Beijing Transportation Guide

Beijing has an extensive transportation network including subway lines, city buses, taxis, ride-hailing services, airport express services, and railway connections. For international visitors, travelling around Beijing has become increasingly convenient, with overseas bank cards, international-friendly mobile apps, and multilingual visitor services now widely available.

The following guide introduces some of the easiest options for international conference participants travelling in Beijing.

Tap Your Overseas Bank Card to Ride the Subway Easy Option

One of the easiest ways for international visitors to use the Beijing Subway is to simply tap a supported contactless bank card directly at the fare gate.

Beijing's urban rail transit network supports contactless payments from five major card networks: China UnionPay, Mastercard, Visa, JCB, and American Express. Eligible cards can be used directly at subway fare gates without purchasing a separate ticket or downloading a transport app in advance.

DiDi Ride-Hailing Recommended

DiDi China is one of the most convenient ways to request a car in Beijing, especially when travelling with luggage, returning late at night, or travelling directly between the airport, railway station, hotel, and conference venue.

The China version supports an English interface, registration with international mobile phone numbers, bilingual communication between passengers and drivers, and multiple payment methods including supported international bank cards.

How to Use DiDi

1. Download DiDi China: Ride Hailing.
2. Register using your mobile phone number.
3. Allow location access so the app can identify your pickup point.
4. Enter your destination in English or Chinese.
5. Select your preferred vehicle type and confirm the ride.
6. Check the vehicle registration number before entering the car.

GO BEIJING For International Visitors

GO BEIJING (入京通 GO BEIJING) is a one-stop service platform developed specifically for overseas visitors travelling in Beijing.

It brings together frequently used visitor services including ride-hailing, attraction ticket purchasing, hotel booking, payments, tourism information, shopping, and other local services. The platform currently integrates 39 services and supports 16 languages.

Public Transportation in Beijing

Beijing's public transportation network is extensive and well developed. The subway is generally the fastest and most convenient option for travelling across the city, particularly during busy traffic periods. Most subway stations provide Chinese-English signage.

• Subway: Recommended for travelling across Beijing and avoiding road traffic.
• Bus: Useful for local journeys and destinations not directly served by subway lines.
• DiDi / Taxi: Convenient for direct journeys, luggage, groups, or late-night travel.
• Airport Rail Services: Useful for travelling between Beijing's airports and the urban rail network.

BEIJING PASS – Optional Physical Transport Card

International visitors who prefer a dedicated physical transportation card may also use the BEIJING PASS.

However, a BEIJING PASS is not necessary if your overseas contactless bank card works directly at Beijing Subway fare gates.

The BEIJING PASS can be useful for visitors whose bank cards do not support direct contactless subway payments, or for those who prefer to use a prepaid physical card during their stay.

1. Prepare your passport or other accepted identification.
2. Purchase a BEIJING PASS from a designated service counter or supported self-service location.
3. Add a suitable balance to the card.
4. Tap the card when entering and exiting the subway.

Using Amap / Gaode Maps

Amap, also known as Gaode Maps / 高德地图, is widely used in China for navigation and public transportation planning.

It can be used to compare subway, bus, walking, driving, and taxi routes and is particularly useful for checking real-time travel conditions in Beijing.

1. Open Amap and search for your destination.
2. English names may work, but copying the Chinese destination name or address usually improves search accuracy.
3. Select the route or navigation option.
4. Choose subway, bus, walking, driving, or taxi.
5. Check station names, transfer stations, exit numbers, estimated travel time, and walking directions.

Conference Venue Navigation

The conference will be held at Excemon Beijing Nanyueyuan Hotel. When using DiDi, Amap, or another navigation service, you may search using either the English name or the Chinese name below.

Practical Travel Tips

• Try a supported contactless overseas bank card at the subway gate first. If it works, there is no need to top up a separate transport card.
• Install DiDi and Alipay before travelling whenever possible.
• Make sure you download the China version of DiDi rather than a DiDi app intended for another country or region.
• Save the Chinese name and address of your hotel and conference venue.
• Use the subway during busy traffic periods whenever practical.
• Use DiDi when travelling with luggage or when direct transportation is more convenient.
• GO BEIJING can be useful if you prefer a single multilingual platform for several visitor services.
• Keep an alternative payment method available in case one bank card or mobile payment method does not work.
• Check the final subway operating time when returning late at night.