There are four main stations in Beijing: Beijing, Beijing West, Beijing South, and Beijing North stations.
Beijing Railway Station is located in the middle of Beijing, close to Tian’anmen Square.
Beijing Railway Station
It was first built during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Nowadays, it has become important for its trains between Shanghai, Harbin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. Most trains running to northeast and north China depart from this station.
What’s more, Beijing Railway Station serves international trains to Moscow, Mongolia, and Pyongyang.
- Name in Chinese: 北京站, Běijīng Zhàn
- Address: 13 Hutongjia, Maojiawan, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Address in Chinese: 北京市东城区毛家湾胡同甲13号
- Station Size: 14 platforms, 16 lines
- Nearby transportation: subway, bus, taxi
Popular Trains to Other Cities
Domestic Trains
- To Shanghai Railway Station: There are only two normal-speed trains and one high-speed train available. The high-speed train takes about 12 hours and costs 750 yuan for a soft-sleeper ticket.
- To Harbin/Harbin West Railway Station: There are four high-speed trains available. The journey takes about 8 hours and costs 313.5 yuan for a second-class ticket.
- To Dalian/Dalian North Railway Station: There are four high-speed trains available. The journey takes about 6 hours and costs 261 yuan for a second-class ticket.
- To Shenyang/Shenyang North Railway Station: There are 17 high-speed trains available. The journey takes about 5–6 hours and costs 206 yuan for a second- class ticket.
- To Datong Railway Station: There are 11 normal-speed trains available. The journey takes about 6 hours and costs between 93.5–99.5 yuan for a hard-sleeper ticket.
Search all the train schedules in China on China Train Booking app ( IOS, GooglePlay, Android APK )).
International Trains
- Beijing to Ulaanbaatar: K23, departs every Saturday
- Beijing to Ulaanbaatar and Moscow: K3, departs every Wednesday
- Beijing to Moscow: K19, departs every Saturday
- Beijing to Pyongyang: K27, departs every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
The Layout of Beijing Railway Station
Station Square (North Square)
The station square of Beijing Railway Station
Before entering the station, you need to collect your ticket(s) and queue up to have your ticket(s) checked in the station square.
To collect ticket(s), please find the independent ticket hall located on the right-hand side (west) of the main building.
Main Building
Beijing Railway Station uses a vertical layout separating the whole station into two main parts: the main halls and the platform area.
- Floor 2: station entrances, left baggage service (electronic lockers), waiting areas, platforms, baby care room, inquiry desk, commercial dining area (KFC, McDonald’s, Starbucks, etc)
- Floor 1: ticket windows, arrivals and departures
- The underground area: Metro Line 2
Collecting Tickets and Boarding Trains at Beijing Railway Station
- Collect your ticket(s) at the independent ticket building (on the west).
- Present your ticket and passport to pass through the ticket check and security check.
- Find the right waiting room.
You can find your waiting room number on your ticket or find it on the LED screen at the station.
See how to read a Chinese train ticket at How to Read a Chinese Train Ticket. Find detailed steps for boarding trains at How to Board Trains in China.
Baggage Porters in Beijing Railway Station
You will walk through a passage to enter the waiting area of Beijing Railway Station. Usually you will see porters waiting around the passage, wearing red caps or waistcoats. If not, you can simply ask the station clerks where the porters are.
Language helper:
“你好，请问行李搬运服务人员在哪?”
“Excuse me, could you please tell me where I can find the baggage porters?”
Baggage Consignment and Left Baggage Service
- Baggage consignment: There is a “中铁快运 (China Railway Express)” at the east of the station square. There are two ways of consigning baggage: normal delivery or delivery along with your train. You just need to fill in the table and hand in your baggage to the staff.
- Left Baggage Service: There are two places for storing baggage. One is the “Electronic Baggage Lockers” inside the station, and the other is a manual service in the station square.
Learn all about baggage at China Railway by reading Baggage Rules of China Rail.
Transportation Around Beijing Railway Station
Subway
Available subway line: Metro Line 2
The subway station entrance is in the station square of Beijing Railway Station, and there are many signs guiding you to the entrance.
Buses
Beijing has a well-developed bus system, basically you can get anywhere by taking a bus.
There are seven bus stations around Beijing Railway Station: Beijing Railway Station Bus Station, Beijing Railway Station East Bus Station (北京站东公交场站), Beijing Railway Station East (北京站东), Beijing Railway Station Front Street (北京站前街), Beijing Railway Station West (北京站西), Beijing Railway Station North Entrance (北京站口北), and Beijing Railway Station East Entrance (北京站口东).
Getting to Other Places from Beijing Railway Station
To Beijing South Railway Station, 12.4 Kilometers
- By subway: 1. Walk to the station square in Beijing Railway Station to reach the subway station.
- By taxi: The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs about 35 yuan.
2. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Xuanwumen Station (宣武门).
3. Transfer to Metro Line 4 and get off at Beijing South (Nan) Railway Station.
To Beijing West Railway Station, 13 Kilometers
- By subway + bus: 1. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Changchun Street (长椿街).
- By taxi (recommended): The journey takes about 35 minutes and costs about 40 yuan.
2. Leave the subway station from Exit A1 (northwest).
3. Walk about 170 meters to take bus no. 13 at Changchun Street West Bus Station (长椿街路口西站).
4. Get off the bus at Beijing West Railway Station.
To Beijing Capital International Airport, 29 Kilometers
- By airport express: 1. Find airport express station in the station square of Beijing Railway Station.
- By subway + airport express (faster): 1. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Dongzhimen Station (东直门).
- By taxi: The journey takes about 45 minutes and costs about 90 yuan.
2. Take the express to the airport.
The whole journey may take over 80 minutes.
2. Find the airport express station near Dongzhimen Subway Station and take an express to the airport.
The whole journey takes about 50 minutes.
To Sanlitun (三里屯), Chao Yang District (朝阳区), 8 Kilometers
Sanlitun is in the most bustling district of Beijing, Chaoyang District. It is famous for its bar street, Tai Koo Li Sanlitun Shopping Mall, and Embassy Area.
Sanlitun
- By subway + bus: 1. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Dong Si Shi Tiao Station (东四十条站).
- By taxi: The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs about 25 yuan.
2. Leave the station from Exit C (southeast).
3. Walk to bus no. 431 at Dong Si Shi Tiao East Bridge Station (东四十条桥东).
4. Get off at Sanlitun.
The whole journey takes about 40 minutes.
To Beijing Central Business District, Chao Yang District, 6.7 Kilometers
Beijing Central Business District is also called Beijing CBD. It is located at the intersection of Chang’an Street, Jianguo Gate (建国门), and the International Trade Center.
- By subway: 1. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Jianguomen Station (建国门).
- By taxi: The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs about 25 yuan.
2. Transfer to Metro Line 1 and get off at Dawang Road Station (大望路站).
3. Leave the subway station from Exit A (northeast).
The whole journey takes about 30 minutes.
To Wangfujing Street (王府井大街), Dong Cheng District (东城区), 2.2 Kilometers
Cheap crafts sold in Wangfujing Street
From East Chang’an Street in the south to the National Art Museum in the north, the overall length of Wangfujing Street is about 1,600 meters. This is the most famous commercial street in Beijing selling Chinese crafts and street food.
- By subway: 1. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Jianguomen Station (建国门).
- By taxi (recommended): The journey takes about 13 minutes and costs about 15 yuan.
2. Transfer to Metro Line 1 and get off at Wangfujing Station.
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