Beijing's Mysterious Line 3 to Finally Begin Construction
At the government affairs consultation in late January, Dai Mengdong, the deputy director of the city's major affairs office stated that Beijing's Subway Line 3 was due to begin construction in 2016.
Reports by Xinhua show that Line 3 will span a path across Dongcheng and Chaoyang districts, passing major stops such as Chaoyang Park, Workers' Stadium, and the residential area of Dongba. The line will be 22 kilometers in length, and boast 15 stops in total, with six transfer stations: Dongsishitiao (Line 2), Workers' Stadium (Line 17), Tuanjiehu (Line 10), Chaoyang Park (Line 14), Dongfeng (Line 12), and Guanzhuangxikou (Line 12).
Subway Line 3's route
The reason why people call Line 3 mysterious is that its intended route has been changed numerous times. As early as 2008, the government laid out plans for an east-west line, Line 3. But following the modification of Line 6, which then overlapped with some of Line 3's intended stops, construction was halted. Line 3 had from that point on fallen back to its rumored status. That is, until now.
Earlier this year, pavement around Sanlitun SOHO was cordoned off, and there was chatter that Pacific Century Place near Tuanjiehu would undergo the same treatment and become a Line 3 hub. News.qq.com said back in 2011 that Pacific Century Place was unprofitable throughout its last three years of operation, leading the owner, Richard Li – the son of China's richest billionare Li Ka-shing – to close the space and sell it. The current change in ownership and status of Pacific Century Place makes it unlikely that it will become an exit as previously believed and location of the final Tuanjiehu stop remain unclear.
Don't get too excited about being able to take the subway direct to Sanlitun bar street, as the line is not expected to be complete until 2020. However, with the line running east-west along Gongti Beilu (presumably with exits on both sides of the street) it could mean one of the most popular strips of road in Beijing could be facing extended construction over the next three years – and the wrecking ball could be taking some venues along with it.