With the Olympics fast approaching and 3 new metro lines opening up, I thought I'd address the transportation issues here. It has been said that Shaghai's metro service is far better than Beijing's...and until recently this was true. No longer. Beijing is at least on par with Shanghai and will soon exceed it.
All totalled, Beijing currently has 8 metro lines, and a ninth will be opening before the years end. The aim is to have 13 lines by 2010.
Fares are currently 2 yuan and that includes unlimited transfers. They are currently working on a system where passengers will pay by distance.
Line 1(the red line) runs from west to east right through the center of the city. It is one most often used by tourists and as such it is also the most crowded. Stops of interest on this route include the Bajiao Amusement Park, Ba Bao Shan (close to the Sculpture Garden), the Military Museum (a twenty minute walk north of the West train station) Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing (Beijing's famous pedestrian shopping street), Yonganli(right by the Silk Market) and Guo Mao (the heart of Beijing's Central Business District. It connects to the line 2 at Fuxingmen and Jianguomen, to the line 5 at Dongdan, to line 10 at Guomao and the Batong line at Sihui and Sihui East
Line 2 (the circle line) runs in loop between the second and third ring roads. It is the most useful route IMO in terms of both points of interest and connections. Key stops include Jishuitan (walking distance of the Xihai and Houhai lakeside bar areas), Gulou (the Drum Tower), Yonghegong (the Lama Temple), Dongzhimen (Embasy District), Dongsi Shi Tiao (walking distance of the Workers Stadium and Sanlitun bar street)and The Beijing rail station. Connections:Line 1 at Fuxingmen and Jianguomen, Line 13 at Dongzhimen and Xizhimen, Airport Express at Donzhimen, and Line 5 at yonghegong and Chongwen Men.
Line 13 is actually a monorail that runs in a u shape through the north of the city. Here there be monsters. This route serves the poor bastards who live out beyond the north section of the fifth ring road. Main stop of note is Wudaokou, the heart of student and university nightlife in Beijing. It connects to line 2 at Dongzhimen and Xizhimen, to line 5 at Lishui Qiao and line 10 at Zhichun Lu.
The Batong line services the far southeast of the city and is of little use to tourists. All totalled it only has something like 10 stops. It connects to line 1 at Sihui and Sihui east. I've never been out that far, but word has it it's pretty desolate.
Line 5 runs in a north-south direction slightly east of the middle of the city. This line also services some pretty remote areas in the north and south. Stops of note include Beixin Qiao (walking distance of Nanluogu Xiang, Beijing's oldest street and a pretty cool place), Zhangzi Zhong Lu (half a block from Yugong Yishan, one of Beijing's better live music venues) and of course, The Temple of Heaven. Connects to line 1 at Dongdan, line 2 at Yonghegong and Chongwen Men, Line 13 at Lishui Qiao and Line 10 at Huixin Jie Nan Kou.
The Airport Express runs from Dongzhimen directly to the Beijing Capital Airport, making one stop at San Yuan Qiao (the connection to Line 10. Stops at both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. No idead how long the journey is, but I hear it's fast.
Line 10 runs from the northwest to the southeast in kind of an L shape and has been a life saver for me personally. It has cut many of my commutes in half. Stops of note include Suzhou Jie (near the Zhongguan Cun E Plazza), Liangma Qiao (near Lucky Street and a fine live music venue by the name of 2 Kolegas), Tuanjiehu (pretty much in the heart of Sanlitun) and Guomao. Connects to Line 13 at Zhichun Lu, Line 8 at Beitucheng, The Airport Express at San Yuan Qiao, Line 5 at Huixin Jie Nan Kou and Line 1 at Guo Mao.
Line 8 (or the Olympic Line) makes just 3 stops after connecting with Line 10 at Beitucheng. Said stops are Olympic Center, Olympic Green and Forest Park. Kind of a waste IMO as you can easily walk to all three places from Beitucheng.
Getting around Beijing is getting easier every day.