metro Line 5
Strolling through Temple of Heaven Park and Temple of Earth Park feels like slipping between history and stunning scenery.
The Temple of Heaven is China’s largest complex of ancient sacrificial architecture—truly awe-inspiring. And the Temple of Earth? It’s home to Beijing’s largest shrine dedicated to civil officials, and it’s absolutely worth exploring. So next time you’re riding Line 5, why not plan a little cultural adventure?
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 5
Ditan Park
4.8/5
251 reviewsBeautiful, peaceful, totally underrated spot. The horse hall is actually a beautiful cafe with amazing drinks and gifts. There are so many quiet hidden gems throughout. Qqqq
Beijing Subway Line 6
Along Line 6, you’ll find Nanluoguxiang and Prince Kung’s Mansion!
Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing’s oldest neighborhoods—strolling around feels like stepping into a time tunnel to old Beijing, and it’s super fun! Prince Kung’s Mansion is a Qing dynasty princely residence, impossibly grand—want to experience the lavish lifestyle of a royal from centuries past?
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 6
Nanluogu Xiang
4.6/5
308 reviewsIt's very close to the Nanluguoxiang metro exit. Pretty far if you walk from Beixinqiao (even though it looks not too far on the map LOL). The alley is not too long and has many interesting stores. Modern and old Beijing styles mixed well there. Western bakery and traditional snacks can be found there. Nice place for window shoping and buying some snacks.
Sanlitun
4.7/5
132 reviewsGuys, if you want to find yourself in a luxury, premium fashion place, then welcome to Sanlitun. It's a shame I'm such a fool and didn't make it to Gentle Monster.
Prince Kung's Palace Museum
4.8/5
8260 reviewsThe place is beautiful, large, and has many things to see. It's very convenient to bring parents. The AI-powered audio guide is very helpful. There's no need to worry about the restrooms. It's a great place for taking photos. The Most Blessed Place Under Heaven!
Beijing Metro Line 7
Passing by Happy Valley Beijing and Olympic Park—two super fun places. Happy Valley is a gigantic theme park packed with adventure and thrills, while Olympic Park was the main site of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, full of adrenaline-pumping sports memories. One’s a playground paradise, the other a shrine to sport—which one would you rather go to?
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 7
Beijing Happy Valley
4.7/5
1569 reviewsThe best amusement park in Beijing, almost no lines, plenty of fun on the rides, and the food is inexpensive.
Beijing Olympic Park
4.7/5
242 reviewsIt is an amazing place where it's better to go walking after 7pm. The lights are on, exciting activities which everyone can try for free, people are friendly. I really love this place and remember forever.
Beijing Metro Line 8
Along the way, you’ll spot the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), two “star” buildings.
They were the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics—the Bird’s Nest brings the swagger, while the Water Cube is fresh and adorable—truly the ultimate duo in the world of architecture. Already itching to go check them out and snap some photos?
Photo Source: China Engineering News
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 8
National Stadium-Bird's Nest
4.6/5
482 reviewsBeijing's National Olympic Stadium, the iconic "Bird's Nest," is an architectural masterpiece that genuinely impresses. The self-guided tour offers incredible freedom—you can explore the vast 91,000-seat arena at your own pace, visit the Olympic exhibition halls showcasing torches and medals from 200. The highlight is the "Topmei" rooftop sky corridor, an upgraded 1,000-meter walkway atop the steel structure. Walking 69 meters high across the steel lattice with views of the Water Cube, Olympic Park, and Beijing's central axis is absolutely breathtaking—and to be honest it's not something most stadiums allow. The surrounding grounds are beautifully landscaped with ponds that mirror the stadium, and the nighttime illumination is stunning. I can highly recommend taking the tour.
Water Cube
4.2/5
270 reviewsFishing 🎣 area was very exciting for my son 🤗🤩 It’s first time he has never been fishing before.
Beijing Metro Line 9
Passing by Beijing World Park and Lianhuachi Park, get ready to be amazed! World Park is a massive theme park packed with famous buildings and sights from all over the world—it feels like a fast track to a round-the-world trip.
Photo Source: Subway Route Map dir126.com
Reviews of Top Things to Do around Beijing Metro Line 9
Beijing World Park
4.3/5
852 reviewsWe entered the park for free, but we didn't understand whether there was a fee or not. There were so many different pedestals, it was very interesting to see. It took about 2-3 hours.
The Geological Museum of China
4.8/5
1380 reviewsThere is no audio guide in Russian, but for those who understand English it is convenient
How Do You Pay for a Metro in Beijing | Beijing Metro Apps
MetroMan Beijing
The updated Beijing metro (subway) mobile app is a total game-changer for getting around! Whether you need in-station navigation, route planning, or arrival alerts, everything’s clearly laid out, making it a breeze for travelers to explore.
Credit: from AppAdvice, MetroMan Beijing
Alipay
Download Alipay and use "Transport" to take public transport in Beijing or other cities of China. It's the most popular and conveninet way to navigate China.
🔥 Beijing Hotel Recommendations
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FAQs about Beijing Metro
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