Urban rail in Beijing

     Beijing has an extensive public transportation network. Subway and City Rail with high speed trains running at intervals of 3 to 5 minutes are the fastest public transportation in the city. There are more than 60 thousand taxis in the city. Public buses are the cheapest means of transportation which cover the entire city.

     The starting fare of public buses is 1 yuan in the city and 2 yuan in the suburb areas. It is also a good idea to buy a Public Transportation Card which charges a starting fare of 40 cents per trip. You need to pay a deposit of 20 yuan and prepay a certain amount to use the Public Transportation Card just like any Beijing citizen. When you leave Beijing, just return the Card at any card sale counter and the deposit will be refunded to you. The Public Transportation Card can also be used in Subway and City Rails but no discount on the ticket fares will be given.

     Beijing Subway fares vary on different lines. Single trip on Line Batong is 2 yuan, single trip on Line 1, Line 2 and City Rail Line 13 is 2 yuan, the transfer set ticket between Line 13 and any city line is 2 yuan, and the transfer set ticket between Line Batong and any city line is 2 yuan.

Public bus
     Nowadays in Beijing, fixed price at RMB 1 is charged for a public bus numbered within 200, Transportation Cards are also accepted. Buses numbered between 300 and 599 charge by distance, i.e. RMB 1 for a ride within 12 (including 12) kilometers, and RMB 0.5 is accumulated for every additional 5 kilometers.

     Please make it clear that some buses have ※Partial Route§, ※Branch§ or ※Extend§ after their numbers.

     Visit this website for public transportation and transfer information:www.bjbus.com

Time Card

     There are three types of Time Cards: 3-Day Card valued RMB 10 which can be used for 18 times within 3 days; 7-Day Card valued RMB 20 which can be used for 42 times within 7 days and; 15-Day Card valued RMB 40 which can be used for 90 times within 15 days. Applicant should pay a RMB 20 deposit while buying a Card. When returning a Card, only deposit is refunded, neither the left times nor cash is returnable. A Time Card has no photograph and is not limited to the applicant. A Time Card is only valid for ordinary buses. Duration of the Card starts from the moment of buying, and the first day ends at 23:59 of the same day.

Subway
     Currently, there are 5 lines of subway including Line 1, Line 2, Line 5, Line 13, and Batong Line. Ticket Price: RMB 2 yuan. The transfer between each two lines is free of charge.

     It is also planed that by 2008 the Olympic Games, Line 10 Part I and Airport line will be built; by the end of 2012 Line 10 Part II, Line 4, 6, 8, 9, Yizhuang Line, Daxing Line and Shunyi Line, a total distance of 407 km, shall be finished; by the end of 2015, another 5 lines including Line 7, 14, Datai Line, Changping Line, and Fangshan Line, a total distance of 561km, shall be finished too.

Beijing subway plan 2008

     The entrance to a subway station is a grey, square concrete building with a lamp box on the top as symbol. The ticket offices are in both ends of the platform. Usually there are more than one entrances (exits) to a station marked with A, B, C or D. Please read the instructions before you leave the station to save time.

     Running hours: first train (xx), last train (xx)

     Most of the stations along subway Line 2 are major tourist destinations or transportation hubs:

     Qianmen Station---Tian＊anmen Square, Qianmen, Dashilan, Laoshe Tea House. The largest tourist bus terminal locates in the northeast corner. A taxi ride from here costs you RMB 10 to Liulichang, the Temple of Heaven or Wangfujing.

     Jianguomen Station每the Ancient Observatory, Silk Market, Yabaolu Market

     Xizhimen Station每a major transportation hub to Peking University, the Summer Palace and the Fragrant Hill

     Yonghegong Station每the Lama Temple, Guozijian, Confucius Temple, the Temple of Earth

     Dongzhimen Station每coach station for tours to Miyun and Huairou counties, Chengde and Tianjin cities as well as the Great Wall (Gubeikou, Jinshanling and Simatai sections); it is also a port to Beijing Capital Airport.

     Beijing Railway Station每for taking a train

     Fuxingmen Station每the interchange station between Line 1 and Line 2; following the instructions you may transfer to another subway line within the station on foot.

Line 1 ﹜Line 2 and Line 13 (Subway Map)

Guide of taking a subway

     -- Find the subway station

     Beijing subway station is marked with a blue sign above the entrance, usually with the name of the station at the entrance. Get in the station from the entrance like this.

     -- Buy a ticket

     When you get in the station, follow the sign to buy a ticket at the ticket window, and then check in.

     -- Wait for the train

     Usually, there are two ways of trains heading for the opposite directions, so you must follow the sign and choose the right side to wait for your train. In some stations, you can get the waiting time information from the screens there.

     -- Take the train

     While taking the subway, you can enjoy some TV programs on the screen, and get the arriving station reminder from it too.

     -- Make a transfer

     The signs of transfer in Beijing Subway are very clear. If you need a transfer, just follow the signs.

     -- Get out of the station

     After you get out of the train, you shall take a look at the sign on exit information. Usually, there are four exits in one station, each leads to a different direction. Find the direction of your destination, and choose the right exit to get out of the station.

Taxi
     The most common taxi cars in Beijing are Hyundai ELANTRA and Citroen FUKANG. ELANTRA cars are new cars and usually green, red, blue and purple on yellow background. Each taxi in Beijing has a sign upon the roof reads TAXI and a red one sign can be seen in the middle of the front window when it is ready to serve you. Passengers had better to hair hail a car in at the taxi stops. All taxis have price labels on both side windows near the back seats. The rent starts from RMB 10; however the meter runs after 4 kilometers and charges you RMB 2 per kilometer. If your ride between 23:00 and 5:00, the meter automatically charges you extra 20%. Furthermore, toll fee and parking fee go to the passenger, and charge for return ride occurs in case of a ride over 15 kilometers. You are entitled to make the taxi driver use the meter, and never forget to ask for an invoice with the plate number and the company of the car as well as its telephone number for complaint, through which you may find the car in case that you have lost your valuables in it or been soaked, or complain to administrative authorities.