Getting Around Beijing: The Complete Transport Guide for First-Time Visitors
- Júlia Partal
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Getting around Beijing can seem complicated at first. Everything is vast, distances are deceiving, and many of the transportation and mobility apps we usually use don't work or are completely useless.
The reality, however, is that their system is perfectly organized and is surprisingly easy, efficient and cheap. In fact, I would gladly trade it for the one in any European city. Everything is centralized in an app, Alipay , which you can use to take public transport, a DIdi (carpooling taxi) or rent a bike by the minute!
In this post I explain what the best options are for getting around by public transport, and everything I would have liked to know before arriving so you can enjoy the city without complications from the moment you land!
Table of contents
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📲 An app to do almost everything
The most important thing to know is that to get around Beijing (or any city in China) you will need the Alipay app installed and set up. It is strongly recommended to do this before you travel, as you will need to verify your phone number via SMS. This way, everything will already be ready to use when you arrive in China, making your experience much smoother from day one.
With this app you can:
Pay for the metro
Pay for the bus
Book and pay for DiDi rides
Unlock shared bikes
To pay for transport, simply open the “Transport” section in the app and scan the QR code at the station or inside the vehicle. The payment is automatically charged to your linked card.
You can read a more detailed step-by-step guide here.
🚇Metro: the best option for getting around Beijing
The subway is by far the most efficient way for getting around Beijing. It is fast, reliable, and covers almost every major area, making it my preferred transport option. One thing that makes the Beijing subway easier to use than you might expect is that most station names are written in both Chinese characters and pinyin (Romanized Chinese), which makes navigation much simpler for international travellers. Over the years, the system has become increasingly tourist-friendly, with English signage, maps, and announcements on most lines.
Advantages:
Fast, comfortable and very affordable
Extensive network covering the entire city
Ideal for getting to and from the airport (Airport Express)
Prices:
Fares are calculated based on distance with a minimum fare of 3 yuan.
No need to buy physical tickets. You can pay by scanning the Alipay transportation QR code .
Opening hours:
Daily service until around 23:00 (includingweekends and holidays)
Things to keep in mind:
Stations can be far apart, especially in less central areas
Transfers between lines can take a long time
Some stations require a lot of walking inside (far more than you might expect in Europe)
🚌 Bus: the cheapest option
Buses in Beijing are a useful option for shorter distances or when you don’t feel like walking too far to reach a subway station.
Moreover, I like to take buses because they offer a great way to see everyday life in the city from a different perspective. Unlike the subway, travelling by bus lets you observe Beijing’s streets, neighbourhoods, and local atmosphere as you move through the city, passing areas that you would otherwise never see.
Advantages:
Very economical and with good frequency
Allows you to observe the city landscape
Ideal for short distances
Price
Flat rate of 2 yuan (~€0.25)
Pay with Alipay (scanning when boarding and disembarking)
Schedule
Until 23:00 (also weekends and holidays), with the exception of night buses (which I must confess I have never used, at night it is too tempting to take a Didi...)
🚖 Didi: your new best friend
In many countries, taking a taxi is seen as a luxury because of the high prices. In China, however, things are quite different. Apps like Didi make ride-hailing affordable and convenient. In fact, if you are travelling with a group, it can sometimes even be cheaper per person than using public transport.
Advantages
Safe and reliable
Fixed and transparent price
Very economical (especially if you are a group, but if you are just one person it can also be cost effective sometimes)
Price
Short journeys from 10-15 yuan (~1.50-2 €)
May vary depending on distance and demand
🚲 HelloBike: Alipay's shared bicycle
HelloBike is the shared bike system integrated into Alipay. It’s a fun and easy way to get around short distances, especially when you want to avoid walking or reaching places that are slightly too far from a metro station.
It’s also a great way to experience the city at a slower pace and feel a bit more like a local while riding through Beijing’s streets.
Advantages
Flexible, you can pick them up and drop them off wherever you want without fixed stations
Very cheap
Ideal for a flat city like Beijing
You can see the scenery and stop wherever you want!
Prices
They are metered by time of use, with a very low minimum fee (around 1–2 yuan for the first 30 minutes).
There is no registration fee, nor is there any need to purchase any type of subscription or pay a deposit!
How does it work?
Open the HelloBike miniapp in Alipay (you will need to have your bank card linked to it)
Scan the QR code, unlock the bike and start pedaling!
🗺️ Navigation apps
Google Maps does not work properly in China, so you will need alternative navigation apps to move around the city.
Best alternative:
⭐ Amap (also known as Gaode Maps) is the most reliable navigation app in China and it is available in English.
Advantages:
Very accurate
Integration with Didi
Reliable time/price comparison for all available transports
Other options:
Apple Maps
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