Number 23? Beijing to Add Six More Subway Lines

There's a good chance that you took the subway to work this morning. That opportunity will grow as Beijing plans to begin construction on six more subway lines by the end of this year, which are expected to start operating in 2016.

There are no specifics yet on the terminus points of the six lines, although they are expected to connect suburban areas with downtown. Beijing currently has 17 lines in operation or nearing construction, with more lines due to open early next year.

The new lines will bring Beijing's underground and light rail total to over 900 kilometers, with the upcoming construction to add about 10 percent of that length. While still not as far-reaching as the London Underground or Moscow Metro, Beijing's system has gone from two lines to 17 in about that many years.

Although speculation continues that subway fares will rise, perhaps in the new year, the Beijing Metro remains the fastest and least expensive way to get around the city, with unlimited single-ride transport for just RMB 2. In a city with congestion problems as serious as Beijing's, we'll go underground as often as possible.

Image: www.wikipedia.org