Overview

🗺️ Area: Beijing Old Town within the Second Ring Road (Dongcheng District, Xicheng District) - This area retains the imperial city layout of over 600 years, and was an important part of the Forbidden City during the Ming and Qing dynasties
🚇 Main Transportation: Subway, Bus, Taxi
💳 Payment Methods: Beijing Transportation Card, Mobile Payment, Cash (Foreign tourists are advised to carry cash)
⏰ Peak Hours: Weekdays 7:00-9:00, 17:00-19:00
☎️ Transport Inquiry: 12328 (English service available)
🆘 Emergency Assistance: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance)
🌐 Convenience Service: English consultation available at major hotel front desks

Transportation Card Options

Beijing Transportation Card

• 💳 Purchase Locations : Subway stations, bus stops, convenience stores
• 💰 Cost : Card fee 20 RMB (refundable) + recharge amount
• 🎫 Discount Policy : 40% off on subway, 50% off on buses
• 📱 Special Tip : Can be linked with mobile NFC function

Subway Travel

Core Lines

• 🚇 Line 2 : Circular line connecting the Forbidden City, Qianmen and other imperial city attractions, offering a taste of old Beijing
• 🚇 Line 1 : Passing through Tiananmen and Wangfujing, key commercial areas
• 🚇 Line 5 : Connecting Nanluoguxiang, Beihai Park and other traditional cultural districts
• 🚇 Line 6 : Traversing through Nanxincang, White Pagoda Temple and other historical areas

Operating Hours

• 🕐 First Train: Around 5:00 AM
• 🕙 Last Train: Around 10:30 PM
• ⚠️ Arrive at the platform 15 minutes early

Bus Travel

Special Routes

• 🚌 Sightseeing Routes : Tours of the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven with multilingual commentary on buses
• 🚌 Hutong Routes : Minibuses weaving through courtyards, experiencing the life of old Beijing
• 🚌 Night Routes : Reliable choices for exploring Shichahai bar street and Drum Tower night market late at night

Taxi Usage

Ways to Hire

• 📱 Ridesharing : Didi Chuxing, Shouqi Limousine & Chauffeur
• 🚕 Traditional Taxis : Hail on the street, phone reservations
• 💰 Pricing Standard : Starting fare 13 RMB/3 kilometers

Walking and Shared Bikes

Recommended Walking Areas

• 🏃‍♂️ Nanluoguxiang : Essence of 800-year-old hutong culture, where you can see old Beijing courtyard buildings, hear stories from locals, and enjoy authentic Beijing snacks and cultural markets
• 🏃‍♂️ Shichahai : Royal garden dating back to the Yuan dynasty, blending water gardens with hutong culture
• 🏃‍♂️ Wangfujing : A 600-year-old commercial street gathering traditional brands and modern businesses

Practical Tips

Avoiding Peak Times

• ⏰ Travel off-peak: Leave after 9 AM in the morning rush, enjoy dinner at attractions during evening rush
• 📱 Check congestion: Use Gaode Map, bypass red sections or switch to subway
• 🗺️ Alternative Routes: Prepare multiple travel options like bus and subway, switch flexibly in case of traffic

Safety Tips

• 🚶‍♂️ Follow traffic rules, pay attention to traffic lights
• 📱 Keep personal belongings safe, be wary of pickpockets
• 🎫 Keep transportation cards safe to avoid loss
• ⚡ Be cautious during rain or snow, choose safe routes

Special Suggestions

• 💡 Offline Map Preparation: Download offline maps in advance since Google Maps may not work properly in mainland China. Recommended to use Gaode Map international version or Apple Maps
• 📍 Payment Advice: Main attractions accept Visa/MasterCard, but small vendors often use Alipay/WeChat Pay. Prepare enough cash, or activate Alipay international version upon arrival
• 🈺 Store convenience hotlines: 96166 (multilingual service available)
• 🗣️ Prepare transportation cards with common Chinese-English phrases
• 🌐 Recommended translation apps: Google Translate or Baidu Translate