Beijing Subway

I really love Beijing Subway, yes i do!

I always feel convenient enough with angkot, DAMRI bus, BABON bus, ojek, and all kinds of transportation that i used to take in Indonesia. But to live in Beijing, i need more sophisticated and comfortable transportation, unless i'll get lost. Because Beijing is super huge city, and believe me, you don't want to get lost in Beijing.

Maybe for some people, Beijing subway is not really comfortable, since there always be a lot of people using it. But i have to say, I like the system. And the arrangement is easy even for foreigner like me. A foreigner who doesn't even have subway in her country (Pak SBY, mari qta bkin subway yuuk...).

I can tell you how easy to use it...
First, here is the map of Beijing Subway:


Easy, huh? the lines connect almost all areas in Beijing. They always prepare this kind of map in every subway station, and they will give it to you for free. All you need to do is ask,
"Ni you mei you ditie ditu ma?" (Do you have subway station map?)

Ok, if you need to take subway in Beijing, here are the things that you need to do:

1. Find the closest subway station from your area. You can ask, "Ditie, zai nar?" (where's subway station?). It's pretty easy to be found, since it always has this kind of sign:
2. After you get in to the station, you need to buy the ticket. It will costs you 2Y for one way ticket. But if you intent to stay for quite long time in Beijing, i highly suggest you to buy this yi-ka-dong (subscription card). You can find it in big subway station, like Pingguoyuan, Guamao, Nanlishilu, Wanfujing, etc. It'll costs you 50Y. 30Y for the credit and 20Y for deposit. You can also use it to pay the bus (it'll be cheaper). You just need to wipe it into the ticket machine to use it. It look like this:
3. Then, you just need to get into the train. Remember that the seats are reserved for seniors, children, pregnant women, the sick and the disable.
4. If you need to check the stations you've passed, there's a subway line map available inside the train. Some of them are new ones with the light. It's so comfortable for you to check. But there will be also some notofication about the station that u're arriving.
   

Sometimes, we have to stand for quite long time in the train, but if you can sit, it's pretty comfortable inside. This is the inside of the train:


Always say "Lao jia" (Excuse me) if you want to get off and there's a person in front of you... bon voyage! :D