The Beijing Subway is improving its automated ticketing system, especially for holders of the Beijing Yikatong transport smartcard.
If you touch in on a reader with your Yikatong card at a station on 03 or 04 December 2015, provided you enter before 07:00, you’ll get 1% off your ride. It’s not a lot, but it’s certainly something, and it can be used in addition to other discounts your card qualifies you for.
Do note, however, that this does not apply for the Airport Express.
The other good news is that if you travel early enough, you could avoid the crowds and even, with some luck, get yourself a seat on a train!