Beijing’s Prettiest Subway Stations

Subway [suhb-wey] noun: an underground electric railroad, usually in a large city, with plain colored walls and a streamlined design. Often causes commuters to zone out and turn into robots until they get to their designated location.

I love Beijing’s subway system; it is reliable, easy to figure out, and for the most part, modern or at least newer than most western subways. However, just like most subway systems, the vast majority of stations here look very boring. 

Although I don’t mind the plain white columns as I hastily transfer to another station or head up to the “real world,” the rare occasions that the doors open to a nicely designed station considerably brighten up a boring commute. Although typically only the newer stations or stations near tourist sites have fun designs, I have come across a few surprises. 

Keep scrolling to see photos of my three favorite stations, then maybe look out the subway door the next time you are in transit!

1. Dongsi (东四)
Transfer Station: Line 5 and Line 6

The Dongsi subway station, dismissed by most commuters as a transfer station or “just another stop,” does not seem like a likely place for anything artsy.

However, the next time the doors open while you are riding line 5 or 6, it is worth peaking up from your phone to look outside the subway car; the artists did a really nice job on the orange poles and Chinese-styled columns stretching across the ceiling.

2. Nanluogu Xiang (南锣鼓巷)
Transfer Station: Line 6 and Line 8

Nanluogu Xiang is a well-known subway stop because it is conveniently located in front of Nanluogu Xiang, the hutong with hip café-and-art-store-lined streets. It makes perfect sense, then, that the station looks like hutongs with its fake gray brick walls and artwork of Chinese kites and shadow puppets.

3. Olympic Green (奥林匹克公园)
Line 8

We can’t highlight some of Beijing’s unique subway stations without including at least one stop from the Olympic line.
The ceiling of the Olympic Green stop imitates the Bird’s Nest, with white branches growing from columns to intertwine above commuter’s heads.

Check back next week for three more interesting subway stations in Beijing!

This post was inspired by Nargiz Koshoibekova’s post “The 5 Coolest Beijing Metro Stations” on The World of Chinese and first published on beijingkids.

Photos: Shawn Clover (Flickr), Michael Chu (Flickr), Wikipedia

Comments

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Yes, the Paris Metro is quite good, but it's first line was built nearly 60 years before Beijing's first, and about 80 years between Beijing's 2nd and Paris's 2nd. Already our fair city has more than doubled the amount of measured track distance vs. Paris and continues its expansion, with Line 7 to be operating before year's end AND Phase II of Line 14. There may not be the concentraition of stations per sq km but it is improving. The Line 2/13 transfer is bad but Dongzhimen is extra spacious due to the Airport Express line also terminating there. It doesn't seem any worse than 13/15 transfer...

I realize that...but it's not of the top/first 3 mentioned...or maybe the best is being saved for last.

Beijing subway is OK, but the distance to change line is terrible, you have to walk a lot! (especially line 2 to 13, north west).

Honestly, nothing to do with the fact that I'm French, but Paris subway is eally good, you can literally go everywhere, and very simple to use (ok, the city is much smaller, that helps)

And the worse experience was in Tokyo, different companies, it was like hell I-m so happy

gnature gnature gnature gnature gnature gnature

It may very well be as there's a part two coming soon!

Managing Editor, the Beijinger

Surprised Yonghegong Stn is not in the top 3...