Beijing Subway: Tickets, Fares, Airport and Stations
In Beijing, your contactless credit card works on all lines of the subway, including the airport lines: tap it on the gate, ride, tap it again when you exit – from 3 CNY (≈ $0.44). This page collects what’s specific to Beijing: fares and the 4-hour rule, getting in from both airports, the railway stations and the right station for the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. How the security check, gates and transfers work in general is shown in our interactive China metro guide.
The Beijing Subway at a glance
Network
30 lines, 909 km
539 stations, figure reported by the city. As of Dec 2025.
Fare
from 3 CNY
≈ $0.44 for the first 6 km, then by distance.
Payment
Credit card, all lines
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, UnionPay – straight at the gate.
Time limit
max. 4 hours
That’s how long you can stay behind the gates; otherwise you pay extra.
How do I pay for the Beijing Subway?
Beijing was the first city in mainland China whose metro accepted foreign credit cards directly at the gate – today across the whole network. For most visitors it’s the easiest option.
Credit card at the gate
On all lines, including the airport lines and S2: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, UnionPay. Everyone needs their own card – for companions, you can buy single-journey tickets at the machine with your card.
QR code in Alipay or WeChat
In Alipay or WeChat, choose Beijing under “Transport” or 乘车码 and activate the metro code once. Hold it over the gate’s scanner window on the way in and out.
Single-journey ticket
From the machine or the counter. On the way in, tap it on the reader; on the way out, insert it into the slot – the gate keeps it. It’s valid for one trip on the day of purchase.
How much does a Beijing metro ride cost?
The fare depends on distance and is worked out when you exit. Changing lines costs nothing extra as long as you stay behind the gates. Credit card, QR code and single-journey ticket all use the same fare.
| Distance | Fare | ≈ US$ |
|---|---|---|
| up to 6 km | 3 CNY | $0.44 |
| 6–12 km | 4 CNY | $0.59 |
| 12–22 km | 5 CNY | $0.74 |
| 22–32 km | 6 CNY | $0.89 |
| over 32 km | +1 CNY per 20 km | – |
- Airport lines have their own fares.
- You can stay behind the gates for at most 4 hours; otherwise you pay extra.
- Children up to 1.3 m tall ride free with an adult.
By metro from the airport into the city: Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX)
Beijing Capital AirportPEK首都国际机场
Capital Airport Express 首都机场线
Runs from Terminals 3 and 2 via Sanyuanqiao (change to Line 10) and Dongzhimen (Lines 2, 13) to Beixinqiao (Line 5). About every 10 minutes.
25 CNY (≈ $3.69)
Hours: from T3 6:22–22:52, from T2 6:36–23:10, from Dongzhimen towards the airport 6:00–22:30
Beijing Daxing AirportPKX大兴国际机场
Daxing Airport Express 大兴机场线
Express line from the airport north to Caoqiao (change to Line 10) and on to Lize Business District.
10–35 CNY (≈ $1.48–$5.17) – Standard class by distance; from Caoqiao or Lize to the airport 35 CNY. Business car: flat 50 CNY.
Railway stations in Beijing with a metro connection
All major railway stations have their own metro station. Between train and metro you go through a second security check – allow a few minutes for it.
Beijing Railway Station 北京站
Metro station Beijing Railway Station
2
Beijing West 北京西站
Metro station Beijing West Railway Station
79
Beijing South 北京南站
Metro station Beijing South Railway Station
414
Beijing North 北京北站
Metro station Xizhimen
2413
Which metro station in Beijing for which sight?
The main sights in Beijing with the nearest station. You’ll find the right exit on the exit map inside the station: it lists the streets and sights each exit leads to – look for the Chinese name from the table.
| Sight | Station | Line | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbidden City (Palace Museum)故宫 | Station:Tiananmen East天安门东 | Line:1 | The entrance is the Meridian Gate (午门) to the south: walk north through Tiananmen Gate. Book tickets online in advance with your passport. |
| Tiananmen Square天安门广场 | Station:Tiananmen East / West, Qianmen天安门东 / 天安门西, 前门 | Line:128 | Tiananmen East and West are on Line 1, Qianmen on Lines 2 and 8. There are extra checks at the entrances to the square – bring your passport. |
| Temple of Heaven天坛 | Station:Tiantan Dongmen天坛东门 | Line:5 | As the name says (Dongmen = east gate), the station is at the park’s east gate. |
| Summer Palace颐和园 | Station:Beigongmen or Xiyuan北宫门 / 西苑 | Line:4 | Beigongmen is at the north gate, Xiyuan closer to the main entrance in the east. |
| Lama Temple雍和宫 | Station:Yonghegong Lama Temple雍和宫 | Line:25 | The temple is right by the station. |
| Olympic Park (Bird's Nest)奥林匹克公园 / 鸟巢 | Station:Olympic Green or Olympic Sports Center奥林匹克公园 / 奥体中心 | Line:815 | Olympic Green is an interchange for Lines 8 and 15; Olympic Sports Center is on Line 8. |
| Wangfujing (shopping street)王府井 | Station:Wangfujing or Jinyu Hutong王府井 / 金鱼胡同 | Line:18 | Wangfujing is on Line 1, Jinyu Hutong on Line 8 – both stations are on the shopping street. |
| Nanluoguxiang and Houhai (hutongs)南锣鼓巷 / 后海 | Station:Nanluoguxiang or Shichahai南锣鼓巷 / 什刹海 | Line:68 | Nanluoguxiang (Lines 6, 8) for the hutong lane, Shichahai (Line 8) for the lakes. |
| Great Wall at Badaling八达岭长城 | Station:Suburban line S2 to Badaling市郊铁路S2线 八达岭 | Line:S2 | Not the metro: suburban line S2 starts at Huangtudian (change from Line 13 at Huoying). Your credit card works here too. |
We deliberately don’t give exit numbers: they change when stations are rebuilt, and even Chinese sources contradict each other. In Beijing, exits are signed with letters (A, B, C …, sometimes A1, A2).
Finding your way in the station
Beijing stations display large boards with three maps: the area map (地面示意图) with all exits and the streets above, the network map of all lines and the station map (站内示意图) with gates, machines, lifts and toilets. Exits are signed with letters (A, B, C …, sometimes A1, A2). For the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square: bring your passport, as there are extra checks there.
Sources
- Beijing Foreign Affairs Office: Beijing Subway Supports Tap-and-Go with Five Major International Bank Cards (08/2025)
- People's Daily Online: Beijing rail transit passes 900 km (27 Dec 2025)
- Beijing MTR: ticket guide (fares, 4-hour rule, single-journey tickets, children)
- Beijing Capital Airport: Capital Airport Express (fare, stations, hours)
- Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport: Daxing Airport Express fare announcement
- Beijing Daily: business car on the Daxing Airport Express, 50 CNY (07/2025)
- Lines, stations and transfers: official network map in the stations (our own photo, Sep 2026).
- Photos: our own, taken in Shanghai (25–29 Aug 2026) and Beijing (10 Sep 2026).
US-dollar amounts are rounded guide values at 1 US$ = 6.77 CNY.
FAQ
Can I pay for the Beijing Subway with a credit card?
Yes, on all lines, including the airport lines and suburban line S2. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, UnionPay are accepted. Tap your contactless card on the gate without buying a ticket first, and tap it again when you exit. Companions without a suitable card can get a single-journey ticket from the machine, which you can pay for with your card.
How much does a Beijing Subway ride cost?
From 3 CNY (≈ $0.44) for the first 6 km. Up to 12 km 4 CNY, Up to 22 km 5 CNY, Up to 32 km 6 CNY, then 1 CNY more per 20 km – with no upper limit. The airport lines have their own fares.
How do I get from Beijing Capital Airport to the city by subway?
Take the Capital Airport Express (首都机场线) for 25 CNY (≈ $3.69). Runs from Terminals 3 and 2 via Sanyuanqiao (change to Line 10) and Dongzhimen (Lines 2, 13) to Beixinqiao (Line 5). About every 10 minutes.
How do I get from Daxing Airport to the city?
Take the Daxing Airport Express (大兴机场线). Express line from the airport north to Caoqiao (change to Line 10) and on to Lize Business District. Standard class by distance; from Caoqiao or Lize to the airport 35 CNY. Business car: flat 50 CNY.
What is the 4-hour rule on the Beijing Subway?
No more than 4 hours may pass between tapping in and tapping out. If you stay behind the gates longer, you pay extra when you exit. For normal trips it makes no difference.
Can I get to the Great Wall by subway?
Not by the subway itself, but by suburban line S2 to Badaling. Not the metro: suburban line S2 starts at Huangtudian (change from Line 13 at Huoying). Your credit card works here too.
Related:China metro guide: how it works → ·Shanghai Metro → ·China Open Beijing → ·Golden Week 2026 →