Riding the rails
As the subway system in China's capital continues to add lines and stations and conveniences, photographer Wei Xiaohao climbs aboard with a record-setting crowd.
As of March 8, the total number of passengers on Beijing's 16-line metro service has topped more than 10 million per day, officially making it the busiest subway in the world. For only 2 yuan ($0.32), you can ride anywhere on the entire 442-km system, except for the airport express (25 yuan). As part of many people's everyday routine, the subway offers a peek into the lifestyle of modern city-dwellers.
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Xizhimen, the junction of lines 2, 4 and 13 on the subway, is one of the busiest stations. The daily average of transferring passengers is around 480,000. Photos by Wei Xiaohao / China Daily |
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Unlike the other passengers, who exit the station to go to work, the underground musician's labors begin inside the subway. |
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Long lines of commuters stand at the platform doors during morning rush hour. |
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Taking a nap in the crowded carriage seems to require special technique. |
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Line 2, opened in 1984, is the second oldest. Preserved in 1980s style, the line has no shield doors and a subway usher reminds passengers to stand clear for the arrival of a train. |
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During the evening peak hour, subway carriages are packed with haggard-looking commuters. |
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