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Beijing (or Peking) is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the country's second largest city (after Shanghai) with more than 20 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area (16,800 sq km).

Subway construction started in China's capital in 1965. The first stretch, which opened between the city's railway station and Pingguoyuan, included today's western branch of Line 1 and the southern part of Line 2. In 1987, the circular line was finished (16 km) and both lines started operating separately. In the 1990's an eastern extension of Line 1 was built; the so-called Fu Ba Line, to Sihui East (formerly shown as BA Wang Fan) opened for trial in Oct. 1999 for the People's Republic's 50th anniversary. The new section (13.5 km) was eventually connected to the western section of Line 1 on 24 June 2000 which had been upgraded to ATO operation.

The entire Line 1 from Pingguoyuan to Sihui East is now 30.4 km long (23 stations) and provides transfer to Ring Line 2 twice, at Fuxingmen and at Jianguomen.

Line 1’s initial section from Beijing Railway Station to Gongzhufen, via a Changchunjie - Nanlishilu spur, was ceremonially opened in 1969. Trial operations commenced later, in early 1971, and the western extension was completed in 1973 to form a 23.6 km line. In 1987, the Nanlishilu – Fuxingmen branch launched the eastward trajectory for the line, severing the original Changchunjie – Beijing Railway Station section which was transferred to Line 2. The so-called FuBa Line opened in 1999 between Tiananmen East and the Sihui area (0.7 Km grade), with the link segment between the two sections opening in 2000 to create a unified 30.4 km line. Recent developments include the fitting of platform half screens and signalling upgrades to support 2 min headways.

On 29 Aug 2021, through operation started between Line 1 & the Batong Line, so transfers are no longer necessary at Sihui or Sihui East!

01 Oct 1969: Beijing Railway Station – Gongzhufen (ceremonial opening)
15 Jan 1971: Beijing Railway Station – Gongzhufen (10.7 km) (initial operations; Beijing Railway Station - Changchunjie section now Line 2)
05 Aug 1971: Yuquanlu – Gongzhufen (4.9 km)
07 Nov 1971: Gucheng - Yuquanlu (5.4 km)
23 Apr 1973: Pingguoyuan – Gucheng (2.6 km)
28 Dec 1987: Nanlishilu – Fuxingmen (0.4 km): Realignment of Line 1-2
28 Dec 1987: Nanlishilu - Beijing Railway Station (excl. Fuxingmen) (-7.1 km)
12 Dec 1992: Fuxingmen - Xidan (1.6 km)
28 Sep 1999: Tiananmen West - Sihui East (10.7 km)
28 Jun 2000: Xidan - Tiananmen West (1.2 km)

>>> Line 1 Gallery

20 Sept 1984 - Beijingzhan - Fuxingmen (as part of original metro line)
28 Dec 1987: 16 km circle line

>>> Line 2 Gallery

Although planned to open for the Olympics in 2008, Line 4 (28.6 km with 24 stations), which provides a metro link to the new Beijing South Railway Station, only opened in Sept 2009. Some trains continue directly south onto the Daxing Line.

28 Sept 2009: Anheqiao North - Gongyixiqiao
30 Dec 2010: Gongyixiqiao - Tiangongyuan (Daxing Line, 21.7 km, 11 stations)

>>> Line 4 Gallery

Subway Line 5, the first north-south metro line in Beijing, is 27.6-km, with 16.9 km and 16 stations underground and 10.7 km and 7 stations above ground. Platforms are equipped with half-high platform screen doors. Construction started in Dec. 2002, and the entire line was brought into service in October 2007.

07 Oct 2007: Tiantongyuan North - Songjiazhuang (27.6 km, 23 stations)

>>> Line 5 Gallery

53.6 km east-west line running parallel and north of line 1

30 Dec 2012: Haidian Wuluju - Caofang (31 km)
28 Dec 2014: Caofang - Lucheng (12 km)
30 Dec 2018: Haidian Wuluju - Jin'anqiao (10.6 km) + Beiyunhe East
31 Dec 2021: + Pingguoyuan
18 Mar 2023: + Erligou

>>> Line 6 Gallery

~38 km east-west line

28 Dec 2014: Beijing West Railway Station - Jiaohuachang (23 km)
30 Dec 2018: + Fatou
28 Dec 2019: Jiaohuachang - Huazhuang (~15 km) + Shuangjing
26 Aug 2021: Huazhuang – Universal Resort

>>> Line 7 Gallery

The first 4.5 km section of Line 8, the so-called Olympic Branch Line, opened on 19 July 2008. It serves all the important Olympic venues and was initially only linked to Line 10. Now operating as two separate lines until the middle section is completed:

North section - 28.5 km
South section - 16.4 km

19 July 2008: Beitucheng - South Gate of Forest Park (4.5 km)
31 Dec 2011: South Gate of Forest Park - Huilongguandongdajie
30 Dec 2012: Beitucheng - Guloudajie
28 Dec 2013: Huilongguandongdajie - Zhuxinzhuang and Guloudajie - Nanluoguxiang
26 Dec 2015: + Andelibeijie
30 Dec 2018: Nanluoguxiang - National Art Museum
30 Dec 2018: Zhushikou - Yinghai (16.4 km - southern Line 8 section initially operated as a separate line)
31 Dec 2021: National Art Museum - Zhushikou (central section allowing through operation)

>>> Line 8 Gallery

Line 9 connects National Library station on Line 4 to Guogongzhuang via Beijing West Railway Station. At the southern end it is linked to the Fangshan Line.

31 Dec 2011: Beijing West Railway Station - Guogongzhuang (11.1 km)
12 Oct 2012: + Fengtaidongdajie
30 Dec 2012: Beijing West Railway Station - National Library
21 Dec 2013: + Military Museum

18 Jan 2023: through service during rush hour on Subway Line 9 & Fangshan Line between National Library & Yancun East launched

>>> Line 9 Gallery

Subway Line 10 was opened on 19 July 2008, in time for the Olympic Games. Its construction had started in Dec. 2003. Line 10, the city's second circular line, is 54.8 km long and fully underground.

19 July 2008: Bagou - Jinsong (25 km)
30 Dec 2012: Jinsong - Shoujingmao
30 Dec 2012: Bagou - Xiju
05 May 2013: Xiju - Shoujingmao (circle completed)

>>> Line 10 Gallery

"Winter Olympic Branch Line": 4.2 km (underground) with 4 stations

31 Dec 2021: Jin’anqiao - Xinshougang (Shougang Park)
30 Dec 2023: Jin’anqiao - Moshikou (0.8 km)

Construction of "CityRail" (Line 13 in the overall "rapid transit" planning) started in December 1999. The semicircular line with 16 stations runs from Xizhimen to Dongzhimen (both are stations on the circle Line 2). The 40.8 km line is mainly above ground, either elevated (7.7 km) or at grade (30.3km). After the western section (20.6km) went into operation on 28 Sept. 2002, the eastern section was opened in January 2003.

28 Sept 2002: Xizhimen - Huoying
28 Jan 2003: eastern section Huoying - Dongzhimen
30 Dec 2019: + Qinghe

>>> Line 13 Gallery

In time for the "Ninth China International Garden Expo", the western section of line 14 opened in spring 2013.

05 May 2013: Zhangguozhuang - Xiju (12.4 km)
28 Dec 2014: Jintailu - Shangezhuang (14 km)
26 Dec 2015: Jintailu - Beijing South Railway Station (16.6 km)
31 Dec 2016: + Chaoyang Park
30 Dec 2017: + Pingleyuan
31 Dec 2021: Xiju - Beijing South Railway Station

>>> Line 14 Gallery

28 Dec 2010: Wangjing West - Houshayu
31 Dec 2011: Houshayu - Fengbo
28 Dec 2014: Wangjing West - Qinghuadongluxikou (10 km)
26 Dec 2015: + Datunlu East
31 Dec 2016: + Wangjing East

>>> Line 15 Gallery

48.9 km

28 Dec 2016: Beianhe - Xiyuan (19.6 km)
30 Dec 2017: + Nongdananlu
31 Dec 2020: Xiyuan – Ganjiakou (10.9 km)
31 Dec 2021: Ganjiakou – Yuyuantan Park East Gate (1.0 km)
31 Dec 2022: Yuyuantan Park East Gate - Yushuzhuang (14.3 km)
18 Mar 2023: + Erligou
30 Dec 2023: Yushuzhuang – Wanpingcheng (3.2 km)

>>> Line 16 Gallery

49.7 km when completed:

31 Dec 2021: Shilihe – Jiahuihu (16.5 km)
30 Dec 2023: Gongrentiyuchang (Workers’ Stadium) - Weilaikexuechengbei (Future Science City North) (24.9 km)

Driverless line (although initially manually driven):

31 Dec 2021: Mudanyuan – Xingong (22.4 km) - initially serving only 6 stations
30 July 2022: + Beitaipingzhuang, Ping'anli, Taipingqiao, Jingfengmen stations

While the Batong Line was initially a logical, though separately operated extension of Line 1, the first sections of four suburban metro lines opened on 30 Dec 2010. The suburban subway lines share the same specifications with the urban lines, but typically have longer average station distances and run partly on the surface:

Mostly elevated suburban route, initially operated with 4-car trains, later increased to full-length 6-car trains, with interchange to Line 1 at Sihui and Sihui East. On 29 Aug 2021, through operation started between Line 1 & the Batong Line, so transfers are no longer necessary!

27 Dec 2003: Sihui -Tuqiao (19 km in length - above ground along Beijing-Tianjin Highway, 13 stations)
28 Dec 2019: Tuqiao - Huazhuang
26 Aug 2021: Huazhuang – Universal Resort

>>> Batong Line Gallery

44 km

30 Dec 2010: Xi'erqi -Nanshao
26 Dec 2015: Nanshao - Changping Xishankou (10.6 km)
31 Dec 2021: Xi'erqi - Qinghe Railway Station (1.5 km)
04 Feb 2023: Qinghe – Xitucheng (9.7 km)

>>> Changping Line Gallery

The 21.7 km Daxing Line is connected directly to Subway Line 4, with metro trains running through on the mostly underground suburban route.

30 Dec 2010: Gongyixiqiao - Tiangongyuan

>>> Daxing Line Gallery

Until metro line 9 was opened, the Fangshan Line was not directly linked to the existing subway network. The line is 31 km long.

31 Dec 2010: Dabaotai - Suzhuang
31 Dec 2011: Dabaotai - Guogongzhuang (L9)
30 Dec 2017: Suzhuang - Yancun East (1 km)
31 Dec 2020: Guogongzhuang – Dongguantou (5.3 km)

18 Jan 2023: through service during rush hour on Subway Line 9 & Fangshan Line between National Library & Yancun East launched

>>> Fangshan Line Gallery

A logical extension of the Fangshan Line, but operated separately as the first metro line using domestic technology for driverless operation (operating in unattended mode since June 2021):

30 Dec 2017: Yancun East - Yanshan (13.4 km)

>>> Yanfang Line Gallery

The 23 km Yizhuang Line is a logical extension to metro line 5, but operated separately.

28 Dec 2010: Songjiazhuang - Ciqu (21.7 km)
30 Dec 2018: Ciqu - Yizhuang Railway Station (1.3 km)

>>> Yizhuang Line Gallery

Right in time for the Olympic Games 2008, the Capital Airport Express line (28.1 km) opened on 19 July 2008, linking the city centre to the International Airport northeast of Beijing. The Capital Airport Express is a fully automatic, driverless railway, which provides interchange with subway lines 2, 10 and 13. At the airport it stops at Terminal 3 and at Terminal 2 (this stop is for Terminal 1, too). A special fare is applicable for the Airport Express.

31 Dec 2021: Dongzhimen - Beixinqiao

>>> Capital Airport Express Line Gallery

Since 26 Sept 2019, the Daxing Airport Express (41.4 km) links Cao Qiao metro station on circular line 10 the city centre to the new international airport south of Beijing. To be extended north by 3.5 km to the future Lize Business District station on metro lines 14 and 16. Though initially operated manually, prepared for driverless operation.

A special fare is applicable for the Daxing Airport Express.

Elevated maglev line in the western part of Beijing, a logical extension of metro line 6 (9.8 km):

30 Dec 2017: Jin'anqiao - Shichang (9 km)
31 Dec 2021: Jin'anqiao - Pingguoyuan (0.8 km)

>>> Line S1 Gallery

"Western Suburbs Line" - Beijing's first light rail line, including 1 km tunnel:

30 Dec 2017: Bagou - Fragrant Hills (8.6 km)

>>> Xijiao Line Gallery

13.2 km tram line through the new Yizhuang district

31 Dec 2020: Dinghaiyuan - Quzhuang (11.9 km)

 Projects

There are ambitious plans to expand the subway network in the Chinese capital, which include both subways, light rail and suburban trains - for more projects click here

Beijing Subway (Official Website)

Beijing Subway at Wikipedia

Explore Beijing > Subway

Beijing Subway Map at Johomaps

Huge Beijing Metro Gallery at nycsubway.org

Beijing Subway lines on Baidu Maps

Tracking China > Beijing Subway

UrbanRail.Net > Beijing Subway Gallery

More photos

These pictures by kind permission © Allen Zagel

In January 2017, Craig Moore reports from Beijing:

As for Line 16 - The stations are very impressive. High ceilings with traditional Chinese decorative styles and colours, interesting lighting (chandeliers/wall lights etc) and all lovely and clean as you would expect from a 48 hour old line. All have island platforms and full screens and the usual platform trimmings. There is lots of staff around to guide people down the long wide connector corridor between L4/16 and to help on platforms and ticket halls, moreover, across the entire network, all station maps, ticket machines, and hand out maps are up to date with the new line, although there is no specific information on the line itself. There must have been an army of people working on this leading to the opening.

But it is also disappointing in some regards. The headhouses are pretty bland, and the new stock is quite plain (as one of the four HK MTR managed lines this basic-ness seems to be a trend!).The 8 car stock is branded with the new CRRC logo (CNR and CSR merged in 2015 but this is the first CRRC labelling Ive seen) but there really is nothing stylish or different about it, unlike some of the new stock on other lines in China – that is the ‘uniformity policy’ of the Beijing strategy influencing things. There is side seating with some banks of seats missing to allow more standing space for the planned heavy crush loads once the southern extension is completed. The interior is bright and shiny but oh so very cold – in fact there were teams of staff checking for draughts around the doors – I suppose one can expect teething problems. The journey is slow and the dwell times are ridiculously long. So good and bad in equal measure.

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