Talking Travel: New Slate of Entry Bans, Beijingers Horse Around
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Talking Travel: Your semi-regular roundup of Beijing's latest transportation-related news.
China imposes new travel bans on growing list of countries
It was noted that the policy will not affect people holding diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas. Likewise, individuals who need to visit China on an emergency humanitarian basis can apply for a temporary visa at their local embassy, however, the visa will only be valid if it was issued after Nov 3.
Since the 2008 Games, the Beijing Capital International Airport subway line – Line 10 – has been carting passengers to and from the city center. Now, 12 years later, it's ready for an upgrade. Despite Daxing International Airport drawing a considerable amount of attention and passenger flow since it was put into use last year, Beijing Capital International Airport still shoulders much of the responsibility for connecting China's capital with the rest of the world.
The renovated stations will be equipped with more female restrooms and baby care facilities
Currently, Line 10's airport service starts at Dongzhimen Station and connects to Sanyuanqiao Station where passengers pick up the Capital Airport Express train. Once the renovation is completed, however, the subway service will start at Beixinqiao Station on Line 5, while Dongzhimen station will take up the admirable task of offering a pre-airport luggage check-in service. Meanwhile, the renovated stations will be equipped with more female restrooms and baby care facilities, as well as redesigned handicap toilets which will be expanded to provide more space for wheelchair users and feature newly installed call-for-help buttons in case of an emergency.
And it's not just bathrooms that are getting a makeover either. The interior design and uniforms of subway personnel will also be getting rebranded, offering a fresh new look for visitors as they arrive in Beijing. All told, the renovations should be completed by the end of next year, one year behind their initial pre-COVID schedule.advertisement
Shiny, new, and much needed
An efficient and well-organized transportation system is crucial for a city as vast as Beijing, and as the capital continues to grow in both scope and population, a few more transportation hubs would doubtlessly help shoulder the traffic burden while providing diverse choices for people to get around the city.
That's why, according to the municipal government, four new hubs are currently under construction and will play various roles in Beijing’s transportation network. For example, the hub located by the Dongxiayuan subway station on Line 6 will be the transit center for passengers commuting between downtown and Tongzhou, Beijing's suburban center, while the one at Wangjing will integrate multiple means of transportation, including subway line 13, 15, 17, buses, taxis, and long-distance coaches that travel beyond the city limits.
So far Beijing has already constructed and put 12 transportation hubs into use, with eight of them operating the majority of trips within the city while the other four function as junctions connecting the capital with nearby regions.Just a couple of Beijingers horsing around
Cuigezhuang has a long history of horsing around since the nearby area served as a horse ranch during the Yuan Dynasty and many neighborhoods were named for horse-related activities. Likewise, Beijing’s earliest professional horse racing track was also built in the area.
READ: A Tale of Two Airports: Beijing Capital Airport and Daxing by the Numbers
Images: Wikipedia, China.com, Qianlong, Xinhua
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