Quick answer
The Beijing subway is the fastest way across the city: fares run CNY 3–9 by distance, trains come every 2–5 minutes, and every station sign has English. Foreigners ride three ways — single-journey tickets from machines, a Yikatong (一卡通) card or its phone QR version, or the transit QR code inside Alipay linked to a foreign card. Skip the airport taxi: the Airport Express reaches the city in under 30 minutes for CNY 25.
Why this matters in 2026
Beijing runs 800+ km of metro across nearly 30 lines, and surface traffic defeats taxis for most of the day — a 9 km cab ride at 18:00 takes longer than the same trip by subway at a tenth of the price. The payment puzzle that used to trip visitors (paper tickets, deposits, Chinese-only machines) has mostly dissolved: Alipay and WeChat now issue transit QR codes to foreign passports, and machines take cash and cards. What remains genuinely hard is rush hour at Xizhimen at 08:30 — knowable, and avoidable, with a little orientation.
Key facts at a glance
- Fares: CNY 3 (up to 6 km) rising by distance to about CNY 9–10 for the longest trips
- Airport Express: CNY 25 flat; serves both PEK Terminal 3 (via S1) and Daxing via line transfers — check current routing
- Payment options: single-journey token, physical Yikatong (CNY 20 deposit), Alipay/WeChat transit QR, Yikatong in Apple Wallet
- Foreign cards: Alipay/WeChat transit QR works with linked Visa/Mastercard; gate card readers remain China-issued-card territory in most stations
- Hours: roughly 05:00–23:00 depending on line; last trains are earlier than you think
- Security check: every entrance, every time — bags through the scanner, no liquids over the limit
Step-by-step walkthrough
Step 1: Pick your payment method on day one
Short visit (under 3 rides): buy single-journey tokens at machines (cash CNY accepted, staffed windows too). Longer stay: set up the Alipay transit QR — 市民中心 → 出行 → 地铁, or search 乘车码 — and link your foreign card. iPhone users can add Yikatong in Apple Wallet and top up with a linked card.
Step 2: Pass security and the gates
Bags go through the X-ray before the fare gates; the queue at peak hours is for security, not tickets. Tap or scan at the reader, keep the token if you used one — you surrender it at exit.
Step 3: Read the line signage like a local
Every line has a number/color and a terminus name; signs on platforms show the terminus per direction (e.g., Line 1 toward 环球度假区). Follow the terminus, not left/right instincts — some platforms sandwich lines.
Step 4: Transfer without re-paying
Transfers inside the network are free-flowing — follow the overhead signs, walk, and do not exit gates. Trips price by distance across all lines, including the Airport Express only when you use it.
Step 5: Exit by the right gate letter
Interchanges spill out at lettered exits (A–D) that can sit 300 meters apart. Your map app recommends an exit; align it or face a surface detour. Follow 出口 (exit) signs with the letter.
Step 6: Know the last train
Lines wind down between 22:30 and 23:15. The official Beijing Subway app and station boards show last-train times; after a late banquet, budget a Didi instead of gambling on the last Line 10.
Common scenarios and use cases
1. Airport arrival into the city
From Capital (PEK): Terminal 3 Express to Sanyuanqiao, transfer Line 10. From Daxing (PKX): the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao in about 19 minutes, transfer to Line 10/19. Both beat taxis at rush hour by an hour.
2. Rush-hour commute
07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:30 pack Lines 1, 10, and 4 to capacity — lines for security stretch onto the sidewalk. Shift your ride 30 minutes earlier or later, or ride against the peak into town and walk the last stretch.
3. Sightseeing days
The classic loop — Forbidden City (Line 1 Tiananmen East), Temple of Heaven (Line 5), Lama Temple (Line 2/5), Summer Palace (Line 4) — is a pure metro trip. Fares for the whole day rarely pass CNY 10.
4. With luggage
Use elevators (电梯) marked on station maps; security scanners accept big bags. Avoid interchanges famous for long walks (Xizhimen, Dongzhimen) at peak times — the transfer corridors are kilometer-scale.
Costs and pricing breakdown
- Single ride: CNY 3 under 6 km; CNY 4 for 6–12 km; +CNY 1 per additional band to ~CNY 9–10 max
- Airport Express: CNY 25 per ride, separate fare gate
- Yikatong card: CNY 20 refundable deposit + top-up; usable on buses (CNY 1–2) and some taxis
- Alipay/WeChat transit QR: no deposit; identical distance fares, auto-charged to your linked card
- Daily reality: a tourist day with 4–6 rides costs CNY 8–15 total — the cheapest transport in the city
Pitfalls to avoid
- Queueing at ticket machines with big bills: machines prefer small notes and coins; the staffed window (人工) exchanges and sells in one stop.
- Losing your token: single-journey tokens are surrendered at exit gates; a lost token means the maximum fare at the service window.
- Ignoring the security line: no scanner, no entry — budget 5–10 minutes at busy stations in peak hours.
- Fighting the crowd at transfers: stand right, walk left; keep to the marked lanes on escalators, and let the platform clear before pushing in.
- Assuming trains run all night: last trains leave terminus stations before midnight; the Airport Express also sleeps. Plan late returns by Didi.
Alternatives and trade-offs
- Bus: CNY 1–2 flat, vast network, English signage improving — but slower and harder without Chinese reading. Yikatong/QR pays the same way.
- Didi (滴滴): door-to-door for 3–4 people with luggage often costs less than four metro fares and saves the security-line tax; essential after midnight.
- Bike-share (Meituan/Hello): CNY 1.5–2 per half hour solves the last kilometer between the exit gate and the hutong door.
- Walking: central Beijing's grid is walkable in fair weather — the metro covers distance, feet cover charm.
- Tourist buses / sightseeing lines: hop-on routes to Badaling and city sights cost more but skip transfers; worth it once.
Local context and customs
Beijing's subway is civic choreography: bags scanned without complaint, queues painted on platforms, priority seats respected in spirit, and rush-hour crowding handled with stoic humor — a pusher in gloves tucks riders into cars on Line 1 at peak. Announcements run in Mandarin and English; staff in yellow vests answer with patience and pointing. Eat and drink are technically banned in cars and lightly enforced; priority seating goes to elders, who ride free at off-peak hours and fill the 10:00 trains. The metro is also the fastest way to read the city: migrant workers on Line 14, tech workers on Line 10, tourists on Line 1. Move with the flow, stand clear of the doors, and the system will carry you anywhere for the price of a bottle of water.
Verifying current information
Fares, hours, and payment rules change with upgrades. Confirm the latest through:
- Beijing Subway official: https://www.bjsubway.com — fares, first/last trains, network map
- Alipay transit center: live QR setup under 出行 for your passport account
- Beijing Subway app (北京地铁): official first/last train times per station
- Your hotel front desk: they know the nearest entrance with elevators and the current Yikatong rules
- Reddit r/beijing: current reports on foreign-card gate acceptance by station
Putting it all together
Set up the Alipay transit QR on arrival day, learn your line's terminus names, and ride Beijing like a resident: security queue, scan, stand right on escalators, exit by the recommended letter. Budget CNY 10 a day for transport, take the Airport Express instead of taxis, and switch to Didi after midnight. The subway turns Beijing's distances — real and intimidating on a map — into 20-minute hops.
FAQ
Can foreigners use Alipay to ride the Beijing subway?
Yes — the Alipay transit QR (乘车码) works at all gates and accepts linked international Visa/Mastercard. Set it up once under 出行 (transport) and scan at the gate in both directions.
Is there a tourist card?
The standard Yikatong (一卡通) serves everyone: CNY 20 refundable deposit, distance fares identical to tokens. iPhone users can hold Yikatong in Apple Wallet and skip the physical card.
How much does the metro cost from the airport?
The Airport Express is CNY 25 flat from either PEK or Daxing routes into the city, then standard fares apply after you transfer. Compare with Didi at CNY 100–150 from PEK.
Can I bring luggage and a stroller?
Yes — every station has security scanners sized for bags and elevators marked on maps. Avoid peak hours for comfort; staff will point to the elevator if you ask for 电梯.
Do metro stations have English signage?
All stations have English on signs and announcements in Mandarin plus English on the main lines. Exit letters are your anchor — align your map app's recommended exit before surfacing.
What is the last train time?
Most lines start winding down between 22:30 and 23:15 from their termini. Check the Beijing Subway app or station boards; after that, Didi or the night bus network.
Can I pay with a foreign contactless bank card at the gates?
Coverage is still limited and station-by-station. The reliable foreigner path is the Alipay/WeChat transit QR or Yikatong in Apple Wallet — both work everywhere in the network.
Is the subway crowded all day?
Peaks are 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:30 on Lines 1, 4, and 10; midday and evenings are comfortable. Shift 30 minutes off-peak and you get a seat even in the core.