Beijing is a traditional yet fashionable, stately yet energetic city, where ancient history meets modern times. Such a charming city attracts visitors from all around the world. Tiananmen (天安门), the Forbidden City (故宫), the Great Wall (长城), the Beijing hutongs (胡同), the Bird’s Nest (鸟巢), the Water Cube (水立方), Peking University and Tsinghua University are all well-known both at home and abroad. They are the face of Beijing. In order to help you to visit all these classic attractions when your time is limited, please find below some wonderful tips for traveling around Beijing quickly and economically by subway.

When planning a tour of the city, it’s a good idea to first choose and list all your desired destinations. Then, consult a map and research the experiences of those who have come before you to create your personalized tour path according to your own wants and needs. As the capital city of China and an internationally renowned tourist destination, Beijing possesses a convenient transportation system. Here are several of the subway lines which can help you travel conveniently around Beijing.

Route 1: Chairman Mao Memorial Hall → Tiananmen Square→ Xinhuamen → the Tiananmen Tower → the Forbidden City → Jingshan Park

The Forbidden City This line is located on a straight axle line. You can enjoy yourself while exploring Beijing without taking any vehicles. Xinhuamen (新华门) is a littlefar from the main line, when you walking across Tiananmen Square and get to the Tiananmen Tower. Instead of going across the bridge to enter the tower, stand opposite the tower and walk for 3 to 5 minutes to reach Xinhuamen (新华门). After that, you can go back to the Tiananmen Tower. While in the area, you can also visit the Great Wall of the People and the National Museum on both sides of Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) if you have the time and would like to.