Beijing Subway – Beijing, China

The Beijing Subway is a rapid transit rail network that serves urban Beijing and outlying suburbs. It currently has 5 lines in operation with 142 km of tracks and 83 stations, and daily ridership of 3.51 million. It is the second longest subway system in mainland China, after the Shanghai Subway and has the most daily ridership. The existing network cannot adequately serve the city’s mass transit needs and is undergoing rapid expansion for the 2008 Olympic Games and beyond. Existing plans call for 19 lines and 561 km of tracks in operation by 2015.

The Beijing Subway was the first to be built in mainland China. It was originally conceived amidst heightened national security concerns during the Sino-Soviet split in the early 1960s. Chairman Mao Zedong approved the project on February 4, 1965, telling engineers to design and build with care and to be prepared to make adjustments as there was “bound to be plenty of mistakes and setbacks.”

History

Construction began on July 1, 1965 at a ceremony attended by national leaders including Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and mayor Peng Zhen. The initial line was completed by National Day, October 1, of 1969. It ran 21 km from the army barracks in the Western Hills to the Beijing Railway Station with 16 stations. This line forms the basis for parts of present-day Lines 1 and 2.

On November 11, 1969, an electrical fire caused killed 3 people, injured over 100 and destroyed two cars. Premier Zhou Enlai placed the subway under the control of the People’s Liberation Army in 1970, but technical problems continued to plague the project. On January 15, 1971, the initial line began operation on a trial basis between the Beijing Railway Station and Gongzhufen. Single fare was set at ¥0.10 and only members of the public with credential letters from their work units were permitted entry into the subway. The line delivered 8.28 million rides in 1971 but remained under trial operation despite return to civilian control in 1976. It suffered intermittent closures due to fires, flooding, accidents and political disruption during the Cultural Revolution. It was closed from September 13 to November 6, 1971 in the aftermath of the Lin Biao Incident and on September 18, 1976 for the death of Chairman Mao.

On September 15, 1981, the initial line was finally opened to full public use. It had 19 stations and ran 27.6 km from Fushouling in the Western Hills to the Beijing Railway Station. The subway was placed under the management of the Beijing Subway Company, then a subsidiary of the Beijing Public Transportation Company. Annual ridership reached 72.5 million in 1982. On September 20, 1984, a second line was opened to the public. This horseshoe shaped line ran 16.1 km from Fuxingmen to Jianguomen with 16 stations and corresponds to present-day Line 2. Ridership reached 1.05 million in 1985. On December 28, 1987, the two existing lines were reconfigured into Lines 1, which ran from Pingguoyuan to Fuxingmen and Line 2, in its current loop, tracing the Ming city wall. Fares doubled to ¥0.20 for single-line rides and ¥0.30 for rides with transfers. Ridership reached 307 million in 1988. The subway system was closed from June 3 to June 4, 1989 during the suppression of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations. In 1990, the subway carried more than one million riders per day for the first time, as total ridership reached 381 million. After a fare hike to ¥0.50 in 1991, annual ridership declined slightly to 371 million.

On January 26, 1991, planning began on the eastward extension of Line 1 under Chang’an Boulevard from Fuxingmen with the receipt of 19.2 billion yen low-interest, development assistance loan from Japan. Construction began on the eastern extension on June 24, 1992. The Xidan station opened on December 12, 1992, and the remaining extension to Sihuidong was completed on September 28, 1999, so the entire east-west passage became operational on October 20, 2000. Despite little track expansion in the early 1990s, ridership grew rapidly to reach an all-time high of 558 million in 1995, but fell to 444 million the next year when fares rose from ¥0.50 to ¥2.00. After fares rose again to ¥3.00 in 2000, annual ridership fell to 434 million from 481 million in 1999.

In the summer of 2001, the city won the bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and accelerated plans to expand the subway. From 2002 and 2008, the city planned to invest Y63.8 billion (US$7.69 billion) in subway projects. Most new subway construction projects were funded by loans from the Big Four state banks. Line 4 was funded through a joint-venture with the Hong Kong MTR. Two surface commuter lines opened in 2003. Line 13, a half loop that links the northern suburbs, opened on January 28, 2003. Batong Line, built as an extension to Line 1 to Tongzhou district, was opened as a separate line on December 27, 2003. Ridership hit 607 million in 2004. Line 5 came into operation on October 7, 2007. It is the first to run entirely north to south with 23 stations over 27.6 km.

Fares

A flat fare of RMB(¥) 2.00 with unlimited transfers applies throughout the metro system. This flat fare will also apply to all future lines except the planned Airport Line.

All lines now collect fares through an automatic fare collection system (AFC) that accepts electronic tickets and the Beijing SuperPass or Yikatong, an integrated circuit card (ICC card) for commuters. Riders can purchase electronic tickets and add credit to Yikatong at ticket counters in every station. Yikatong is also accepted on many city buses. The use of paper tickets, which were hand checked by clerks, was phased out on May 17, 2008.

Before the flat fare was introduced on October 7, 2007, fares ranged from ¥3 to ¥5, depending on line and number of transfers.

Hours of Operation and Lines in Operation

Hours of Operation

The subway system is closed in the evenings after midnight. The first trains depart terminals at around 5 a.m. and the last trains depart terminals at around 10:45 p.m. For precise hours and frequency of service, check the official schedule.

Lines in Operation

Line 1

Line 1 bisects the city horizontally, running east-west in nearly a straight line beneath the grand Chang’an Avenue. It begins in Pingguoyuan, at the foot of the Western Hills in heart of the industrial Shijingshan District and runs west, past the Military Museum in Haidian District and the banking center of Xidan in Xicheng District before reaching Tiananmen Square in the heart of the city. After stops on either side of the Square, Line 1 continues east, passing major the shopping thoroughfares Wangfujing and Dongdan in Dongcheng District, before entering the Beijing CBD of Chaoyang District, where the Silk Street at Yonganli and office towers at Guomao attract large numbers of foreign visitors and expatriates. Line 1 terminates at Sihuidong (Sihui East), in a residential neighborhood just beyond the Fourth Ring Road, but passengers connecting to the Batong Line can head further east, to the suburban district of Tongzhou.

Current Line 1 stations: Pingguoyuan, Guchenglu, Bajiao Amusement Park, Babaoshan, Yuquanlu, Wukesong, Wanshoulu, Gongzhufen, Junshibowuguan, Muxidi, Nanlishilu, Fuxingmen (interchange to Line 2), Xidan, Tian’anmen West, Tian’anmen East, Wangfujing, Dongdan (interchange to Line 5), Jianguomen (interchange to Line 2), Yong’anli, Guomao, Dawanglu, Sihui (interchange to Batong Line) and Sihuidong (interchange to Batong Line). Rolling stock maintenance facilities are located at Guchenglu and Sihui.

Batong Line

Line Batong, Beijing Subway

The Batong Line, extends Line 1 from Sihui, a highway cloverleaf in Chaoyang District to Tuqiao in the eastern suburban district of Tongzhou. The line derives its name from the first characters of Bawangfan (八王坟), the neighborhood name for Sihui, and Tongzhou (通州). The Batong Line is completely above ground and runs mostly in the median of the Jingtong Expressway.

Current Batong Line stations: Sihui (interchange to Line 1), Sihuidong (interchange to Line 1), Gaobeidian, Broadcasting Institute, Shuangqiao, Guanzhuang, Baliqiao, Tongzhoubeiyuan, Guoyuan, Jiukeshu, Liyuan, Linheli and Tuqiao. The rolling stock maintenance facility is located at Tuqiao.

Line 2 (Loop Line)

Line 2 runs in a rectangular loop around the city centre, tracing the Ming Dynasty inner city wall, which was demolished and paved over by the 2nd Ring Road and Qianmen Avenue. The entire line runs underground. Twelve of the eighteen stations are named after city gates. These stations end in men (meaning gate) with two in the north (Deshengmen, Andingmen), three each in the east (Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen, Jianguomen) and west (Xizhimen, Fuchengmen, Fuxingmen), and four in the south (Xuanwumen, Hepingmen, Qianmen, Chongwenmen). Line 2 encircles the old city center districts of Dongcheng and Xicheng and skirts the northern of edges of Chongwen and Xuanwu.

Current Line 2 stations: Xizhimen (interchange with Line 13, Chegongzhuang, Fuchengmen, Fuxingmen (interchange with Line 1), Changchunjie, Xuanwumen, Hepingmen, Qianmen, Chongwenmen, Beijing Railway Station, Jianguomen (interchange with Line 1), Chaoyangmen, Dongsishitiao, Dongzhimen (interchange with Line 13), Yonghegong (interchange with Line 5), Andingmen, Guloudajie and Jishuitan. The rolling stock maintenance facility is located at Taipinghu, near Jishuitan station.

Line 5

On a map, Line 5 runs vertically, beginning with three stops in the far northern suburb of Tiantongyuan in Changping District, well beyond the 5th Ring Road, then crossing Line 13 at Lishuiqiao, and entering into the vast residential swaths of Chaoyang District on either side of the Yuan dynasty city wall. It skirts east of the Temple of Earth and meets Line 2 Loop at the Yonghegong, also known as the Lama Temple. Then Line 5 cuts through the old neighborhoods of Dongcheng District and the old foreign Legation Quarter between Dongdan and Chongwenmen. Further south, Line 5 stops at the eastern entrance to the Temple of Heaven in Chongwen District and eventually reaches Songjiazhuang in Fengtai District south of the city. It takes 49 minutes to cover all the 23 stations. The Zhang Zizhong Street station, named after a general martyred in World War Two, is the only eponymous station of the Beijing Subway.

Line 5 stations: Tiantongyuanbei (Tiantongyuan North), Tiantongyuan, Tiantongyuannan (Tiantongyuan South), Lishuiqiao (Lishui Bridge)(interchange with Line 13), Lishuiqiaonan (Lishui Bridge South), Beiyuanlubei (Beiyuan Road North), Datunludong (Datun Road East), Huixinxijiebeikou (Huixin West Street North Intersection), Huixinxijienankou ((Huixin West Street South Intersection) (interchange with Line 10), Hepingxiqiao, Hepinglibeijie (Hepingli North Street), Yonghegong (Yonghe Lamasery)(interchange with Line 2), Beixinqiao, Zhangzizhonglu (Zhang Zizhong Road), Dongsi, Dengshikou, Dongdan (interchange with Line 1), Chongwenmen (interchange with Line 2), Ciqikou, Tiantan Dongmen (Temple of Heaven East Gate), Puhuangyu, Liujiayao, Songjiazhuang (interchange with Line 10).

Line 13

Line 13 arcs north of the city centre and connects residential suburbs in Haidian and Chaoyang Districts with the 2nd Ring Road and Line 2 at Xizhimen and Dongzhimen. Most of the tracks and stations are located on the surface or elevated above ground. From Xizhimen, Line 13 heads northwest into the university district with bustling stops in Wudaokou and Zhichunlu before turning northeast and eastward, following the Beijing-Baotou rail line, before reaching Beiyuan where it curls southwest onto the Beijing Chengde Expressway to Dongzhimen.

Current Line 13 stations: Xizhimen (interchange to Line 2), Dazhongsi, Zhichunlu, Wudaokou, Shangdi, Xi’erqi, Longze, Huilongguan, Huoying, Lishuiqiao (interchange to Line 5), Beiyuan, Wangjingxi, Shaoyaoju, Guangximen, Liufang and Dongzhimen (interchange to Line 2). The rolling stock maintenance facility is located at Huilongguan.

• Cellular Network Coverage

Currently, mobile phones can be used on Line 5 and both surface lines (13 and Batong). By mid-June 2008, all lines and stations (including those opening before the Olympic Games) will be outfitted for cellular network coverage.

• Lines to be opened by the 2008 Summer Olympics

Three more lines, Line 10 (Phase I), the Olympic Spur (Phase II of Line and the Airport Line, are scheduled to be opened to the public by the end of June, ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in August.

Line 8 (Olympics Spur Line)

Line 8, Beijing Subway

Line 8 is planned to be built in three phases. The first phase is the 4.53 km Olympic Spur Line, which will connect the Olympic village with Line 10, north of the city. It will run from Beitucheng to Senlingongyuan (Forest Park 森林公园). Construction began in 2004 and the spur is scheduled to open on June 30, 2008.

Phase I stations: Beitucheng, Olympic Park, Olympic Center, Forest Park. Phase II will extend Line 8 northward past Line 13. The Changping District government has commenced land clearing for Line 8′s extension. Phase III will extend the line southward through the city center to the southern 4th Ring Road.

Line 10

Line 10, Beijing Subway

Line 10 will begin at Bagou near Wanliu Park in Haidian District and run straight east, following the northern section of the Mongol city wall, before turning south along the 3rd Ring Road. It will connect the university district and Zhongguancun (Beijing’s silicon village) in Haidian with the embassy district and Beijing CBD in Chaoyang District. The first phase, 24.68 km in length, with 22 stations will end at Jinsong, just south of Guomao. Construction began in December 2003 and the first phase is scheduled to open by the end of June 2008. A trip from Wanliu to Jinsong is expected to take 40 minutes.

Planned stations in the first phase (starting from the north west): Bagou, Suzhoujie, Haidian Huangzhuang, Zhizhunli, Zhichunlu (interchange to Line 13), Xitucheng, Mudanyuan, Jiandemen, Beitucheng (interchange to Line 8), Anzhenmen, Huixinxijie Nankou (interchange to Line 5), Shaoyaoju (interchange to Line 13), Taiyanggong, Sanyuanqiao (interchange to Airport Line), Liangmaqiao, Nongye Zhanlanguan (Agricultural Exposition Hall), Tuanjiehu, Hujialou, Jintaixizhao, Guomao (interchange to Line 1), Shuangjing, Jinsong.

Line L1 (Airport Line)

Airport Line, Beijing Subway

Airport Line is an express rail link that will run from Dongzhimen to the Beijing Capital International Airport northeast of the city. The line will have a 4 km underground section and 23 km of elevated track. It will have only four stops: Dongzhimen (with interchanges to Lines 2 and 13), Sanyuanqiao (interchange to Line 10), and Airport Terminals 2 and 3. Construction began in 2005. The link is scheduled to open on June 30, 2008.

Challenges

• Services for the Disabled

At present time, the Beijing Subway is still partially unfit for the disabled. Services and amenities for the disabled, however, are being progressively introduced. Authorities claim completion by 2006, but the fact that some stations were built during the 1960s through the 1980s makes the task daunting.

• Automatic Fare Collection System

System Suppliers:

• Line 1, 2: Thales
• Line 4: Samsung SDS
• Line 5: Founder, OMRON
• Line 8 (Olympic Branch) : Samsung SDS
• Line 10: Samsung SDS
• Line 13: Nippon Signal

• Emergency Services

After witnessing disastrous subway accidents in the Republic of Korea (e.g. Daegu), Beijing authorities took prompt action in late 2003 and early 2004 and banned shops inside subway stations. Also, reflective self-illuminating signs were installed in case of emergencies. Finally, the underground mall at the subway station at Xidan was closed in 2003. Despite being very popular, authorities fear that evacuation may be hampered in the case of a subway accident.

Other Information

• Name: Beijing Subway
• Locale: Beijing, China
• Transit type: rapid transit
• Began operation: 1969
• System length: 142 km (88 mi)
• No. of lines: 5
• No. of stations: 83 (stations connected with interchanges are single-counted)
• Daily ridership: 3.51 million (February 29, 2008)
• Track gauge: 1435 mm
• Operators: Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., Ltd

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