Beijing West Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
A huge, busy station in western Beijing for high-speed trains heading south and southwest, including the direct train to Hong Kong. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 北京西站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | High-speed trains to Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an and Hong Kong West Kowloon, the intercity train to Daxing Airport, plus overnight trains |
| Metro | Lines 7 and 9, underground beneath the station |
| Arrive | An hour before departure; it is a big, crowded station with long walks. |
Departing from Beijing West Railway Station
- Getting in. The station has a North Square (the main entrance) and a South Square. Both lead to the 2F waiting halls; 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. Numbered waiting rooms along the 2F hall; high-speed trains usually board from the rooms toward the south side. The boards and your booking show the waiting room and gate. 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: Fast food and noodle chains on 2F and 3F, and more on B1.
Left luggage: Lockers in the 2F waiting area; other left-luggage counters on the underground level.
Arriving at Beijing West Railway Station
Arrivals exits lead to the underground levels for the metro. Exits 1 and 2 come out on the North Square side and Exits 3 and 4 on the South Square side.
Taxi and Didi: Taxi ranks are on the underground levels of the North Square and on the South Square; follow 出租车 signs. Ride-hail (网约车) uses the underground car parks, including P1 and P2 on the north side.
Tips
- Show drivers 北京西站; Beijing Station (北京站) and Beijing South (北京南站) are different places.
- Trains to Shanghai, Tianjin and Nanjing leave from Beijing South, not here.
- Hong Kong trains (to West Kowloon) leave from here; you clear both border checks at West Kowloon, not in Beijing.
- Ignore touts at the exits offering taxis or Great Wall tours; use the official taxi queue.
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 South Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
- Also in Beijing: Beijing Fengtai Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: english.beijing.gov.cn, uk.trip.com, chinafortravelers.com, www.chinahighlights.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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