Paying For Beijing Buses: A Guide To Fares And Passes

Beijing has an extensive bus network, with over 1,500 routes and 3,200 buses. The most common way to pay for the bus is with a Beijing Transportation Smart Card, also known as a Yikatong Card. This can be purchased at subway stations, bus stations, and other manual service outlets, as well as Yikatong business halls. The card requires a ¥20 deposit, which is refunded when the card is returned. The card can also be used for other forms of transport, such as the subway, taxis, and bicycle rental, as well as in some shops and restaurants. Cash is also accepted on buses, with fares starting at ¥2.

Paying with cash

If you pay with cash, you will need to prepare small change in advance as buses usually do not provide change. The fare is either 1 or 2 yuan, depending on the type of bus and the distance travelled. Newer, air-conditioned buses are more expensive. You can either stuff the money into the metal box by the door, which will have the fare listed on it in English and Chinese, or pay the ticket taker, who will want to know your destination to calculate the price.

If you are taking a longer route, you will need to swipe your card again when you exit to pay the correct fare. Look by the exit to see if there is a place to swipe your card, and look above the exit door for a sign in English and Chinese if you need to swipe again.

Buses with two doors are entered at the front and exited at the back. Buses with three doors are entered in the middle and exited at the front or back. If it is very crowded, you can get off through the nearest door.

Buying a Bus Card

If you plan on taking the bus regularly, you can buy a bus card (also known as a Yikatong card or IC card) with cash from the service outlets of bus companies. You will need to take your passport with you to buy the card. These cards offer discounted fares, usually 40 or 60 fen, and you don't need to swipe when you get off on shorter routes.

Paying with a Yikatong card

The Yikatong card is a great way to pay for your bus fare in Beijing. It is a rechargeable card that offers a discounted fare when riding the bus. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to pay for your bus ride using the Yikatong card:

Purchasing the Yikatong Card

• Look for the Yikatong card at the subway station or service outlets of bus companies. You can also ask for the Beijing Gongjiaochengcheng Yibantong (北京公交乘车一本通) at the little newspaper stands. The card should cost around 7 RMB.
• Reload the card with value at the point of purchase or through supported apps.

Using the Yikatong Card to Pay for Bus Fare

• When boarding the bus, look for the card reader, which is usually located next to the driver or by the exit.
• Swipe your Yikatong card on the card reader to pay the discounted fare.
• If your bus route is a longer one that charges by distance, remember to swipe your card again when you get off the bus so that the correct fare can be deducted from your balance.
• For buses with two doors, use the front door to enter and pay your fare, and exit through the back door.
• For buses with three doors, enter through the middle door and exit through the front or back door.

Benefits of Using the Yikatong Card

• The Yikatong card offers a 50% discount on bus fares within the city area. This means you only pay 1 Yuan instead of the regular 2 Yuan fare.
• You don't need to worry about having the exact change when paying with the Yikatong card.
• The card is also accepted on the subway and other forms of public transportation in Beijing, making it a convenient way to pay for your travels around the city.

Paying with a Hutong card

The Hutong card is a membership card for The Hutong, Beijing's premier culture exchange centre. It offers discounts on cooking classes and special workshops, as well as cultural programmes and events. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Hutong cards can be used as a method of payment on Beijing buses.

The Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card, commonly known as the Yikatong, is the stored-value contactless smart card used in Beijing for public transportation. It is similar to the Oyster card used in London. The Yikatong card can be purchased for a deposit of CNY 20 at Beijing Subway stations and some bus stations. It can be topped up in multiples of CNY 10 up to a maximum of CNY 1000.

When paying by the Yikatong card, passengers get 50% off the normal bus fare within the municipality. The Yikatong card offers no discount on subway or taxi fares.

Alternatively, bus fares in Beijing can be paid in cash.

Paying with a Beijing Transportation Smart Card

The Beijing Transportation Smart Card is a blue card that can be used on the subway and bus. It offers a discounted price compared to paying with cash. The discount is usually 40 or 60 fen, while cash tickets are either 1 or 2 yuan. The price depends on the type of bus and how far you ride.

You can buy the Beijing Transportation Smart Card at subway stations. To use it, you need to swipe it when getting on the bus. If there is a card reader at the door when you disembark, swipe the card again so that the bus fare can be deducted.

If you are taking a long-distance bus, you will be charged based on the distance travelled. After boarding, indicate your terminal station and buy a ticket from the ticket sellers. The bus fare within 10km is 2 yuan. For those travelling beyond 10km, each additional 5km will cost an extra 1 yuan.

Passengers below 1.3m can take all public buses for free.

Paying with a Beijing Municipal Administration Traffic Card

The Beijing Municipal Administration Traffic Card is a transit card that you can use to pay for your bus fare in Beijing. It is a blue card that is also used on the subway. With this card, you get a discounted price when travelling on the bus. The card offers a 50% discount on downtown buses, with a 50% discount for the regular card and 75% for the student card within the city area.

You can purchase the Beijing Municipal Administration Traffic Card at the subway station. When boarding the bus, you need to swipe your card at the card reader by the entrance. If there is another card reader at the exit, remember to swipe your card again so that the correct bus fare can be deducted.

If you are taking a long-distance bus to travel outside of Beijing, you can also use the Beijing Municipal Administration Traffic Card to pay for your ticket.

Frequently asked questions