If going to Beijing in winter, you should take the subway!
If you're new to Beijing or about to go there, you must memorize these subway tips! Without the subway, you'll be freezing on the street (especially in winter) and stuck in traffic.
-
Why?
• Avoid cold/traffic jams: The subway is the main and most efficient public transport. Traveling underground is warm in the cold winter, and it helps you completely avoid Beijing's terrible traffic jams.
• Network covers everywhere: Beijing's subway system is very modern, connecting almost all cultural, historical attractions and important shopping centers. -
3 "Must-Know" Lines for tourists
🔴 Line 1 (Red brown): Important East-West axis, goes through the center. Connects super famous spots like Tiananmen Square and Wangfujing shopping street.
-> Main stations: Babaoshan(八宝山) , Wukesong (五棵松), Gongzhufen (公主坟), Military Museum (國軍歷史文物館), Xidan (西单), Tian'anmenxi (天安门广场), Wangfujing (王府井), Jianguomen (建国门), Guomao (国贸).
🔵Line 2 (Dark blue): Circular line around the old inner city. If you want to go to places like the Forbidden City, Tsinghua University, or Beijing Station, take this line.
-> Main stations: Xizhimen (西直门 ), Gulou Dajie (鼓楼大街), Yonghegong (雍和宫), Dongzhimen (东直门), Jianguomen (建国门) , Qianmen (前门大街), Fuxingmen (复兴门)
📗Line 8 (Green): Extremely important! This line connects directly from Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to the central area.
-> Main stations: Gongyuan (Olympic Park)(奧林匹克公園站), Aoti Zhongxin (Olympic Sports Center) (奥体中心站) , Gulou Dajie (鼓楼大街站), Shichahai (什刹海), Nanluogu Xiang (南锣鼓巷), Wangfujing (王府井), Qianmen (前门大街).
-
Ticket prices
First 6km: 3 CNY - 12.000 VNĐ
6 – 12km: 4 CNY - 15.000 VNĐ
12 – 22km: 5 CNY - 19.000 VNĐ
22 – 32km: 6 CNY - 22.000 VNĐ
Over 32km: +2 CNY for every additional 20km ~ 7.400 VND
🛑 Important note: Subway tickets are only valid on the day of purchase, cannot be used for multiple days or reused for other trips the next day. Children under 1m3 tall are not allowed to take the subway alone. When accompanying adults, one child under 1m3 will be free. In the case of two children accompanying one adult, only one child gets free ticket. -
Apps to download and payment methods
- If buying tickets at the counter, tourists can pay by cash or via WeChat, Alipay, Zalopay apps.
- If using the ticket vending machine, you just need to select the destination on the screen, then pay by cash, Alipay, WeChat, Zalopay or international card.
- Wechat/Alipay: popular apps (link Visa/Master card in advance -> bank fee 3-4% when paying)
- Zalopay: newly popular, initially couldn't scan many places, now can scan at metro already -> go to counter to buy tickets also ok, go to vending machine also ok => fixed foreign transaction fee 1.5% => for travel, scanning this is the most convenient
