Beijing Metro: the scheme, photo, schedule of the Beijing Metro

The Beijing Metro is a relatively young mode of transport. Not only residents of the capital use it, but also guests of the city. Today, the metro is an inexpensive form of transport, so it is very popular.

General Metro Data

The metro in Beijing appeared quite late - in 1969, and this was the first metro in China. At this time, subways were already built in London, Moscow, Tokyo and other major cities. The need for a subway in Beijing at that time was huge, but the construction was originally carried out for other purposes. The table below shows a series of metro data.

The construction was carried out with the help of specialists from Moscow and was not originally intended for the civilian population. From the opening of the first station in 1969 until 1976, only the military was allowed to operate the Beijing metro.

Today, the stations serve both the city center and the suburbs of Beijing.

How Beijing subway works

The schedule of the Beijing metro is quite simple and similar to the schedules of the subways of other cities in Asia. Work begins very early, at 5 in the morning. At this time, the stations open and the movement of trains along the branches begins. Each branch has its own adjusted schedule. It is quite accurate, and this is what the Beijing metro is famous for. Opening hours are generally defined as follows: from 05:00 to 00:00, but trains of some lines can end their work at 22:00 and at 23:00, you need to carefully monitor the schedule.

Beijing subway stations

The Beijing Metro has 319 platforms on 18 lines. All stations in the system according to the laying method are divided into two types:

• aboveground;
• underground shallow.

There are no stages laid deep in Beijing. Underground stations constructed at the very beginning of the construction of the metro are decorated with columns. The pathos, modern ones, as a rule, are simpler; they are equipped with partitions separating the apron and rail according to the security system. These protections are made as standard, they are glass, the doors open after the driver gives a specific command. Beijing metro safety system is top notch.

Very often tourists are told that the subway of the capital of China is an overloaded transport, where it is dirty and you can die in a crush. This is not so, because even stubborn statistics indicate that the Moscow metro carries much more passengers during peak hours.

Conditions for those who descended into the subway

Entrance to the subway is through standard escalators. The access system is electronic contactless. Also at the entrance is checking passengers' baggage. The exit is by ticket, it is here that the fare is read. On the platform, special lines indicate where the doors will open when the train stops. In the subway, police and vigilantes are on duty, ensuring order.

Inside the cars it’s light, there are places for seating. Air conditioners work here, which save in the heat. By the way, many stations have free toilets, which is very important for long trips.

The transfer system is very similar to the Moscow metro. In order to get to another branch, you need to go on foot to another platform. It may be above or below this level. There are few escalators in the metro; if you have a long trip, you need to be patient.

All stations have traditional names for the country. The phrase "Beijing Dithie" means in Chinese "Beijing Metro." The line diagram hangs at the entrance to the subway and in cars. You need to navigate by the fact that they have electronic indicators. All lines are numbered, and it’s easier to remember the branch number than its name. You need to navigate to the end station. Remembering its name, it will be easier to understand on the platform which way to go.

On most platforms, you need to navigate on the screens located on top. It is quite convenient. There is also a need to remember the name of the output. It will be easier if the passenger reappears at this station. The outputs are indicated in Latin capital letters and numbers.

If a passenger purchases a reusable card for traveling by subway, he can also use this system to pay for bus fares in Beijing and goods in some stores.

Fare

The fare for the Beijing metro depends on the distance traveled by the passenger. This practice was introduced recently. The minimum fare today is 3 yuan. The exception is the line that connects the airport and the city. Here the trip will cost 25 yuan, and this price is fixed, regardless of distance.

A child shorter than 1.2 meters is entitled to free travel. Of course, an adult must accompany him. To get on the subway, you need to purchase a plastic card at the station kiosk. Its value is 20 yuan. This money is a security, when you return the card they will be returned. It is replenished either upon purchase or through special machines.

Ticket offices are also involved in transferring money to cards. If you are not planning several trips in the subway, then at the station you just need to purchase a one-time card.

In general, the Beijing Metro is very convenient. Despite the fact that not all tourists and guests of the capital understand Chinese, it is difficult to get lost or not understand something. The lines are numbered, everywhere there are maps and stands. One minus - the Chinese like to push around. This is a national trait.

The fare today is one of the lowest in the world. All this was done in order to reduce the number of passengers on land transport and clean the catastrophically dirty air of the city.

The price is calculated as follows:

• up to 6 kilometers - 3 yuan;
• from 6 to 12 kilometers - 4 yuan;
• from 12 to 22 kilometers - 5 yuan;
• from 22 to 32 kilometers - 6 yuan;
• when traveling further than 32 kilometers, you will need to pay 2 yuan for every 20 km.

Beijing subway lines

The scheme of the Beijing metro has eighteen branches. They are all numbered, and part of the new lines (there are three in total) have a letter name. Metro expansion will continue in the future. Until 2021, it is planned to open several branches and bring their total length to 1050 kilometers.

The convenience of Beijing metro is undeniable, as it allows you to get to any part of the city. Basically, all subway lines are elongated. Line number 2 and line number 10 are two circular branches, they are indicated on the diagrams in blue and blue.

The Beijing metro scheme in Russian is a rare thing, and it is not widely available, but this does not mean that it will be difficult for Russian-speaking citizens to navigate in the subway. The digital and letter designation is very convenient and accessible to everyone.

Historical facts

The subway of any large city has its own interesting history. This also applies to such a form of transport as the Beijing Metro.

The main fact is that its development was not originally planned in Beijing. In addition to the fact that its construction began quite late, the metro did not receive development. After the opening of the first branch, the second roundabout was built in 1971. And then until 1999, the metro did not expand at all.

The start to the development of the subway was the election of Beijing as the capital of the 2008 Summer Olympics. In the period from 2001 to 2008, five stations were built and three more were laid. China's economic development has also given impetus to metro development. This type of transport began to expand not only in the capital, but also in other large cities. So, in 2012, the Beijing subway became the largest in the world, but only for a while, and in 2013 it already gave way to the Shanghai subway.

During the construction, designers worked. Each metro line is designed in a single style. This applies even to the color of the seats in the car.

Step-by-step instructions for traveling by subway in Beijing

1. Initially you need to purchase a ticket. To do this, you can buy a reusable card or a one-time receipt. You need to contact the cashier or make a purchase through a machine that accepts bills of 5 or 10 yuan, as well as coins of 1 yuan. To buy a ticket, you need to select the line and station to which the passenger will reach. The fare will cost at least 3 yuan, the system will calculate the length of the path and give out the cost. Do not buy a ticket a few days in advance. Its validity is limited to days.
2. The turnstile at the entrance works non-contact. You just need to attach a ticket to it.
3. Now you need to go to the station. Sometimes you can get to another platform, which is located in the direction of travel.
4. Having reached the desired station, they are sent to the exit. The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip. Now you need to pass the receipt through the turnstile at the exit.

Convenience and cons of Beijing subway

In fact, the convenience of the metro depends on how long it was built, whether this or that experience of other cities was used. The underground of the capital of China can be called one of the most comfortable in the world. It is easy to navigate and there is nothing superfluous.

Even the most capricious tourists praise the Beijing subway. The photos posted on the Web indicate that the subway is quite clean, bright and comfortable.

Among the minuses can be called congestion lines located in the center. This is due to the fact that the population of the city has increased significantly, while the central stations were laid first. The transitions to them are very narrow, which creates additional inconvenience.

In addition, speaking of the minuses, it is impossible not to note the love of the inhabitants of the city to bump into. Even if it is not an overloaded station, you will still be pushed. You just need to get used to it and do not blame anyone.

Metro Advertising

There is not much advertising in the subway, but it is special. As a rule, it is focused on high technology and very often pops up in an interactive form. So, you can see ads on glass partitions near the platform or when the train moves in the tunnel.

At the same time, the metro is not overloaded with stands and signs, which creates a certain atmosphere of lightness.

Metro 2

The diameter of the Beijing subway lines indicates that a military subway exists in Beijing. In principle, this fact is not hidden. In the capital of China, there are three military stations closed to passengers:

• Fushoulin;
• Hashitow;
• "Gaojin / Takai."

All three were built before 1970, it is impossible to enter them today. They are connected with the railway and bunkers.

Metro stations and sights of the city

Many tourists are interested in how to get to the main attractions by metro. Let us describe in more detail the main routes.

• Beijing Zoo. This is a great place, located near the North Station. You can get to it by going out at Beijing Zoo Station, line No. 4.
• Tiananmen Square, Gugong Museum, Museum of the Revolution and History of China, the Forbidden City palace complex - all these and other attractions are located in the heart of the capital. You can get to them by going to Tian'anmen east or Tian'anmen west station of line No. 1.
• Temple of Heaven is another Beijing attraction to visit. To get on the subway, you should go to the Tiantan Dongmen station of line No. 5 exit A1.
• The summer imperial palace also deserves attention. You can get to one of two subway stations: Xiyuan or Beigongmen line number 4.

This is the metro of the capital of China. It is large, quite comfortable and indispensable when the city is in traffic jams. Using it is quite easy, and the fare is available to everyone.