Flushing–Main Street

Flushing–Main Street is the eastern terminus of the 7 line, sitting at the edge of one of the largest and most authentic Chinese communities outside of mainland China. Flushing's Chinatown is a different kind of experience from the Manhattan version. It is more expansive, more residential in character and draws an enormous local clientele. If you are serious about regional Chinese food, this is where to come.

The station opened in 1928 on an elevated structure above Main Street. Full facilities are available including toilets, ATMs, shops, cafes and an information desk. From here you can walk to underground food courts packed with Cantonese, Sichuan, Fujianese, Shanghainese and Taiwanese vendors, browse Asian supermarkets the size of warehouses, or catch a bus to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the 1,255-acre park that hosted the 1964 World's Fair and is home to Citi Field and the USTA National Tennis Center.

Station Overview

Flushing–Main Street is a Zone 4 elevated terminal station serving only the 7 train. It opened in 1928 and is fully wheelchair accessible. Full facilities are available including toilets, ATMs, shops, cafes and an information point. As the eastern terminus, trains always originate from here heading toward Midtown Manhattan.

Lines and Connectivity

The 7 train is the only line at Flushing. From here it runs west through Queens, stopping at Mets-Willets Point (for Citi Field and the US Open), Junction Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Woodside and Sunnyside before entering Manhattan at Court Square in Long Island City and continuing through Midtown to Hudson Yards at 34th Street. Journey time to Times Square is about 45 minutes; to Grand Central, about 40 minutes.

Station Layout and Facilities

The station is elevated above Main Street with a large terminal loop at the end of the line. The concourse has toilets, ATMs, several cafes and shops, and an information desk. Step-free lifts connect street level to the elevated platform. Bus connections are available from Main Street below for routes into Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and other local destinations in Queens.

Travel Tips

• New World Mall on Main Street has a basement food court with dozens of vendors serving outstanding and very affordable regional Chinese food. It is open from around 10am to 9pm.
• Golden Mall on Main Street (basement level) is more compact but equally celebrated for its dumplings, hand-pulled noodles and bubble tea.
• For Citi Field (New York Mets baseball) or the US Open tennis, board the 7 toward Manhattan and get off at Mets-Willets Point, two stops west.
• The Q58 bus from Main Street provides access to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where you can visit the 1964 World's Fair Unisphere and the New York Hall of Science.
• The area around Main and Roosevelt Avenues is excellent for bubble tea shops and Taiwanese-style baked goods.

Nearby Attractions

Flushing Chinatown - at the station exit. One of the largest Chinese communities in the US, with an extensive network of shops, restaurants, food courts and supermarkets along Main Street, Roosevelt Avenue and the surrounding blocks.

New World Mall Food Court - 2 minutes on foot. A large underground food court in the basement of a shopping mall on Main Street, with dozens of regional Chinese food vendors at very affordable prices.

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park - bus or short walk. A 1,255-acre park in central Queens, home to the 1964 World's Fair Unisphere, the New York Hall of Science, Meadow Lake and the Queens Museum. Free to walk through.

Citi Field and USTA Tennis Center - 2 stops west at Mets-Willets Point. Citi Field is the home of the New York Mets. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center hosts the US Open Grand Slam every August and September.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The 7 train runs 24 hours, though frequency drops overnight. As the terminus, trains are always available here when they originate. The neighbourhood is active from morning through evening, with the food courts busiest at lunchtime and on weekends. Visiting on a weekend morning for the markets and food courts, then walking to the park, is a full and rewarding day out that requires no tourist planning.