[7] In January 2011, an official with the city's planning committee indicated that Line 17 of the subway was planned to run east–west through the city's Central Business District under Guanghua Road with transfers to Lines 4 and 5.

[22] On 15 June 2012, the city government disclosed tentatively planned stations for the line.

[23][10][24][11] On 10 October 2013, city authorities confirmed that Line 17 would run from the Future Science Park North station in Changping District to Yizhuang Zhanqianqu South station in Tongzhou District.

[11] Construction was expected to begin in 2014 and Line 17 would have a total length of 49.7 km (30.9 mi).

[25][26] On 8 July 2022, an EIA document prepared by the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) regarding Phase III (2022–2027) construction of the Beijing Subway announced an 8.9 km (5.5 mi) branch line of Line 17 from Tiantongyuandong Station to Beiqijia, with one intermediate station not identified.