Beijing's first scramble crossing set up in city's west

Beijing's first scramble crossing was put to use on Friday in the city's western Shijingshan District.

A scramble crossing is a pedestrian intersection where the traffic lights stop all the cars at the same time so pedestrians can walk in any direction across the street. This can be seen in the many photos shared online of the world's most famous scramble crossing outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo.

The new crossing in Beijing is part of a trial to see if it is suitable for the local area, which is surrounded by business, shop, and entertainment venues that attract a lot of pedestrians.

According to Cao Shixing, a leader at the local traffic department, the crossing is working well on its first day of operation. Other scramble crossings will be considered in Beijing pending the results of the current trial.