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A Canadian in Beijing: Subway Cinch
Taking the subway in Beijing is a total cinch. I took the subway yesterday from the university district in Wudaokou to the downtown core of the city. Specifically, I got off at the Yonghugong stop. For only 3 kuai, the equivalent of about $0.45 Canadian, you can hop the train from Wudaokou down to the transfer station for the underground subway loop. You have to pay again to take this underground route, however, which is the only drawback. Still, coming from Toronto where it's nearly $3 to take the subway, I am hardly complaining!
The aboveground train is amazing because it allows you to see into courtyards and past billboards to where people actually live in this city. A bit voyeuristic, perhaps, but informative nonetheless. I am amazed at the divide between rich and poor here, modern and traditional, dilapidated and sparkling new. All shoulder to shoulder.
All of the subway signs are in both Chinese and English and all of the stops are numbered as well as named. This makes it possible for anyone to use the transit system here, regardless of native language. Numbers are much more universal than any written script, of course.I also was touched by some random assistance given to me. I was staring at my map then staring at the subway grid on the wall and then staring back at my map when a man with a New Zealand accent asked me if I was lost. I answered that I wasn't lost yet, thanks, and then told him how nice it was of him to ask. In the end, I'm proud to say that I didn't get lost at all.
Cinch!
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Stories, Asia, China, A Canadian in Beijing
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lou Apr 8th 2007 9:25AM
It must have been a relief to see (and hear) some English, even though you didn't absolutely need it. I know what it's like to be abroad communicating solely in your third language. It gets exhausting. Congrats on navigating Beijing, Dear, and managing it all on your own merits!
DOREEN Apr 8th 2007 6:26PM
BEIJING DOES HAVE AN EXCELLENT SUBWAY SYSTEM. I WOULOD NOT RECOMMEND THEIR PUBLIC BUSES HOWEVER.
Daniel Apr 25th 2007 3:44AM
hehe, interesting!
Daniel Apr 25th 2007 4:24AM
do you think the ticket price of beijing subway is cheap? I guess Chinese people dont think so. it aslo have many shortages like crowd,inconvenient for change to the different lines.
Julie May 15th 2007 10:38AM
I love aboveground trains. It allows us to see life outside. I wish we had an aboveground train in montreal...maybe in the future!