Getting Around Beijing — Subway, Taxi, DiDi, Bikes & How to Pay (2026 Guide)

Before you go

A capital you can cross by rail alone

Beijing is vast — the distance from one side of the old city to the other is greater than most visitors expect. The good news is that the city has one of the largest metro systems in the world, with around 27 lines. It is clean, cheap, and the best way to get around, reaching virtually everywhere a traveller wants to go, from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to the CBD and the old hutong lanes.

Fares are distance-based, roughly ¥3–10 per trip, and trains run from about 05:00 to 23:00 (last trains on each line leave earlier than that). One thing to know in advance: every station has a bag X-ray security check at the entrance, and you should carry your passport, as some stations may ask to see it.

This guide covers every way to get around Beijing — from the subway, which does the heavy lifting on any trip, to metered taxis and DiDi (handy when you have luggage or it is late), to shared bikes that suit the flat hutongs around Houhai, plus how to pay and which map app actually works in China. A little preparation goes a long way here.

The main event

The Subway — fast, cheap, bilingual

Your first choice for virtually every journey across the city. Clean trains, bilingual signage, and distance-based fares of ¥3–10.

The Beijing Subway (北京地铁) runs from around 05:00 to 23:00, though this varies by line — last trains on the longer lines leave well before that. If you plan to return late, check the timetable at the station first. Fares are distance-based, starting at ¥3 for short hops and rising to about ¥10 for the longest runs. Signs, in-car announcements, and ticket machines are all in both Chinese and English.

Wangfujing pedestrian shopping street, Beijing — a central retail area reached directly by subway Line 1 — Line 1 runs through Wangfujing (pictured), Tiananmen and the CBD — the east–west route visitors use most often.

Key lines

Routes visitors use most

Line	Route	Key stops
Line 1 (the spine)	East ↔ West	Tiananmen West/East · Wangfujing · CBD / Guomao
Line 2 (loop)	Around the old city wall	Lama Temple (Yonghegong) · Qianmen · Beijing Railway Station
Line 5	North ↔ South	Temple of Heaven · Lama Temple (interchange with Line 2)
Line 6	East ↔ West (northern)	Hutongs · Gulou (Drum Tower) · Houhai
Line 8	North ↔ South (through centre)	Olympic Park (Bird's Nest / Water Cube) · Gulou
Line 14 / Daxing	To the 798 area / Daxing Airport	798 Art Zone (near Wangjing) · Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Route-planning tip: The system is enormous with many interchange stations, so always check your transfer station in advance using Amap or Apple Maps rather than working it out inside a huge station. And if you are continuing to another city by high-speed train, see the China high-speed rail guide.

Paying for the subway

How to pay — pick what suits you

📱

Alipay QR

Easiest for visitors. Open Alipay, set up the transit mini-program, then scan the QR at the gate. Set this up before you travel.

💬

WeChat QR

Same concept as Alipay. Open the Beijing subway mini-program in WeChat and scan at the gate. Works on all lines.

🎫

Ticket / Yikatong

Buy a single-journey ticket or a rechargeable Yikatong (一卡通) card from station machines. They have English menus and take notes and coins.

🚆

Yitongxing

The official Beijing subway app (亿通行) generates a QR you scan straight through the gate — a good alternative to Alipay or WeChat.

Honest summary: setting up Alipay or WeChat before you travel is worth it, because the same app covers taxis, DiDi, shared bikes, restaurants, and convenience stores — not just the subway. Read the step-by-step setup for a foreign card in the Alipay & WeChat Pay guide.

Other options

Taxis, DiDi, Bikes and Buses

🚕

Metered Taxis

出租车 · always on the meter

Beijing taxis are metered, with a flag-fall of about ¥13 for the first 3 km, then roughly ¥2.3 per km, plus a small surcharge at night. The real fare runs higher in heavy traffic because of waiting time — these figures are worth double-checking before you travel.

The one tip that makes taxis work: have your destination written in Chinese characters. Most drivers speak little or no English. A hotel business card, or a Google Translate screenshot of the address in Chinese, sorts this every time.

Flag-fall: ~¥13 for the first 3 km · then ~¥2.3/km

Payment: Cash · Alipay · WeChat Pay (varies by car)

Note: In rush-hour traffic, the subway is often faster

🚗

DiDi — China's ride-hail

滴滴出行 · links to Alipay / WeChat

DiDi (滴滴) is the dominant ride-hailing app in China. Link it to Alipay or WeChat and you pay directly in the app. It is the right call when the subway has closed for the night, when you have luggage, or when your route involves several line changes.

The app works without any Chinese, but it pays to have your destination written in Chinese characters in case the driver calls to confirm the pickup point — this happens often and gets you matched faster.

DiDi: Download the app and link Alipay or WeChat before travelling

Language: English interface; type destinations in English

Keep handy: Your destination in Chinese characters

A Beijing hutong — a flat old alleyway ideal for exploring by shared bike around the Houhai district

Shared Bikes

共享单车 · unlock via app

Beijing is flat, which makes the shared bikes from Meituan and HelloBike a genuine pleasure — especially for the narrow, level hutong lanes around Houhai that cars cannot reach. It is the most enjoyable way to wander the old quarters.

Unlock a bike by scanning the QR on its frame through the Meituan or HelloBike app (linked to Alipay or WeChat). Rental is charged in short time blocks and costs very little; just return it to a designated parking zone when you are done.

Apps: Meituan (美团) · HelloBike (哈啰), linked to Alipay/WeChat

Best for: Hutongs around Houhai · short hops within one area

Note: Park in a designated zone to avoid a penalty fee

🚌

Public Buses

公交车 · very cheap, harder to use

Beijing's bus network covers hundreds of routes that reach corners of the city the subway does not. Fares are very low, paid with a Yikatong card or a QR scan.

Honest note: most stops and route numbers are in Chinese only, so for visitors the subway is a much easier first choice. Buses become workable once you open Amap (Gaode), which has full bus data and tells you exactly which route to board — useful for specific trips with no subway nearby.

Fare: very cheap (less than the subway) on most routes

Payment: Yikatong card · QR scan · cash on some routes

Navigation: Use Amap (Gaode) for bus route planning

Navigation

Which map app actually works in Beijing

This matters more than people expect. Google Maps is unreliable in China — both the map and its public transit directions are frequently wrong or simply absent. Two apps give accurate, real-time transit directions without any workaround, while a VPN helps for other Google services such as Gmail or full Google Maps.

🗺️

Amap (Gaode / 高德地图)

the app most Chinese residents use

Amap has accurate, live data for every subway line, bus route, and intercity train in China. You can search destinations in English, and its transit planner gives step-by-step directions, down to which exit to use — no VPN required to use it.

Tip: Download before departure; some app stores in China require a VPN to access.

🍎

Apple Maps

iPhone users already have this

Apple Maps in China uses Amap's data as its backend, which makes its transit directions for the Beijing subway accurate. If you have an iPhone, it is the path of least resistance — no extra app, no VPN.

Android note: Google Maps transit doesn't work well in China — install Amap instead.

If you want LINE, Instagram, Gmail or full Google Maps while in China, you will need a VPN installed and tested before you fly — most VPN websites are blocked once you are inside the country. See the full breakdown in the China internet, VPN and eSIM guide.

Beijing CBD skyline at dusk — the CITIC Tower (China Zun) and office towers of the Guomao district — The CBD / Guomao district sits on Lines 1 and 10 — planning a late night out? Check the last train for your return line, then keep DiDi as backup.

One thing to do first

Set up your subway QR before you board your flight

If there is one preparation that makes a difference, it is this: set up Alipay or WeChat with the subway QR ready before you leave home. Download the app, link a Visa or Mastercard through its international mode, and locate the Metro/Transport feature. When you land in Beijing, you will tap the phone at the gate and walk straight through — no queuing at a machine while tired and jet-lagged. And don't forget to carry your passport, since some X-ray checkpoints may ask to see it.

One more practical note: avoid peak hours if you can — 08:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00 are genuinely crowded on the inner-city lines. If you are arriving from the airport or hauling luggage, shifting your journey outside these windows makes the whole experience easier.

For first-timers: Beijing has two major airports — Beijing Capital International (PEK) and the newer Daxing International (PKX), which lies to the south. Both have rail links into the city, and the route in differs depending on which one you land at. See the full breakdown in the Beijing airport transfer guide.

Common questions

FAQ · Getting around Beijing

What are the Beijing subway hours?

Most lines run from around 05:00 to 23:00, but last trains on individual lines leave terminus stations well before 23:00, and hours vary by line and direction. Check the timetable for your return line before a late night out — it's easy to get stranded if you assume the last train is later than it actually is.

How do I pay for the Beijing subway?

The easiest method for visitors is to scan a QR code with Alipay or WeChat after setting up the transit mini-program, or use the official Yitongxing (亿通行) app. Alternatively, buy a rechargeable Yikatong (一卡通) stored-value card or a single-journey ticket from the station machines, which have English menus. Full setup instructions in the Alipay & WeChat Pay guide.

Do I have to X-ray my bag every time I enter a subway station?

Yes. Every Beijing subway station has a security checkpoint at the entrance, and all bags go through an X-ray machine. Budget a little extra time, especially during rush hour, and carry your passport with you, as some stations may ask to see it.

Does DiDi work in English? Do I need to speak Chinese?

DiDi (滴滴) is China's dominant ride-hailing app. Link it to Alipay or WeChat and you can pay in the app. You do not need to speak Chinese, but it helps to have your destination written in Chinese characters in case the driver calls to confirm the pickup point.

Can I use Google Maps in Beijing?

Google Maps is unreliable in China; both the map and its transit directions are often wrong or absent. Use Amap (Gaode / 高德地图) or Apple Maps instead — both have accurate subway data and work without a VPN. A VPN helps for other Google services such as Gmail and full Google Maps.

How much does a taxi cost in Beijing?

Beijing taxis are metered, with a flag-fall of about ¥13 for the first 3 km, then roughly ¥2.3 per km, and a small surcharge at night. The real fare can be higher in heavy traffic, so it's worth double-checking current rates before you travel.

Beijing City Guide

Hotels, sights, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, neighbourhoods and more

See →

Beijing Airport Transfer

PEK and Daxing (PKX) — Airport Express, taxi and subway compared

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Alipay & WeChat Pay Guide

Link a foreign card, set up before you travel

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Internet, VPN & eSIM in China

What's blocked, which VPNs work, Amap and eSIM options for visitors

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