Beijing, China

As the host city for the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese capital city is upgrading its public transit systems in preparation for the event. Until recently the Beijing Subway system consisted of only 2 lines; Line 1 running on an east-west axis underneath Tianenmen Square, and Line 2 operating a circle service around the perimeter of central Beijing, calling at both Beijing's central railway station and Beijing North railway staion. Recently 2 new lines have opened, Line 13 starting from Beijing North station, running in a horseshoe direction in the northern suburbs to Dongzhimen station. Line 5 runs on a north-south axis underneath the popular Wangfujing shopping district, about 2 blocks east of the Forbidden City. Additional lines to Beijing Capital Airport and the Olympic area are to open in time for the games.

The city's bus network operated by Beijing Public Transport Holdingshas also received attention, with many new and severely overhauled vehicles being delivered to service in recent years. Most of the new vehicles posses a European Chassis but are assembled in China by various coachbuilders. The Trolleybus fleet hasn't escaped attention, the newest members of the fleet are the box looking Neoplans. Beijing's Trolleybus network is focused largely inside the Line 2 subway circle, although quite a few routes do go past the circle line. Due to the numerous wide boulevardes in Central Beijing and the complex junctions and delays to traffic that would result, all buses can and do operate routes where wires do not exist for the entire length of their route. Poles are able to be raised and lowered on by the driver, who on most occasions does not have to leave the seat to perform the operation. Beijing buses are to be avoided in the peak hours by those who are claustrophobic due to chronic over-crowding on most routes.

Beijing's public transit is of course unbeleivably cheap for the visitor. Most trips are currently 1 Chinese Yuan (RMB). The Yikatong smart card is available for purchase and top up at most subway stations. Using Yikatong can give the user up to 60% discount of the regular cash fares.

Ironically for the enthusiast, it is not the police state that many media outlets make it out to be. Photography of transit, even in underground stations is not looked upon as a threat to society like it is in many western cities.

Changjing Z10107 operating route 660 on Zhongguancun East Road. 18/11/2007	Jinghua artic 24205 passing Beijing Railway Station. 11/11/2007	Huanghai S30171 operating route 319 on Zhongguancun East Road. 16/11/2007
King Long X30429 operating route 696 in Haidian district. 10/11/2007	King Long X31054 operating route 5 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Jinghua artic 34227 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007
Changjiang Double-Deck 35117 near Sitong Bridge in the Haidian District. 18/11/2007	Jinghua 47307 near to Tsinghua University. 16/11/2007	3 Jinhua Neoplan Youngman's stabled at the Tsinghua Science Park. 16/11/2007
Jinghua 70125 passing Beijing Railway Station. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85015 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Another view of 85015 as it approaches a junction. 18/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85018 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85020 turns in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85093 near Xizhimen Subway Station. . 15/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85093 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85102 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85104 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85112 waits for the next trip at Chongwenmen terminus. 18/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85112 at Chongwenmen Terminus. 15/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85112 at Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85124 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85125 on route 104 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85129 passing under Anzhen Bridge, part of the 2nd ring-road. 18/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85135 waits to raise the poles near Beijing Station. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85146 running westbound on Di'amen West St in Houhai district. 18/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85164 and another running infront of Beijing Station while off the wires. 11/11/2007
Neoplan Trolleybus 85224 passing Beijing Railway Station. 11/11/2007	Neoplan Trolleybus 85236 waiting for its next trip near Beijing Railway Station. 11/11/2007	Neoplan Trolleybus 85251 in the Houhai district. 18/11/2007
Rear view of Neoplan Trolleybus 85253 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Neoplan Trolleybus 85293 waits for the next trip at Chongwenmen terminus. 18/11/2007	Huayu Articulated Trolleybus passing Chongwenmen Terminus. 14/03/2008
Huayu Articulated Trolleybus 85368 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Huayu Articulated Trolleybus 85368 in the Bei Hai district. 18/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85517 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85547 passing the Forbidden City's northern gate. 15/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85592. 15/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85592 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 16/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85593 near Beijing Zoo. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85599 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007	Rear view of many Trolleybuses parked at Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85602 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 15/03/2008	Rear view of 85607 at Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85609 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 16/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85614 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85618 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008	Rear view of 85619 at Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008
Huayu Trolleybus 85628 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85628 near Xizhimen Subway Station. . 09/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85723 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008
85725 parked at Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008	85727 parked at Xicheng Terminus. . 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85739 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85756 near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85759 waits for the next trip at Chongwenmen terminus. 18/11/2007	85759 & 85760 parked at Xicheng Terminus. 15/03/2008
85759 & 85760 parked at Xicheng Terminus. 15/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85825 passing Beijing Zoo. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85825 departing Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008
Rear view of 85825 departing Xicheng Terminus. 16/03/2008	Huayu Trolleybus 85849 in the Bei Hai district. 11/11/2007	Huayu Trolleybus 85851 in the Hou Hai district. 11/11/2007
Huayu Trolleybus 85867 about to depart the Chongwenmen terminus. 11/11/2007	View of Trolleybuses passing through the junctions at the intersection of Zhangzizhong Rd and Jiaodaokou S St. 11/11/2007 Caution large file	Jinghua artic near Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008
Evening view of Trolleys waiting to depart Chongwenmen Terminus. 14/03/2008

Line 1 subway set loading at Fuxingmen. 11/11/2007	Line 1 subway set at Wangfujing Station. 15/03/2008	Line 1 subway set at Tianenmen East Station. 11/11/2007
Line 1 subway set at Wangfujing Station. 15/03/2008	Line 2 subway set 107 arriving at Dongzhimen, on an inner circle service. 11/11/2007	Another view of Line 2 subway set 107, as the crew attend to defective doors. The service will shortly be cancelled. 11/11/2007
Line 2 set 132 on an outer circle service about to depart Dongzhimen. 11/11/2007	Set H429 at Xizhimen Subway Station. 09/03/2008	Set H447 arriving at Zhichunlu Station on Line 13. 15/11/2007
Line 13 set H450 loading at Zhichunlu station. 11/11/2007	A view out the front and rear is available on most sets. This view is of Line 13 from set H450 near Wangjingxi. 11/11/2007	Movie Clip running between Guangximen and Dongzhimen Stations on Line 13. 11/11/2007 Caution large file