Getting around · Beijing · China
Getting around Beijing
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Charlie fong 冯成, Public domain
Quick answer
Beijing is huge, but its subway, with more than 25 lines and English signage, reaches all main sights except the Great Wall. Taxis and DiDi ride-hailing fill the gaps; walking works within the old city, though distances between sights are larger than they look on the map. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- PEK, PKX
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Yikatong card
Ways to get around
Metro
The subway runs from about 5am until around 11pm. Line 1 runs along Chang'an Avenue past Tiananmen, line 2 loops the old city walls, and line 4 reaches the Summer Palace.
Allow time for the bag security check at every station entrance.
Taxi
Metered taxis are inexpensive; DiDi, which has an English interface, is often easier than hailing, especially in rush hour or bad weather.
Avoid unlicensed drivers touting at stations and outside the Forbidden City.
Cycling
App-based share bikes are everywhere and are an excellent way to explore hutongs and lake shores at your own pace.
Bus
City buses are cheap and cover the whole city, including tourist lines to the Badaling Great Wall, but routes are mostly signed in Chinese.
Train
High-speed trains from Beijing South, Beijing West and Beijing North reach Tianjin in about 30 minutes and Shanghai in about 4.5–6 hours; a high-speed line also stops at Badaling Great Wall station.
Train tickets need your passport; book early around national holidays.
Tickets and passes
Yikatong card
Beijing's rechargeable transport card works on the subway, buses and some taxis; a deposit is refundable at designated outlets.
QR-code payment
Subway gates accept QR codes through the official app and Alipay or WeChat, so many visitors skip buying single tickets.
From the airport
Beijing Capital International Airport is about 25 km northeast of the centre; the Airport Express train reaches Dongzhimen in about 20–30 minutes. Beijing Daxing International Airport, about 45 km south, is linked by the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao in about 20 minutes, connecting with the subway. Taxis take 40–70 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. Foreign licences are not valid for driving in mainland China and traffic is heavy; use the subway, taxis and hire a car with driver for Great Wall trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Badaling Great Wall | About 1–1.5 hours by train | High-speed train to Badaling Great Wall station or S2 suburban train |
| Jinshanling Great Wall | About 2.5 hours by car or tour bus | Private driver, organised tour or seasonal bus |
| Simatai and Gubei Water Town | About 2 hours by car or bus | Tourist bus from Dongzhimen or a private driver |
| Ming Tombs | About 1–1.5 hours by subway and bus or car | Changping line subway then bus, or combined with a Badaling trip by car |
| Tianjin | About 30–40 minutes by high-speed train | High-speed train from Beijing South |
| Chengde Mountain Resort | About 1–1.5 hours by high-speed train | High-speed train from Beijing Chaoyang to Chengde South, then taxi |
| Cuandixia | About 2–2.5 hours by car | Private driver, or subway and a rural bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Beijing?
No. Foreign licences are not valid for driving in mainland China and traffic is heavy; use the subway, taxis and hire a car with driver for Great Wall trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Beijing?
Beijing Capital International Airport is about 25 km northeast of the centre; the Airport Express train reaches Dongzhimen in about 20–30 minutes. Beijing Daxing International Airport, about 45 km south, is linked by the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao in about 20 minutes, connecting with the subway. Taxis take 40–70 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Beijing?
Metro: The subway runs from about 5am until around 11pm. Line 1 runs along Chang'an Avenue past Tiananmen, line 2 loops the old city walls, and line 4 reaches the Summer Palace.