Beijing

:Peking is also the name of an asteroid, see 2045 Peking.

Transportation

:Main article: Transportation of Beijing

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With the growth of the city following economic reforms, Beijing has evolved as an important transportation hub. Encircling the city are five ring roads, nine expressways and city express routes, eleven China National Highways, several railway routes, and an international airport.

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Rail

Beijing has two major railway stations: Beijing Railway Station (or the central station) and Beijing West Railway Station. Five other railway stations in Metropolitan Beijing handle regular passenger traffic: Beijing East, Beijing North, Beijing South, Fengtai, and Guang'anmen.

Related Topics:
Beijing Railway Station - Beijing West Railway Station - Beijing East - Beijing North - Beijing South - Fengtai - Guang'anmen

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Beijing is a railway hub. There are railway lines from Beijing to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Harbin, Baotou, Taiyuan, Chengde and Qinhuangdao.

Related Topics:
Railway lines - Guangzhou - Shanghai - Harbin - Baotou - Taiyuan - Chengde - Qinhuangdao

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International trains, including lines to cities in Russia and Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK), all run through Beijing. Direct trains to Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR also depart from Beijing.

Related Topics:
Russia - Pyongyang - North Korea - Kowloon - Hong Kong - SAR

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Construction on a Beijing-Tianjin high-speed rail began on July 4, 2005, and is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

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Roads and expressways

:See: Ring Roads of Beijing, Expressways of Beijing and China National Highways of Beijing for more related information.

Related Topics:
Ring Roads of Beijing - Expressways of Beijing - China National Highways of Beijing

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Beijing is connected via road links from all parts of China. Nine expressways of China (with six wholly new expressways under projection or construction) connect with Beijing, as do eleven China National Highways. Within Beijing itself, an elaborate network of five ring roads has developed, but they appear more rectangular than ring-shaped. Roads in Beijing often are in one of the four compass directions (unlike, for example, Tianjin).

Related Topics:
Expressways of China - China National Highway - Tianjin

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One of the biggest concerns with traffic in Beijing deals with its apparently ubiquitous traffic jams. Traffic in the city centre is often gridlocked, especially around rush hour. Even outside of rush hour, several roads still remain clogged up with traffic. Urban area ring roads and major through routes, especially near the Chang'an Avenue area, are often clogged up during rush hour.

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Recently expressways have been extended (in some cases reconstructed as express routes) into the territories within the 3rd Ring Road. As they are either expressways or express routes, drivers do not need to pass through intersections with traffic lights. This may finally solve the difficulties in "hopping between one ring and another".

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Another problem is that public transportation is underdeveloped (the subway system is presently minimal) and that even buses are jam-packed with people around rush hour. Beijing was poorly designed in terms of zoning and in terms of transportation system http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-10/06/content_269518.htm, http://www.bjreview.com.cn/200410/Nation-200410(C).htm. Compounding the problem is patchy enforcement of traffic regulations, and road rage. Beijing authorities claim that traffic jams may be a thing of a past come the 2008 Olympics. The authorities have introduced several bus lanes where, during rush hour, all vehicles except for public buses must keep clear.

Related Topics:
Road rage - 2008 Olympics

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Chang'an Avenue runs east-west through the centre of Beijing, past Tian'anmen. It is a major through route and is often called the "First Street in China" by authorities.

Related Topics:
Chang'an Avenue - Tian'anmen

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Air

Beijing's main airport is the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) near Shunyi, which is about 20 km northeast of Beijing city centre. Most domestic and nearly all international flights arrive and depart at Capital Airport. Capital Airport is the main hub for Air China. It is linked to central Beijing by the Airport Expressway and is a roughly 40-minute drive from the city centre during good traffic hours. In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, another expressway is being built to the Airport, as well as a lightrail system.

Related Topics:
Beijing Capital International Airport - Shunyi - Air China - Airport Expressway

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Other airports in the city include Liangxiang Airport, Nanyuan Airport, Xijiao Airport, Shahe Airport and Badaling Airport. However, these are primary for military use and less well-known to the public.

Related Topics:
Liangxiang Airport - Nanyuan Airport - Xijiao Airport - Shahe Airport - Badaling Airport

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Public transit

The evolving Beijing Subway has four lines (two above ground, two underground), with several more being built in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics. There were 599 bus and trolleybus routes in Beijing as of 2004. http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/tjyl/tjgb/200501210039.htm Taxis are nearly ubiquitous, and some can accept Yikatong cards for payment.

Related Topics:
Beijing Subway - 2008 Summer Olympics - Bus - Trolleybus - Taxis - Yikatong card

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Buses and trolleybus fares cost 1 Renminbi for shorter trips, and more for longer trips. Subway tickets range from 2 to 5 Renminbi. Taxi fares depend on vehicle type: these start at 10 Renminbi for the first 3 to 4 kilometers, and go up by 1.20, 1.60, 2.00, or 2.50 Renminbi per extra kilometer, depending on the type of taxi. Some, too, can accept Yikatong cards for payment.

Related Topics:
Renminbi - Yikatong card

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