Just tap your own foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, or American Express contactless card directly at any subway gate — no card purchase needed. If you prefer a prepaid option, get the tourist-oriented 'Beijing Pass' or a Yikatong card.
Getting to the start
east side road of Tiananmen Square — nearest metro Heping Men (Line 2, Exit B, ~30 min walk) or Qianmen Station (Line 2 Exit B/C, or Line 8 Exit E/I/G, ~25 min walk)
Per 2025 edition (20 Apr) and 2026 edition (scheduled 12 Apr).
Arrive before 7:00am;
road closures begin ~5:30am.
Bib required/displayed.
Getting to the finish
Olympic Green Central Area (Olympic Sports Center) — nearest metro Aoti Zhongxin station; organizers open extra Exit B2 for runner dispersal
Long walk from finish arch to subway station historically — budget extra time, expect crowding.
20 pickup lanes for meetups.
More details
No dedicated shuttle;
Beijing subway operates as usual (some station-access changes near the route) and is the primary access.
IC card
Yikatong (一卡通)
Subway station customer service counters, airports, Yikatong offices at Dongzhimen or Xidan (passport required);
the tourist-focused 'Beijing Pass' is also sold at designated visitor points
Works directly at the gates
Alternative: Beijing Pass —
Worth it if you don't want to use your own bank card and prefer one prepaid card that also covers buses,
some taxis, and entry to sights like Badaling Great Wall.
More details
Beijing was the first mainland Chinese city to enable this: since 13 September 2024 (expanded further by June 2025),
foreign-issued Mastercard and Visa (later joined by JCB, UnionPay, Amex) can tap directly at all gates across all subway lines plus airport lines —
officially confirmed by the Beijing municipal government.
This tap usually costs slightly more per ride than Alipay/WeChat QR fares.
Alipay and WeChat Pay transit QR codes (bound to a foreign card/passport) also work as an alternative.
