Concerning on the outgoing of 18 million inhabitants circumscribed within 6 ring roads in Beijing, and also for the further fully preparation of Olympic Games. Beijing's subway lines are being expanded from the current four-line network to more stretches. The government plans to invest 63.8 billion RMB (7.69 billion USD) in future projects between 2002 and 2008.

Beijing subway construction started in 1965. The first stretch opened between the city's railway station and Pingguoyuan, included today's western branch of Line 1 and the southern part of Line 2. The first generation of train that can still be found now but will stop service soon is the DK2 train produced in 1969（later becoming DK11 after technological renovation）, which will be renewed. In 1987, the circular line was finished (16 km) and both lines started operating separately. In the 1990's an eastern extension of Line 1 was built, the so-called Fu Ba Line, to Sihuidong (formerly shown as BA Wang Fen) opened for trial in Oct. The new section (13.5 km) was eventually connected to the western section of Line 1 on 24 June 2000 which had been upgraded to ATO operation.

The entire Line 1 from Pingguoyuan to Sihuidong is now 38 km long and provides transfer to Ring Line 2 twice, at Fuxingmen and at Jianguomen. Ring Line 2 is 16 km, so the total network operating in 2000 is 54 km. Most stations have central platforms and are 118m long, but only 10 have escalators. 4 or 6-car-trains are used, which are equipped with acoustic station announcement. For future extensions of the network (8 lines) some stations have already been built as transfer stations: Xizhimen, Dongsishitiao, Jianguomen, Yonghegong and Jishuitan.

The construction of "CityRail" (Line 13 in the overall "rapid transit" planning) started in December 1999. The semicircular line with 16 stations runs from Xizhimen to Dongzhimen (both are stations on the circle Line 2). The 40.8 km line is mainly above ground, either elevated (7.7 km) or at grade (30.3km). After the western section (20.6km) went into operation on 28 Sept. 2002, the eastern section will be opened in January 2003.

Subway Line 5, the first north-south metro line in Beijing, is 27.6-km, with 16.9 km and 16 stations underground and 10.7 km and 7 stations above ground. Platforms are equipped with half-high platform screen doors. Construction started in Dec. 2002, and the entire line was brought into service in October 2007.

The latest model of Beijing subway is the new type of alternating current powered passenger train. With the progress of Beijing’s subway, there will be more electricity powered trains with more functions and better capabilities for service put into use.

The electricity connecting mode of subway electricity powered passenger train is generally DC 750V from the third track, with rail gauge being 1435mm and the highest speed being 80km/h.

The telecommunication system of Beijing Subway consists of the sub-systems of transmission, wireless equipment, telethons for public affairs, closed circuit television, special-use telephone（including that for dispatching trains and central calling）, broadcast system and clocks, thus forming the comprehensive communication network for service use, sending all kinds of information like voice, words, data and pictures. Not only is it an important means to conduct the operation of subway but also can serve the purpose of preventing disasters, providing aids and dealing with accidents under abnormal circumstances.

There are ambitious plans to expand the subway network in Beijing, which include both subways, light rail and suburban trains. In preparation for the Olympic Games held in Beijing in 2008, the following projects are currently under construction:
1) Subway Line 4: 28.6 km with 24 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)
2) Subway Line 10 with Olympic branch: 30.5 km with 26 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)