Day 27: How to get from Beijing Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station

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London to Singapore Day 25 Moscow to Beijing 19

There are four major railway stations in Beijing, namely, Beijing, Beijing West, Beijing North and Beijing South. It is important to note which station serves your train as most trains do not stop at repeated stations in Beijing. As a general guide, the lines below are served by Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station:

Beijing Railway Stationgenerally for north-eastward journeys

  • Beijing – Shanghai Railway
  • Beijing – Harbin Railway
  • Beijing – Chengde Railway
  • Trains from Beijing to Moscow, Russia
  • Trains from Beijing to Pyongyang, North Korea

Beijing West Railway Stationgenerally for westward journeys

  • Beijing – Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong High-Speed Railway
  • Beijing – Kowloon Railway
  • Beijing – Guangzhou Railway

London to Singapore Day 25 Moscow to Beijing 29.JPG

The ticket office and entrance for the Beijing Subway can be found on the west side of the station square. The Beijing Subway operate on a uni-directional flow at this station, so even if you see other exits around, you will not be able to enter through them, even if you argue loudly with the staff (which a lot of people are doing).

London to Singapore Day 25 Moscow to Beijing 25.JPG

Get on the Beijing Subway Line 2 to either Fuxingmen or Jianguomen. As the signs may not be well-interpreted by non-Chinese readers, get on either train that comes first, and listen out for the English announcement mentioning transfers to Line 1. The Beijing Subway Line 2 is a circle line. Fuxingmen is 6 stations away from Beijing Railway Station on inner clockwise loop. Jianguomen is 1 station away from from Beijing Railway Station on outer anti-clockwise loop.

Change at Fuxingmen or Jianguomen for the Beijing Subway Line 1.

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From Fuxingmen or Jianguomen, get on Beijing Subway Line 1 in the westward direction of Pingguoyuan to Military Museum. From Fuxingmen, Military Museum is 3 stations away. From Jianguomen, Military Museum is 9 stations away.

Change at Military Museum for the Beijing Subway Line 9.

London to Singapore Day 26 Moscow to Beijing 04.JPG

From Military Museum, get on Beijing Subway Line 9 in the southward direction of Guogongzhuang. From Military Museum, Beijing West Railway Station is 1 station away.

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You will arrive at Beijing West Railway Station subway station on Beijing Subway Line 9, which is under the Beijing West Railway Station itself.

The fare for the Beijing Subway from Beijing Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station is 4 yuan (S$0.81). The travel time is around 45 minutes, inclusive of waiting for the trains and transfers.

You can also take Line 2, Line 4 and Line 7, changing at Xuanwumen and Caishikou. I did not try this newer method though, as the first train that arrived at Beijing Railway Station was on the outer anti-clockwise loop, so I got the train to Jianguomen.

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Alternatively, you can get on the direct bus from Beijing Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station (北京站-北京西站接驳车). This is not so easily found though, as the bus stand is on the eastern side, outside of the station square at Beijing Railway Station. This costs 10 yuan (S$2.02),  with a similar travel time of around 45 minutes, but is subject to traffic jams along the way. Only cash is accepted on this direct bus.

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