Overview
Tianjin was the second city in mainland China to run a subway, after Beijing, and its first line opened on 28 December 1984. Today the Tianjin Metro — formally Tianjin Rail Transit (TRT) — is one of China's larger urban rail systems, with 13 operating lines, 258 stations and about 370 km (230 mi) of track. It is the workhorse of getting around the city, linking the main railway stations, the airport, the old concession districts along the Hai River and the coastal Binhai New Area.
Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. English station names appear on all lines, and ticket machines have an English mode. Most lines start running around 06:00 and continue until late evening, though first and last train times vary by line and direction, so check the timetable before a late trip. Peak hours on weekdays are roughly 07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:00. Fares are distance-based and cheap, and you can pay with a single-journey ticket, a stored-value card, or a QR code on your phone. Plan your transfers in advance, since several lines meet only at specific interchange stations.
The network
The metro is the core of the network, supplemented by a light-rail line, an extensive city bus system, and river ferries and cruises on the Hai River.
- Line 1 (red): the oldest route, rebuilt from the original 1984 metro. Runs roughly northwest–southeast between Liuyuan and Shuangqiaohe, about 42.2 km with 29 stations in operation. Serves Tianjin West Railway Station and the Five Great Avenues area (Xiaobailou).
- Line 2 (yellow): runs west–east from Caozhuang to Binhai International Airport, about 27.2 km with 20 stations. This is the airport line, and it also connects Tianjin Railway Station and the Italian Style Town (Jianguodao).
- Line 3 (light blue): runs north–southwest from Xiaodian to Tianjin South Railway Station, about 33.7 km with 26 stations. Useful for the Porcelain House and the Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao Memorial Hall.
- Line 4 (green): the southern section runs from Dongnanjiao to Xinxingcun (opened December 2021, about 19.4 km); a northern section from Xiaojie to Tianjin West Railway Station opened in 2025.
- Line 5 (orange): runs from Beichenkejiyuanbei to Jinghuadongdao, about 36.1 km with 29 stations. Together with Line 6 it forms a loop; it also runs through service with the Jinjing Line.
- Line 6: runs from Nansunzhuang to Lushuidao, roughly 43.6 km with 39 stations. Serves the Tianjin Eye area (Beiyunhe) and the Cultural Center.
- Line 7: opened 2025, running from Gulou (Drum Tower) to Saidalu, about 21.8 km with 15 stations.
- Line 8: runs from Lushuidao to Xianshuiguxi, about 13.4 km with 9 stations, using automated trains.
- Line 9 (light rail): runs from Tianjin Railway Station to Donghailu, about 52.8 km with 21 stations, serving Tanggu and TEDA in the Binhai New Area. It is the line that links the city to the seaside district.
- Line 10: runs from Yutai to Yudongcheng, about 21.2 km with 21 stations.
- Line 11: runs from Dongjiangdao to Dongliliujinglu, about 23.8 km with 21 stations.
- Jinjing Line (津静线, Jīnjìng xiàn): a suburban rapid transit line opened 2024, running from Jinghuadongdao to Tuanbo Medical Park, about 13.2 km with 4 stations, with through service onto Line 5.
- Line Z4: runs from Zhaishang to Beitang in the Binhai New Area, about 23.7 km with 10 stations, serving the Aircraft Carrier Park and the Sino-Singapore Eco-City.
- TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram (天津开发区现代导轨电车, Tiānjīn Kāifāqū xiàndài dǎoguǐ diànchē): a Translohr light-rail tram in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, opened 10 May 2007 and operated as part of the metro system. It ran 7.86 km with 14 stations between TEDA and North of College District, but service ended on 30 June 2023.
- Buses: Tianjin's bus system, founded in 1904, was the first in China. It is extensive, comfortable and clean, and worth using for routes the metro does not cover.
- Ferries and cruises: Haihe River cruises depart from several piers, including Ancient Culture Street Pier (Line 2, Dongnanjiao), Tianjin Station and Jinwan Piers (Lines 2/3/9), Dabeiyuan/Yongle Pier near the Tianjin Eye (Line 6, Beiyunhe or Dabeichan), and Italian Style Town Pier (Line 2, Jianguodao).
Note that planned and under-construction lines include Line 8 (Zhongbei–Lushuidao, expected late 2026), Line Z2 (expected late 2027), Line B1 (expected 2027), Line 13 (expected 2030), and longer-term Line Z1, Z3 and B3 — so the network is still growing.
Tickets & fares
Fares are distance-based and inexpensive. On Lines 1–8, 10, 11, the Jinjing Line, Line Z4, and the Line 9 section between Tianjin Railway Station and Zhongshanmen, the base fare is approximately:
- Up to 5 stops (up to 4 intervals): ¥2
- 6–10 stops (5–9 intervals): ¥3
- 11–16 stops (10–15 intervals): ¥4
- 17 or more stops (16 or more intervals): ¥5
These prices are approximate and subject to change. A single-journey ticket is valid for 3 hours; you must exit within that time after entering. You can buy tickets at manual windows, self-service machines, or by QR code.
Discounts are available: a regular stored-value card, the Tianjin Metro App QR code, UnionPay, or the city card gives 10% off. Local student cards (ages 6–12) get 30% off, seniors aged 60–69 get 20% off, and seniors aged 70 and over get 30% off. A bus-to-metro transfer made with the same app within 90 minutes costs ¥1. One child under 1.1 m travels free per adult; additional children need tickets.
The city's stored-value transit card is the Tianjin Jinsui Card (津惠通, Jīnhuìtōng), also referred to as the City Card or Common Stored Value Ticket. It is accepted on the subway, light rail, bus, ferry and taxi, and comes with transfer discounts. Luggage rules apply: bags under 20 kg and 0.06 m³ are free, bags of 20–30 kg or 0.06–0.15 m³ require a ticket, and anything over 30 kg or 0.15 m³ is not allowed without permission.
From the airport
Tianjin Binhai International Airport (天津滨海国际机场; TSN) sits in Dongli District, about 15 km east of the urban area. Metro Line 2 connects the airport directly to Tianjin Railway Station, with a fare of about ¥3. The airport station is Binhaiguojijichang (滨海国际机场), the eastern terminus of Line 2; the airport extension opened on 28 August 2014.
Other options include a shuttle bus between Tianjin Railway Station and the airport, costing about ¥15 per trip, with the stop roughly 200 m from the station's northern (back) gate. A taxi from the railway station to the airport costs about ¥50–65; use the official taxi stand rather than touts. If you are arriving from abroad, note that flying into Beijing and continuing by high-speed train is another option — Beijing Daxing International Airport has an intercity train station directly beneath it, reaching central Tianjin in under 75 minutes for roughly ¥34–60.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing: queue in an orderly line at platform doors and let passengers off before boarding. At major railway stations, expect a marshalled, production-line approach to queues.
- Escalators: stand on the right and walk on the left, as is standard across Chinese cities.
- Priority seating: seats near the doors are reserved for the elderly, pregnant passengers, and those with small children or disabilities. Give them up when needed.
- Eating and drinking: keep food and drink off the trains; it is not customary to eat during a metro ride.
- Rush hour: weekday peaks are roughly 07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:00. Trains run every 5–7 minutes on many lines at peak, but carriages fill up fast, so travel light and be ready to move with the crowd.
- Quiet: keep phone calls and music low, and use headphones.
Survival terms
- Subway / metro: 地铁 (dìtiě)
- Ticket: 票 (piào)
- Line: 线 (xiàn) — e.g. 1号线 (yī hào xiàn), Line 1
- Entrance: 入口 (rùkǒu)
- Exit: 出口 (chūkǒu)
- Transfer: 换乘 (huànchéng)
- Single fare: 单程票 (dānchéng piào)
- Day pass: 一日票 (yīrì piào)
Before you set out, screenshot your route and the Chinese names of your start and end stations, since last trains vary by line and direction and a quick reference in the local script will save you time if you need to ask for help.