Beijing Metro Map 2026 – Updated Subway Lines, Stations & Routes

🏙️ Hello ✋I’m a fellow Malaysian who just got back from Beijing, and let me tell you… the Beijing Metro is an absolute game changer for exploring this massive city! 🚇

At first, I thought getting around Beijing would be a nightmare (the city’s HUGE compared to KL 🤯), but once you figure out the metro — it’s cheap, clean, fast, and super efficient. Here’s my full guide so you won’t get lost when you come!

🗺️ Beijing Metro Map

The Beijing Metro is one of the largest and busiest metro systems in the world, with over 27 lines and 500+ stations as of 2025! 🚇 It connects almost every corner of the capital — from the Great Wall access points to the Olympic Park, the Forbidden City, and even both airports.

👉 Pro tip: Download the official Beijing Metro app or use Gaode Maps (高德地图) or Baidu Maps (百度地图) — both have up-to-date metro maps, train times, and transfer tips in English.

(Think of it as our KL MRT + LRT + Monorail combined… but 10 times bigger and smoother 😂)

🚆 List of Beijing Metro Lines & Stations

Some of the main lines you’ll definitely use as a tourist:

🚇 Line 1 – Red Line (East–West Main Line)

The oldest and one of the most important lines — runs straight through the city center.
Tourist favorites: Tian’anmen, Wangfujing, shopping & history all in one line.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Tian’anmen East / West (天安门东 / 西) → For Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square 🇨🇳
• Wangfujing (王府井) → Famous shopping street 🛍️
• Dongdan (东单) → Connection to Line 5
• Xidan (西单) → Local shopping malls
• Guomao (国贸) → CBD area & transfer to Line 10

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:10–23:30
💡 Perfect for sightseeing — nearly all top attractions are along Line 1!

🔵 Line 2 – Blue Circle Line (City Loop)

Encircles central Beijing — great for hopping between major landmarks.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Beijing Railway Station (北京站) → Intercity train connections 🚄
• Dongzhimen (东直门) → Connects to Airport Express ✈️
• Yonghegong Lama Temple (雍和宫) → For Lama Temple & Confucius Temple 🏯
• Qianmen (前门) → Near Qianmen Street, Dashilan, and hutong areas
• Xizhimen (西直门) → Huge interchange with Lines 4 & 13

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:15–23:10
💡 Think of it as Beijing’s “Ring Line” — convenient for city-center exploration.

🟢 Line 4 – Dark Green Line (North–South Axis)

Runs from Summer Palace in the north to Beijing South Railway Station in the south.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Beigongmen (北宫门) → Summer Palace (颐和园) 🌸
• Xizhimen (西直门) → Transfer hub
• National Library (国家图书馆) → China’s biggest library
• Xuanwumen (宣武门) → Transfer to Line 2
• Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站) → High-speed trains to Shanghai, Tianjin 🚄

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:30–23:15
💡 Great for history lovers — from royal gardens to modern stations!

🟣 Line 5 – Purple Line (North–South Through Line)

Cuts through the city vertically, passing through temples, markets, and local neighborhoods.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Tiantan Dongmen (天坛东门) → Temple of Heaven (天坛) 🏯
• Dongdan (东单) → Transfer to Line 1
• Yonghegong Lama Temple (雍和宫) → Connection to Line 2
• Lishuiqiao (立水桥) → Connection to Line 13

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:20–23:10
💡 Clean, efficient, and perfect for visiting religious landmarks.

🟠 Line 6 – Light Orange Line (East–West Alternative)

Runs parallel to Line 1 but slightly north — often less crowded.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) → Trendy hutongs, cafés, boutique shops ☕
• Dongdaqiao (东大桥) → Sanlitun area nightlife 🍸
• Hujialou (呼家楼) → Transfer to Line 10

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:30–23:30
💡 Ideal for café-hopping, photography, and exploring local hutong culture.

🟤 Line 8 – Green Line (Olympic Line)

Connects the Olympic Park with the heart of Beijing.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Olympic Sports Center (奥体中心) → Bird’s Nest Stadium & Water Cube 🏟️
• Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) → Old hutongs & snacks
• Beitucheng (北土城) → Connection to Line 10

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:30–23:00
💡 Sports, history, and hipster cafés — all on one line!

🟡 Line 10 – Light Blue Circle Line (2nd City Ring)

A massive loop line connecting most of the city’s key districts.
Useful for reaching hotels, business areas, and big malls.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Guomao (国贸) → CBD skyscrapers, offices
• Sanyuanqiao (三元桥) → Airport Express transfer ✈️
• Panjiayuan (潘家园) → Famous antique market 🏺
• Zhaoyangmen / Haidianhuangzhuang → University areas

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:10–23:30
💡 Great for business travelers or those staying near the city ring.

🧡 Line 14 – Light Brown Line (East–West Connector)

Connects multiple districts and major stations, great for airport transfers.

Key Stations & Attractions:

• Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园) → Beijing’s biggest urban park 🌳
• Beijing South Station (北京南站) → High-speed trains
• Shangezhuang (善各庄) → Residential area, less touristy

🕐 Operating Hours: 05:15–23:30

✈️ Airport Express Lines

Capital Airport Express (PEK)

• Route: Dongzhimen ↔ Sanyuanqiao ↔ Terminal 2 ↔ Terminal 3
• Duration: ~30 mins
• Fare: ¥25 (~RM17)
  💡 Direct, fast, and perfect for travelers flying via PEK.

Daxing Airport Express (PKX)

• Route: Caoqiao ↔ Daxing New City ↔ Daxing International Airport
• Duration: ~40 mins
• Fare: ¥35 (~RM24)
  💡 Super modern line serving Beijing Daxing International Airport — the “starfish” airport 🌟

💡 Pro Tips for Tourists:

• Most attractions are within reach of Lines 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8.
• Use Gaode (Amap) or Baidu Maps for accurate transfer info.
• Avoid peak hours — stations like Guomao and Xizhimen can get really packed!

⭐ Major Beijing Metro Stations

• Tian’anmen East / West (Line 1) → For the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square 🇨🇳
• Wangfujing (Line 1) → For shopping and street snacks 🛍️
• Dongzhimen (Line 2 & Airport Express) → Gateway to the Capital Airport ✈️
• Beijing South Railway Station (Line 4 & 14) → For high-speed trains 🚄
• Beijing Railway Station (Line 2) → Central connection hub
• Olympic Park (Line 8) → Visit Bird’s Nest Stadium & Water Cube 🏟️
• Nanluoguxiang (Line 6 & 8) → Trendy hutongs, cafés, and souvenirs ☕

👉 Pro tip: Visiting the Forbidden City or Tian’anmen? Stop at Tian’anmen East (天安门东) — exits lead straight to the square!

🧭 How to Use Beijing Metro

① Find the Entrance

Look for the blue “M” 地铁 (Metro) sign — they’re everywhere near malls and attractions.

② Buy a Ticket or Tap In

• Single Journey Ticket 🎟️ – Buy from machines (English available).
• Yikatong Card (一卡通) 💳 – Like Touch ’n Go; reloadable and usable on buses too.
• QR Code 📱 – Alipay / WeChat users can scan to enter directly.

③ Navigate Inside

Each line has a color and number. Signs and announcements are bilingual (Chinese + English).

④ On the Platform

Trains arrive every 2–4 minutes. Stay behind the yellow line, let others exit first.

⑤ Exit

Scan your card / QR code / insert your paper ticket to exit — simple!

🔄 Beijing Metro Transfer Guide

Need to change lines? Just follow signs for Transfer (换乘).
Some interchanges like Xizhimen or Dongzhimen are huge — expect a few minutes’ walk between platforms, but directions are super clear in English and Chinese.

💳 How to Pay: Ticket, Metro Card & QR Code

Single-Journey Tickets

Available at ticket vending machines in all stations. Fares are distance-based, starting at ¥3 for trips up to 6 km, with incremental increases for longer distances. You can directly buy a ticket through vending machine:

Yikatong Card (Beijing Transportation Smart Card)

A rechargeable card offering convenience and fare discounts. It can be used on subways, buses, and even some taxis. Purchase and recharge the card at service counters within subway stations.

Alipay Digital Metro Card

The easiest way to ride Shanghai Metro is using Alipay's digital transport card, especially for international visitors. Just download Alipay, go to the "Transport" section on the homepage, and select "Transport. Beijing." You will find many transport options: metro, bus, bike taxi.

💰 Beijing Metro Ticket Price

Still super affordable!

• Base fare: ¥3 (~RM2) for the first 6 km.
• Up to 12 km: ¥4 (~RM2.50).
• 30+ km: ¥6–8 (~RM4–5).

🎟️ Tourist Passes:

• 1-Day Pass → ¥20 (~RM13) unlimited rides
• 3-Day Pass → ¥50 (~RM35) unlimited rides

⏰ Beijing Metro Hours & Schedule

Trains run every 2–5 minutes during the day and 6–10 minutes late at night.

🎡 Getting to Beijing Attractions by Metro

Forbidden City / Tian’anmen Square

• Line 1: Take Line 1 to Tiananmen East Station (天安门东站) or Tiananmen West Station (天安门西站).
• Exits: Use Exit B at Tiananmen East Station for the Forbidden City.

Wangfujing Shopping Street 🛍️ → Line 1, Wangfujing Station

Temple of Heaven 🏯

• Line 5: Take Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station (天坛东门站).
• Exit: Use Exit A1 to reach the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven.

Summer Palace 🌸

• Line 4: Take Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (北宫门站).
• Exit: Use Exit D to arrive near the North Gate of the Summer Palace.

Olympic Park 🏟️

• Line 8: Take Line 8 to Olympic Park Station (奥林匹克公园站).
• Exits: Use Exit C for the Bird’s Nest Stadium (鸟巢) and Water Cube (水立方).

Nanluoguxiang Hutong ☕

• Line 6 or 8: Take Line 6 or Line 8 to Nanluoguxiang Station (南锣鼓巷站).
• Exits: Use Exit E to explore the Hutong alleys, cafés, and boutique shops.

Beijing South Railway Station 🚄

• Line 14: Take Line 14 to Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站).
• Exits: Follow signs for High-Speed Train Departures if transferring to intercity trains.

🚇 Tips for Taking the Beijing Metro

1️⃣ Get a Yikatong Card or Use QR Code

If you’ll ride more than twice, get a Beijing Yikatong card (一卡通) — it works just like Touch ’n Go.
You can buy and top up at metro counters or vending machines (¥20 refundable deposit).
Prefer mobile? Just scan the Metro QR Code via Alipay or WeChat Pay — super fast and cash-free.

2️⃣ Download a Metro Map App

The system is huge (27+ lines!), so apps like Beijing Metro Official App, Gaode Map (高德地图), or Baidu Map (百度地图) are lifesavers.
They show live routes, transfer times, and even fare estimates.
💡 Tip: Search by station name in pinyin, e.g. “Tiananmen East” → “天安门东”.

3️⃣ Avoid Rush Hour 😅

Morning: 7:30–9:30 AM
Evening: 5:30–7:30 PM
Trains and stations are packed! If you can, travel before or after these times — your trip will be way more comfortable.

4️⃣ Follow the Color Codes

Each metro line has a unique color (Line 1 = Red, Line 2 = Blue, Line 4 = Green, etc.).
Just match the color on your app or station map — easy peasy.

5️⃣ Keep Your Ticket Until You Exit

If you’re using a single-journey coin ticket, don’t lose it!
You’ll need to insert it into the gate when exiting — the gate will keep it.

6️⃣ Mind the Security Check 🔍

Before entering, all bags go through an X-ray scanner.
Liquids under 100ml are allowed, but big bottles may be checked — just like at the airport.

7️⃣ Listen for English Announcements

All trains and station announcements are in Mandarin + English, so don’t worry if your Chinese isn’t great.
Electronic signs also display the next stop in both languages.

8️⃣ Prepare for Long Walks at Transfers 🏃‍♂️

Stations like Dongzhimen and Xizhimen are massive — changing lines can take 5–10 minutes of walking.
Just follow the Transfer (换乘) signs; everything is bilingual.

9️⃣ Keep Small Change or Use E-Wallets 💰

Ticket machines accept coins, small notes, and mobile payments.
If you’re using e-wallets, make sure your Alipay/WeChat account is linked to an international card before your trip.

🔟 Be Polite & Stay on the Right

When using escalators, stand on the right, walk on the left.
Let passengers exit first before boarding, and always give your seat to elderly or pregnant passengers — it’s the local courtesy.

✨ Pro Tip:
Peak times aside, the Beijing Metro is one of the cleanest, safest, and most punctual systems in the world — and it’ll save you tons of money and time compared to taxis.

For Malaysians planning a trip — don’t be intimidated by the Beijing Metro. It’s way more extensive than our LRT/MRT, but surprisingly easy to use once you know how.

With a Yikatong card, QR code, and a good china map app, you’ll be exploring Beijing like a pro in no time 🚇✨

Ready to keep planning? Check out:

• Where to stay in Beijing
• Top things to do in Beijing
• Visa China
• Beijing Travel Tips
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