Surviving subway at rush hour

Daily journeys on the subway in a city like Beijing are - to paraphrase Charles Dickens' famous opening line written 150 years ago - the best of times and the worst of times.

As a modern amenity that makes urban life much easier, the subway has also evolved into something widely dreaded.

Commuters often feel they need the strength and aggression of soldiers as they battle frenetic crowds to board trains at rush hour and the patience of a monk to endure the trip free from anger.