Journey To ChinaLast updated
Five major stations sit in different parts of Beijing
Beijing Station is east of the old city, Beijing West is southwest, Beijing South lies beyond the southern Second Ring Road, Beijing North joins the Xizhimen transport hub, and Beijing Chaoyang is in the northeast. They are not walkable terminals of one central station. Tickets and maps must use the complete Chinese name.
The diagram establishes direction. The 12306 order remains the source for station, train number and departure time.
Other important stations include Beijing Fengtai and Qinghe, so even this five-station guide is not a complete list of every Beijing departure.
Beijing Station: the eastern old city
Beijing Station connects directly to Line 2. Wangfujing, Dongdan, Jianguomen and the eastern side of the Temple of Heaven are straightforward from here. The station forecourt is busy and vehicle pickup follows designated areas.
Beijing West: a large north-south complex
Lines 7 and 9 serve Beijing West. North and south squares lead to different roads and pickup areas, so use the square and zone named in the ride-hailing app. The Military Museum, China Millennium Monument and Yuyuantan Park are nearby reference points.
Beijing South: high-speed rail and two metro lines
Many trains for Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou use Beijing South. Lines 4 and 14 meet below the station, providing useful links to Xidan, the old city and the east. Vehicle pickup uses underground areas during busy periods.
Beijing North: part of the Xizhimen hub
Beijing North serves the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed route and selected suburban services, including some trains for Badaling Great Wall. Xizhimen station connects Lines 2, 4 and 13; follow signs specifically marked 北京北站 rather than relying only on an exit letter.
Beijing Chaoyang: now connected by Line 3
Beijing Chaoyang serves many high-speed trains towards Chengde and northeast China. Line 3 now reaches the station, making older advice that it has no metro connection obsolete. Chaoyang Park, Liangmaqiao, Sanlitun, Wangjing and 798 remain onward trips rather than the same neighbourhood.
Passport tickets and departure time
International passengers can book through the official 12306 site or app using a supported passport. Carry the original document used for purchase. If the automatic gate cannot read it, staff use the manual verification lane. Arrival at the building is followed by security, identity checks, finding the waiting hall and ticket inspection, so the timetable's departure time is the end of that process, not the start.
