Beijing Subway's No 5 line is set to throw open its gleaming glass doors and welcome passengers into a high-tech realm of stainless steel. The city's first north-south underground line is the latest plank in a masterplan that will deliver Beijing the world's longest subway system. Line 5 is one of three new lines to open before the Olympics. By 2020, the city's metro network will stretch to 561 kilometers on 19 lines - longer than the London Underground.
About to be unveiled after four years of construction, the 27.6 kilometer No 5 line services 22 stops through the eastern downtown area. Each station has its own characteristics. At Yonghegong Station, at the Lama Temple, large columns on the platform are painted traditional Chinese scarlet, matching the Forbidden City walls, with rails and stairs of white marble. The entrance pavilion to Chongwenmen Station is made of gray bricks, with patterns of the ancient Chongwenmen city gate. Dongsi Station has two Chinese chessboards on the platform floor, depicting the final phase of a game of chess. Huixinxijie Station, the nearest to the National Stadium, features ancient Chinese literature engraved on the wall at its entrance - the Three Word Scripture (San Zi Jing), and Hundred Family Names (Bai Jia Xing).
New, more spacious trains made of stainless steel designed for less noise. Measuring 2.8m by 3.8m, they have no barriers between adjacent carriages. Six-car trains reach speeds of 80km, with a journey from one end of the line to the other taking 49min. Following a trial ride, a woman said her usual one hour-plus commute from Dongsi to Tiantongyuan was cut to just 25 minutes.
Automatic glass walls installed on each station platform keep passengers from the track. Once onboard, commuters can take advantage of an integrated information system to feature live coverage of Olympic events. Utilising wireless technology regarded as world-first, transmitters every 200 meters receive above-ground TV signals, and the locomotives and last carriages are equipped with receivers to transmit signals to eight LCD displays in each carriage. Passengers can check train schedules, city information, news and weather, with additional screens on each platform. And in what is surely another international standard, mobile phone signals can be picked up along every point of the line.
From Taipingzhuang North Station, north of the North Fourth Ring Road in Changping District, Line No 5 takes an underground route through the city's heart to Songjiazhuang Station, near the South Fourth Ring Road in southern Fengtai District.
Line No 5 meets with the east-west Line No 1 at Dongdan, one stop east of Wangfujing. It links the Tiananmen Square loop line (No 2) at Yonghegong in the north and Chongwenmen in the south, and connects to Line No 13, north Beijing's light rail, at Lishuiqiao. The fare system uses Yikatong cards. Non-passenger test runs began in June, with the official opening expected in October. Line construction began in late 2002, and cost 12 billion yuan ($1.55 billion.).
By August next year, 56 new underground stations will open, taking Beijing's subway network from 114 to 200 kilometers.
Tiantongyuanbei 天通苑北
Beiqijia Building Material City, new Asian Games Village automobile trading center. Area under development.
Tiantongyuan 天通苑
North Beijing's biggest residential area, with more than 100,000 residents.
Tiantongyuannan 天通苑南
Carrefour, Xidan Department Center's Tiantongyuan Shopping Center.
Lishuiqiao 立水桥 (interchange with Line 13)
Longde Plaza, (many shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities), Tangli Lu business street
Lishuiqiaonan 立水桥南
10 minutes walk to Beiyuanjiayuan residential area, and China Environmental Science Research Institute. Bars and restaurants.
Beiyuanlubei 北苑路北
Honghua Golf Course, Ziyushanzhuang villa, and Olympic Forest Park, due for completion at the end of the year. Popular Daoxiangcun pastry shop to the southeast of Beiyuanqiao.
Datunludong 大屯路东
Wumart, Shangpin Discount shopping center, and restaurants east of the road. Close to Asian Games village, and National Stadium.
Huixinxijiebeikou 惠新西街北口
Near Anhui Dasha, Tibetan Hotel and local flavor restaurants. Ito Yokada and Wumart. One bus stop from Asian Games Village.
Huixinxijienankou 惠新西街南口(interchange with Line 10)
Near Yuandadu Ancient Relics Park, Beijing's biggest belt-shaped park, and Yuandadu bar area, a much neglected, but beautiful bar area.
Hepingxiqiao 和平西桥
Just south of North Third Ring Road. North of the ring road there is Xianheng Restaurant, famous for its South China fare, and Guizhou Dasha. South of the ring road, restaurants such as Noodles Loft, Hongzhuangyuan porridge shop, UBC Cafe.
Hepinglibeijie 和平里北街
Quiet residential area. China Photo Studio, an old brandname, Qingfeng Baozi restaurant, and Zhangyiyuan tea shop.
Yonghegong 雍和宫 (interchange with Line 2)
Decorated in imperial red and gold, the station is near Guozijian, the imperial college, Confucius Temple, Temple of Earth, and entertainment venues such as Tango, and PartyWorld, as well as Jindingxuan Restaurant (24hours), famous for its all-hours dim sum.
Beixinqiao 北新桥
The apple-green subway station contrasts nicely with the red lanterns on ghost street, where spicy crabs and crayfish are consumed by the ton in a single evening.
Zhangzizhonglu 张自忠路
Access to Ping'an Dajie, running east-west beside Chang'an Avenue. West of the northwest exit are the former residences of historical figures like Duan Qirui, Ouyang Yuqian, and Princess Hejing.
Dongsi 东四
Stroll past numerous small shops selling toys, clothes, shoes and bags, have your hair done, then choose a small restaurant for lunch.
Dengshikou 灯市口
Wangfujing pedestrian street, Sun Dong An, Foreign Languages Bookstore, and Hospital affiliated to Beijing Union College. Walking distance to Jingbao Jie, China National Art Museum, and big hotels in the region.
Dongdan 东单 (interchange with Line 1)
Easy access to Wangfujing, Oriental Plaza, Dongdan Sports Center southwest of the crossroad
Chongwenmen 崇文门 (interchange with Line 2)
Beijing Railway station, Tongren Eye Hospital, New World Shopping Mall, Ming Dynasty Relics Park, and plenty of entertainment venues such as PartyWorld, Music Saint, and New World Skating Rink.
Ciqikou 磁器口
From exit A, walk west of Zhushikou Dajie, to Shijie Tianding Retail Market, selling souvenirs, gifts and handicrafts. Kongyiji Restaurant, Cobra Disco and Lax Bar inside Beijing Tianwangxing Club.
Tiantandongmen 天坛东门
The famous Pearl Market and Hongqiao Tianle Toy Market, Temple of Heaven Park and Fahua Temple. For restaurants visit Xianheng and Old Beijing Noodles King.
Puhuangyu 蒲黄愉
Near Fangzhuang, food street (formerly Pufang Lu) with Chinese and western fare, Wumart, Carrefour, sports park, and Fangzhuang Book City.
Liujiayao 刘家窑
Zhaogongkou Long-distance Bus Station, Dahongmen Clothes Store, and Tianya Clothing Shopping Mall for clothes and curtains.
Songjiazhuang 宋家庄(interchange with Line 10)
Wumart, and Jinjiang Hotel, emerging residential area.
(China Daily 09/27/2007 page4)
