Beijing subway stations are clean, organized and well maintained. There are clear signs everywhere, maps of the station's area and of the subway lines can be found on the platforms or on the entrance level.
There are bathrooms in every station, usually located at one end off the platform. The bathrooms are clean (well, we only checked the men's room) and in some stations at least one compartment has a toilet seat.
Smoking is not allowed inside the station.

On the subway
The subway is usually over boarded and if you want to get a seat you have to be quick. On rush hours people are so many sometimes you can't even board the subway on the first try. There is a map of the subway line over each door and the next station is announced in both Chinese and English and in some of them there is also a changing sign.
If the train is crowded prepare to get off in advanced or the people boarding will get in your way.

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Tips

• Many people get off at the interchange station, so if you are not one of them, and you didn't get a seat when you bordered the subway, wait until you get to the interchange station. If you are quick and watchful you can get a seat there.
• Dao Le in Chinese means arrived. When you hear a name of a station + Dao le that means you have arrived at that station.