What is the name of the rapid transit system serving Beijing, the capital of China?

The rapid transit system serving Beijing, the capital of China, is called the Beijing Subway.

The system opened in 1971, making it the oldest metro system in China and one of the earliest in East Asia. Its first services were limited compared with today's network, but expansion accelerated dramatically after 2002 as Beijing's population, traffic congestion, and urban footprint grew.

The network now includes numerous lines serving the historic center, residential districts, airports, railway stations, and suburban areas. Line 1 follows Chang'an Avenue and passes near Tiananmen Square, while Line 2 forms a loop broadly tracing the former inner-city wall. Other routes extend far beyond the traditional urban core, making the subway central to daily commuting and sightseeing.

A common mix-up is treating Beijing Subway as interchangeable with other Chinese systems such as the Shanghai Metro, Guangzhou Metro, or Tianjin Metro. Those are separate networks serving different municipalities. Beijing's system is specifically the subway network of Beijing, and its name follows the city's English name rather than the broader country name.