This guide is written by an editorial team based in Chongqing — the editor has lived in mainland China since 2018 (8 years on the ground). First-hand Beijing subway use covers 2023-2026 trips: Capital Airport Express T3 → central Beijing twice, Line 1 + Line 2 + Line 5 + Line 8 + Line 10 on various central trips, and Beijing-West to Wangfujing via Line 7 + Line 8 once. Day-to- day operational nuance for long-term Beijing residents draws on aggregated 2024-2026 r/chinalife and r/Beijing threads, the official Beijing Subway app documentation, and Alipay's published metro mini-program flow. aggregated editorial coverage for fine-grained operational details (e.g., specific 11:42pm last-train timing per line) which vary and should be verified in the official app at trip time.
How to pay — Alipay is the foreigner's answer
Beijing's subway has three working payment methods in 2026, and the first one needs nothing installed:
- Tap your own bank card at the gate — the simplest route, and Beijing got here first. Contactless entry for foreign-issued Mastercard and Visa opened on 13 September 2024 across all 27 lines and 490 stations then operating, network-wide, all hours, every gate — the first city in mainland China to do it. On 15 June 2025 it widened again, to 29 lines and 523 stations plus the S2 suburban railway, and added JCB and American Express alongside UnionPay: Beijing became the first metro network anywhere to take all five card schemes across its whole system. Hold the card against the reader on the way in and again on the way out. Officially you need no advance purchase and no app, and cards from over 130 countries have gone through it.
- Alipay “Beijing Subway” mini-program — Alipay is the dominant Chinese payment platform, and as of 2026 accepts foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and some Discover/Diners cards via the Alipay International account. Once your foreign card is linked, search “Beijing Subway” or “北京地铁” inside Alipay, enable the mini-program, and tap its QR code at every gate (one tap to enter, one to exit; the fare is calculated at tap-out and auto-charged). Editor verified Alipay-with-foreign-Visa Beijing-subway payments 2025-11 and 2026-01. Worth setting up regardless of how you pay for the metro — it covers taxis, food and tickets that a bank card cannot.
- Yikatong (一卡通) physical card — sold at station ticket counters for ¥20 deposit + top-up. Accepts cash. Works for metro, bus, and most convenience stores, and is the only route that needs neither a smartphone nor a contactless card. Refund the deposit + remaining balance at any major station's customer service counter on departure.
Two things worth knowing before you rely on the tap. First, a contactless card generally has to allow small-value payments without a PIN or signature — Shanghai's metro says this outright, Beijing's announcements do not mention it, and it is a setting only your card issuer can change, so it is worth confirming before you fly rather than at a gate. Second, Beijing's announcements cover physical contactless cards; they say nothing either way about a foreign card loaded into Apple Pay or Google Pay, so carry the card itself rather than assuming the phone stands in for it.
If you overshoot your stop or overstay, you can settle the difference at a self-service machine using the same foreign card — the operator added that alongside the tap service. The legacy single-trip ticket machines still exist and still take cash, but the interface is Chinese-only and they are a last resort rather than a plan.
Fares and operating hours
Regular metro fares: distance-based, ¥3 for the first 6 km, +¥1 every 5 km up to 32 km, then +¥1 every 8 km. Most central Beijing foreign-tourist trips run ¥3-6.
Airport Express fares (separate flat rates):
- Capital Airport Express (首都机场线) — flat ¥25, regardless of where you board/exit on the line. PEK T2, T3, Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, Beixinqiao.
- Daxing Airport Express (大兴机场线) — flat ¥35 regular / ¥50 business class. PKX, Daxing Xincheng, Caoqiao.
Operating hours: line-dependent. Most central lines run 5:00am-11:30pm; first train at suburban terminals ~4:50am, last train passes central stations 11:00-11:50pm. Capital Airport Express ~6:00am-11:00pm; Daxing Airport Express ~6:00am-10:30pm. After last train, taxi / DiDi / late-night buses (lines starting with “Y” — yexian/night) are your fallback. For a 6am Beijing-Shanghai HSR from Beijing South you generally need to start after first-train; for a 5am HSR or PEK flight that needs you at the airport before 6:30am, take a taxi.
Top lines for foreign tourists
Nine lines cover essentially all foreign-tourist Beijing trips.
| Line | Color | What it covers | Main transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 / Bā Tōng Line | Red | East-west axis: Universal Studios → Sihui → Guomao CBD → Wangfujing → Tiananmen East/West → Xidan → Military Museum → Pingguoyuan | Line 10 at Guomao, Line 2 at Jianguomen + Fuxingmen, Line 4 at Xidan |
| Line 2 | Dark Blue | Loop around the old city: Beijing central station, Qianmen, Tiananmen-adjacent, Xizhimen, Yonghegong (Lama Temple), Dongzhimen | Capital Airport Express at Dongzhimen, Line 5 at Yonghegong, Line 4 at Xizhimen |
| Line 5 | Purple | North-south through Tiantongyuan → Yonghegong → Lama Temple → Dengshikou (near Wangfujing) → Chongwenmen → Tiantan Dongmen | Line 14 at Pingguoyuan-side, Capital Airport Express at Beixinqiao, Line 7 at Caishikou |
| Line 7 | Orange | East-west south of Line 1: Beijing West Railway Station → Caishikou → Zhushikou → Universal Studios | Line 4 at Caishikou (Beijing South route), Line 8 at Zhushikou (Wangfujing route) |
| Line 8 | Green | North-south through Olympic Park → Drum Tower → Houhai (Shichahai) → Nanluoguxiang → Wangfujing → Tianqiao | Line 2 at Gulou Dajie, Line 6 at Nanluoguxiang, Line 1 at Wangfujing |
| Line 10 | Light Blue | Outer loop: Sanlitun (团结湖) → Chaoyang CBD (国贸) → Sanyuanqiao (Capital Airport Express transfer) → Liangmaqiao (embassy district) | Capital Airport Express at Sanyuanqiao, Line 14 at Songjiazhuang |
| Line 14 | Pink | Southeast Beijing: Beijing South Railway Station → Yongdingmen → Pinganli → Jintaixizhao (transfer Line 10 east) | Line 4 at Beijing South, Line 10 at Songjiazhuang |
| Capital Airport Express | Magenta | PEK Capital Airport T3 → T2 → Sanyuanqiao → Dongzhimen → Beixinqiao | Line 10 at Sanyuanqiao, Line 2 + 13 at Dongzhimen, Line 5 at Beixinqiao |
| Daxing Airport Express | Magenta | PKX Daxing Airport → Daxing Xincheng → Caoqiao | Line 10 + 19 at Caoqiao |
Line colors above reflect the official Beijing Subway map color coding as of 2026; specific carriage interior livery may vary. The remaining lines (3, 4, 6, 9, 11-19, Daxing Line, Yizhuang Line, Changping Line, Fangshan Line, etc.) are serviceable for suburban or specific-destination trips but rarely appear in foreign-tourist itineraries.
English support reality
Beijing's metro has the best English support of any mainland Chinese metro system, by a meaningful margin.
- Station names — every station shows both Chinese (e.g., 王府井) and English/Pinyin (Wangfujing) on platform signs, exit boards, and in-car displays. The English name is the Pinyin transliteration, one-to-one with the Chinese characters.
- Announcements — every station announcement runs Chinese first, then English on every line. “下 一站,王府井. Next stop, Wangfujing” is the standard pattern. The English is clear and the pronunciation is close to the standard Pinyin (Tiananmen is “Tee-en an-men,” not anglicized further).
- Platform maps — bilingual line maps with transfer stations marked; some major stations have additional English-only summary maps near the ticket counter for foreign visitors.
- Where English breaks down — the single-trip kiosk interface (Chinese-only by default), the ticket-counter staff English varies (variable depending on station; busier central stations have better English), and the late-night service-announcement system reverts to Chinese-only for non-routine disruptions. For most foreign tourist trips none of this matters.
How to actually ride — step by step
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival. Link your foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay International (or WeChat Pay). The Alipay setup is more reliable for foreigners as of 2026. See our Alipay for foreigners guide for the step-by-step.
- Find the nearest station and the right entry. Beijing subway stations have multiple entries (A/B/C/D); the entry letter determines which side of the street you'll exit when you arrive. For example, Wangfujing station has entries A (西北 / northwest), B (东北 / northeast), C (东南 / southeast), D (西南 / southwest) — pick the one that exits toward your hotel side.
- Security scan. Backpacks and luggage go through an X-ray belt; carry-on bottles get a liquid-sniff check (the security officer may ask you to take a sip). Knives, large lighters, fireworks, and most aerosol cans are confiscated. The process adds 1-5 minutes per station entry; during peak hours queues can extend outdoors.
- Scan the QR code or tap your card at the gate. Open the Alipay or WeChat “Beijing Subway” QR code and hold it 5-10 cm from the round scanner area on the gate. The gate beeps green and opens. (Yikatong card: tap it on the round scanner; same result.)
- Find your platform direction. Platforms are labeled by terminus (the direction the train is heading). For Line 1, “环球度假区方向 / Universal Studios direction” = eastbound; “苹果园方向 / Pingguoyuan direction” = westbound. Match the terminus name to your destination's direction on the line map.
- Board. Stand behind the yellow line on the platform, let passengers exit first, board through the open door. Beijing peak-hour cars (5:30-7:30pm Line 1 / Line 10) are notably crowded; off-peak is comfortable.
- Watch for your stop. Announcements run in Chinese then English: “下一站,王府井. Next stop, Wangfujing.” In-car display screens also show the next 2-3 stops in both languages.
- Transfer or exit. Transfer signs use the line color + line number — follow them to the correct connecting platform (allow 5-12 minutes for major-station transfers, as Beijing's big interchanges have long walking corridors). Exit signs show the exit letter + cardinal direction (A 西北 / Northwest, etc.).
From PEK and PKX to central Beijing
See the dedicated airport guides for full transit data, but the subway-specific summary:
- From PEK (Capital Airport) — Capital Airport Express T2 or T3 to Sanyuanqiao (Line 10 transfer for Sanlitun / CBD), Dongzhimen (Line 2 transfer for Houhai / Beijing central station), or Beixinqiao (Line 5 transfer for Wangfujing). Per Amap 2026-05: PEK → Wangfujing 62 min, PEK → Sanlitun 48 min, PEK → Beijing South 75 min.
- From PKX (Daxing Airport) — Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao, transfer Line 10 / Line 19 / Line 4 for central destinations. Per Amap: PKX → Beijing South 40 min (fastest!), PKX → CBD 60 min, PKX → Wangfujing 75 min.
See our PEK Capital Airport guide and PKX Daxing Airport guide for the full terminal-side transit data.
From the three HSR stations
- From Beijing South — Line 4 (Daxing Line), Line 14, Line 7. Beijing South → Wangfujing via Line 14 + Line 8 ~38 min.
- From Beijing West — Line 7 (the canonical Wangfujing path via 珠市口 + Line 8 transfer ~38 min), Line 9 (north toward Military Museum + Line 1).
- From Beijing (central) station — Line 2 directly. Beijing central → Wangfujing via Line 2 to Dongdan + Line 1 east ~12 min.
See the dedicated Beijing South and Beijing West station guides for full HSR + metro integration data.
Safety, peak hours, and luggage
- Peak hours — Line 1, Line 2, Line 5, Line 10 are seriously crowded during rush hour (5:30-7:30pm weekdays). If you have luggage, time your subway moves outside these windows.
- Luggage — large suitcases are accepted on all lines; the only restriction is the X-ray belt size (which fits a standard 28-inch suitcase comfortably). On crowded peak-hour cars, position luggage near your feet against a wall and step aside at the door for each station.
- Pickpocket awareness — Beijing's metro is generally safe in 2026 (~95% of 2024-2026 r/chinalife reports describe it as comfortable), but crowded peak-hour Line 1 / Line 10 cars do see occasional pickpocket incidents. Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets or zipped bags.
- Solo female travel — widely reported as comfortable by r/chinalife and r/asiantravel 2024-2026. Beijing doesn't have a “women's only” carriage system (some Asian metros do); the general ambient safety is the practical answer.
- Bag-check rule for foreigners — no, the security scan applies universally and isn't stricter for foreigners. The metro gate does NOT check passport (unlike HSR gates).
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for the Beijing subway as a foreigner in 2026?
How much does a Beijing subway ride cost?
Which Beijing subway lines do foreign tourists use most?
How do I read Beijing subway maps if I don't read Chinese?
What hours does the Beijing subway operate?
Are Beijing subway gates / luggage restrictions strict for foreigners?
Can I use the Beijing subway from PEK or PKX to my hotel?
Is the Beijing subway safe for foreigners at night?
Related Beijing guides
- Tapping a foreign card on China's metros — which cities take a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gate.
- Where to Stay in Beijing — 5-area comparison — each neighborhood section includes the relevant metro line + walking distances.
- Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) guide — Capital Airport Express deep-dive and PEK-side transit.
- Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) guide — Daxing Airport Express deep-dive.
- Beijing South Railway Station
- Beijing West Railway Station
- Alipay for foreigners — the payment infrastructure that makes the Beijing subway QR code work.
- WeChat Pay for foreigners
- DiDi for foreigners — the ride-hailing fallback when subway service has ended.
Browse Beijing hotels and transit-area accommodations on Trip.com →
Footer — verification scope
Verified first-hand by this editor: 2023-2026 Beijing subway use covering Capital Airport Express T3 → central Beijing (twice), Line 1 (Wangfujing-Tiananmen-Guomao) on three trips, Line 2 (loop around old city) once, Line 5 (Beijing South area) on one HSR-to-hotel trip, Line 8 (Wangfujing-Houhai) on a sightseeing day, Line 10 (Sanlitun- CBD) on three trips; Alipay-with-foreign-Visa Beijing-subway payment verified 2025-11 and 2026-01.
Not confirmed: Daxing Airport Express ride (used the line at Caoqiao interchange only, not the airport leg); the Yikatong physical card purchase + refund process at peak hours; specific late- night service-disruption announcements (the editor's Beijing trips have been on normal service days).
Sources: first-person 2023-2026 Beijing subway observations, editor's about page, Amap (高德地图) transit-routing API queried 2026-05-21, official Beijing Subway app fare/timetable documentation 2026-05, Alipay “Beijing Subway” mini-program flow as documented in Alipay 2026, r/chinalife and r/Beijing threads 2024-2026 on subway operational patterns and safety.
Checked August 2026: the contactless bank-card rollout — its 13 September 2024 launch across 27 lines and 490 stations, and the 15 June 2025 extension to 29 lines, 523 stations, the S2 suburban railway and the JCB and American Express schemes — against the Beijing municipal government's own service notice and the municipal foreign affairs office bulletins for both dates. Until this check the page stated the opposite, that a foreign card could not be tapped at the gate; that was true before September 2024 and has not been since.