Beijing South Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Beijing's main high-speed station, the northern end of the Beijing-Shanghai line and the Beijing-Tianjin intercity. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 北京南站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains to Tianjin, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai and other cities to the south and east |
| Metro | Lines 4 and 14, in the basement (Line 4 on B2, Line 14 on B3) |
| Arrive | 45 minutes before departure (an hour on Friday evenings and at holidays) |
Departing from Beijing South Railway Station
- Getting in. Departures are in the big elevated hall on 2F, reached from the drop-off ramps or by escalator from the metro. Entrances are on the north, south, east and west sides; use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The passport you booked with is your ticket: use the staffed lane, where it is checked against your booking, unless signs say the automatic gates take passports.
- Security. Bags go through an X-ray right after the ID check, and you walk through a scanner.
- The waiting hall. One large oval waiting hall on 2F with the gates around it; the boards show your gate by train number. Find your train number on the departure boards; boarding usually starts 15 to 20 minutes before departure and the gate closes a few minutes before.
- The platform. Your coach number (车厢) is printed on the floor markings and over the doors; stand at yours, as trains stop only briefly.
Food: Plenty of chain fast food and noodle shops on 2F inside the waiting hall and on B1.
Left luggage: Self-service lockers inside the 2F waiting hall, on the north side; you need to be past security to use them.
Arriving at Beijing South Railway Station
Arriving passengers come down to the underground levels, where the metro is. Taxis leave from two hubs: the South Hub at the South Square and the North Hub by the bus terminal.
Taxi and Didi: Follow signs for the taxi hubs, 南枢纽 (south) or 北枢纽 (north); the old taxi rank in the P3 car park closed in April 2026. Ride-hail (网约车) cars pick up in the underground car parks P1 to P4.
Tips
- Beijing has several big stations. Check that your ticket says 北京南 (Beijing South), not 北京西 (West), 北京 (Beijing Station) or 北京丰台 (Fengtai).
- Taxi queues can be long on Friday and Sunday evenings; the metro is usually faster while it runs (until about 11 p.m.).
- If you are at Beijing West by mistake, Line 7 to Caishikou and then Line 4 gets you here in about half an hour.
Next steps
- Beijing city guide.
- Beijing to Shanghai
- Beijing to Xi'an
- Beijing to Chengdu
- Paying for the metro in Beijing.
- Also in Beijing: Beijing West Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
- Also in Beijing: Beijing Fengtai Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: m.gmw.cn, english.beijing.gov.cn, uk.trip.com, chinafortravelers.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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