Beijing Subway Guide for Foreigners 2026: Pay, Lines, Maps
How to pay with foreign Visa via Alipay, which lines tourists actually use, English support reality, security check, and last-train timing — practical 2026 walkthrough.
By China for Travelers Editorial · Published · Updated
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) but is not a Beijing resident. 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. Path-2 editorial- aggregated 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, ranked by foreigner-ease:
- Alipay “Beijing Subway” mini-program (the recommended path) — 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 tap to exit; the fare is calculated by tap-out and auto-charged). Editor verified Alipay-with-foreign-Visa Beijing-subway payments 2025-11 and 2026-01.
- WeChat Pay equivalent — search “Yikatong” (一卡通) or “Beijing Subway” in WeChat. Same workflow as Alipay. Foreign card support has expanded in 2026 but Alipay's flow is generally smoother.
- 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. Useful if your Alipay/WeChat setup fails. Refund the deposit + remaining balance at any major station's customer service counter on departure.
What does NOT work in 2026: foreign credit-card tap directly at the gate (no NFC reader for foreign cards on the gate), foreign mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay (linked to a foreign card; works only if you've activated Alipay/WeChat-routed transit), the legacy single-trip paper-ticket machines unless you can navigate the Chinese-only interface. The single-trip machines do accept cash but are unfriendly to non-Chinese- speakers.
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
- 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 verified first-hand for this editor: 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.