Metered fares are used for the rail transit in Beijing Municipality (excluding the Capital Airport Express and Daxing Airport Express). The pricing is as follows: CNY 3 for trips of 0–6 kilometers; CNY 4 for trips of 6–12 kilometers; CNY 5 for trips of 12–22 kilometers; and CNY 6 for trips of 22–32 kilometers. For traveling distances exceeding 32 kilometers, CNY 1 will be added for every 20 kilometers. There is no ceiling for the fare. Passengers are allowed to stay in the non-free areas for no more than 4 hours in each trip.

Rail transit periodical commuter tickets in Beijing Municipality are electronic tickets. The price of a one-day pass is CNY 20, a two-day pass is CNY 30, a three-day pass is CNY 40, a five-day pass is CNY 70 and a seven-day pass is CNY 90. Each periodical commuter ticket can be used by only one person for unlimited times within a designated period. The holder can travel with no limitations on the staying time or traveling distance.

How to buy a ticket and top up the card

Buying a ticket or topping up the card at a subway station:

Single-trip tickets are sold at the ticket vending machines and ticketing counters. Ticket vending machines accept CNY 1 coins, and CNY 5 and CNY 10 banknotes. Please use the ticket vending machines according to the instructions. Passengers can purchase and top up the "Yikatong" (Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card) at a ticketing counter or top up the card at an automatic top-up machine at the subway station. The automatic top-up machines accept CNY 10, 20, 50, and 100 banknotes or electronic payments. Please use the automatic top-up machines according to the instructions.

Buying a ticket or topping up the card outside a subway station:

(I) Passengers can buy a single-trip ticket via the app "Yitongxing" or any third-party app that sells subway tickets and pick it up at a self-service ticket machine at a subway station.

(II) Passengers can buy an electronic single-trip ticket online at a third-party app that sells subway tickets. Passengers can receive and check the information of the ticket bought at the third-party app after the payment is completed.

(III) Passengers can purchase periodical commuter tickets on the app "Yitongxing".

(IV) Passengers can top up their cards according to the instructions provided by the "Yikatong" app.

How to use the ticket

Single-trip ticket:

Each ticket is valid for one person and one trip. The trip shall start and end on the current day and begin from the subway station where the ticket was purchased or reissued.

Passengers shall swipe the ticket over the induction area of the turnstile. After the information on the ticket is read and verified, the turnstile will open and allow the passenger to enter. Passengers shall insert their tickets into the turnstile when finishing their trips. After the ticket is collected, the turnstile will open and allow the passenger to exit.

Electronic single-trip ticket:

Each ticket is valid for one person to take one trip within the validity period with one QR code. It can only be used at the station selected in the ticket purchasing process and it is only valid on the day of entering the station. Passengers with electronic tickets shall make sure that their phones are fully charged and in good condition before entering and exiting the stations. Passengers shall present the QR code of the electronic single-trip ticket in advance and place it facing the scanning area of the turnstile. After the information on the QR code is read and verified, the turnstile will open and allow the passenger to pass.

QR code of Internet ticketing app:

Each QR code is valid for one person entering and exiting the station.

Passengers shall make sure that their phones are synchronized with Beijing time, and fully charged, and that they have logged in to the account of the Internet ticketing app before entering and exiting stations. Passengers shall present the QR code of the Internet ticketing app in advance and place it facing the scanning area of the turnstile. After the information on the QR code is read and verified, the turnstile will open and allow the passenger to pass. After the passengers pass the turnstile by showing the QR code, the online ticketing app they used will automatically deduct the travel fare.

(Source: Official website of Beijing Subway)