How the emergence of the subway changed Beijing’s transportation landscape

The development and evolution of transportation in Beijing

2008-12-04 Source: Kanchina.com Author: Xu Gang

In the old days, running in the streets and alleys of Beijing was most common. The cheapest means of transportation is the rickshaw. Lao She's Camel Xiangzi is a typical representative of the rickshaw driver at that time. Rickshaws, called rickshaws and rubber rickshaws in the north, and rickshaws and rickshaws in the south, were invented in Japan and introduced to China in about 1874. They were donated to the Empress Dowager Cixi by a Japanese businessman who came to China for trade. Empress Dowager Cixi once rode this rickshaw when she left the palace in the early years of Guangxu. This was the first rickshaw that appeared in China. It was relatively primitive. Both wheels were made of wood. They were relatively tall and covered with a layer of iron. To make it strong, it is also called "iron car". The carriage is wooden and square, wider than the carriages of ordinary rickshaws. Since this rickshaw was used by the royal family, the body paint was yellow and the mats were made of yellow dragon satin. This rickshaw is now on display in the Summer Palace in Beijing. In the late Qing Dynasty, rickshaws in Beijing were gradually introduced to the public, and the structural facilities were continuously improved. In summer, rainproof awnings made of canvas were used, and in winter, warm awnings made of blue cloth and cotton wool were used. Monthly buses are generally more particular. In summer, they use a breathable black gauze awning and a rainproof canopy made of raincloth. In winter, in addition to a warm awning, they also have their own blankets to wrap the legs and feet of the passengers to keep out the cold. High-class cars are usually equipped with four lights, and are decorated with brass and white copper floral decorations on the handlebars and body, commonly known as "whole body copper" and also called "big floats". The medium-sized car has matte paint, two headlights, and a footbell. The lower-class cars are made of iron and painted black, commonly known as "black tigers". With the progress of history, rickshaws decreased rapidly, and tricycles gradually became more popular. Many rickshaw pullers also switched to riding tricycles. It was not until the liberation of Beijing that rickshaws were completely cancelled.

The rickshaw was eliminated, and the labor-saving and practical tricycle emerged. Tricycles appeared around the 1920s. The first tricycle in Beijing was given by the Japanese to Jiang Chaozong, a big bureaucrat in the Beiyang government at that time. It was not until 1937 that commercial tricycles appeared on the streets of Beijing. Because tricycles are lighter, faster, and more stable than rickshaws, the driver's labor intensity is less than pulling a rickshaw, and the price is not too expensive, so it develops rapidly. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, strategic supplies were tight and power raw materials such as gasoline and diesel were in short supply. The number of automobile operations decreased rapidly, which stimulated the development of tricycles.

A tricycle is a combination of a rickshaw and a bicycle, embodying the advantages of bicycles and rickshaws. There is a steering wheel, handlebar, bell, brake, pedals and seat at the front, and a chain is used to drive the wheel linkage at the rear. It looks like a bicycle but the frame, wheels and other parts are thicker than a bicycle. The main body of the rear part is the carriage, which is a wooden semicircle. It is wider than the carriage of the rickshaw and can accommodate two people side by side. There is a foldable awning installed on the carriage, with springs and two wheels installed underneath. Under the seat is a wooden box that can be opened, and the driver's repair tools or other sundries are stored in the box. There are cushions on the seats and footrests underneath. The footrests are relatively wide and can not only place your feet, but also suitcases, luggage and other items carried by passengers. Some people go to the store to buy things. Since there are many things, they hire a tricycle when they go home. The appearance of tricycles was loved by Beijing citizens. At that time, there was such a jingle: "Tricycles are so fashionable. You don't need legs to run and use pedals. Go to the Qianmen, visit the Forbidden City, and the Pantao Palace outside Dongbianmen. Take a tricycle, feel relaxed, and don't have to worry. Hit the scales."

Freight tricycles, also known as flatbed tricycles, appeared relatively late. This kind of vehicle does not have a carriage, but is equipped with a frame on the two rear wheels, and a "flat plate" is installed on the frame. Used for transportation of goods.

Before liberation, tricycles and rickshaws had always been the main means of transportation for Beijing citizens, responsible for more than 80% of the passenger traffic. According to statistics, in 1917, there were 206.74 million rickshaws in Beijing (including 2,286 self-use vehicles and 17,988 commercial vehicles). In 1939, there were 370.36 million rickshaws (including 2,489 personal vehicles and 34,547 commercial vehicles). At that time, Beijing's population was only 1.3 million people, and there were more than 50,000 rickshaw drivers. After that, tricycles gradually began to replace rickshaws. By 1940, there were more than 200 tricycle rental factories in Beijing, and the total number of tricycles reached about 10,000.

On the eve of liberation, most of the people running on the streets were tricycles, and there were only a few rickshaws.

After liberation, due to the rapid development of public transportation such as electric cars, passenger tricycles disappeared from the streets of Beijing for a time. Only flat-bed tricycles were still active in the streets and alleys, serving the citizens.

During the reform and opening up, Beijing’s construction continues to accelerate and its appearance changes with each passing day. With the rapid development of tourism, the ancient cultural charm of Beijing has attracted countless foreign tourists, and passenger tricycles came into being. Among the tourism projects in Beijing, the most popular among foreigners is the "Hutong tour" where people enter the city's homes. "Go to the alley" has become a charming advertising slogan for passenger three-wheelers. In alleys that are inaccessible to cars, tricycles can travel freely, making them particularly popular with foreign tourists. Today's tricycles are much more beautiful and comfortable than those before liberation. The tassels on the eaves of the carriage hood swayed, the bells rang crisply in the gentle breeze, and the coachman's authentic Beijing accent and warm greetings attracted a large number of foreigners. Nowadays, tricycles have become a sight on the streets of Beijing, playing an irreplaceable role in the further development of tourism.

China is the kingdom of bicycles, and this feature is most obvious in Beijing. There are millions of bicycles in Beijing. Every morning, countless colorful bicycles pour out of the alleys, forming spectacular traffic flows on the streets.

It is said that the first inventor of the bicycle was Leonardo da Vinci, a famous Italian painter and scientist during the European Renaissance in the 15th century. At that time, he drew a design drawing of a bicycle, but did not create an actual object. Come. In 1791, Frenchman Chibrac installed two wheels on a toy wooden horse and made the world's first bicycle. Later, bicycles were introduced to China. After liberation, our country had its own bicycle manufacturing industry. Shanghai's "Forever" and Tianjin's "Feige" are well-known brands with novel styles, high quality and moderate prices. They are deeply loved by the masses and are not only popular across the country. , and also exported to more than 20 countries and regions in the world. Bicycles are the most important means of transportation in people's daily lives. It is strange to not have a bicycle at home or not being able to ride a bicycle in Beijing. In 1988, the city had 7.55 million bicycles, ranking first among major cities in the world.

There was also a kind of transportation on the streets of Beijing during the liberation. It rode on rails and could be driven at both ends. It made a clear ringing sound all the way. It was steady and surprisingly slow. This is the tram.

A tram is a mechanical transport vehicle powered by electricity. The tram runs on the rails, and the rail surface is flat with the road surface. The tram is connected to the overhead wires through conductive rods on the roof. , obtain electricity, start the motor on the car, drive the wheels to rotate, and use the rails on the ground as an electrical circuit. Trams do not have horns, but are equipped with bells that are stepped on by the driver to make a "dang-dang" sound to warn passers-by. Therefore, old Beijingers call trams "dang-dang" cars.

Beijing’s trams appeared as early as 1900. In 1880, in order to connect the city of Beijing to the railway line, foreigners built a tram line from Yongdingmen to Majiapu, with a total length of 15 miles. It was later demolished by the Boxers in 1900, and the tram was also smashed. . Trams gradually developed after the Republic of China. It was not until 1958 that two tram lines were stopped. By March 1959, all trams in the inner city of Beijing were stopped. It is said that at that time, I wanted to leave a tram line in the outer city from Yongdingmen Railway Station via the overpass and the north side of the Temple of Heaven to the stadium as a souvenir. Later, in order to meet the needs of public transportation development, this last tram line was The tram line was also discontinued in May 1966. Beijing's trams ended their 42-year history and were replaced by brand-new trolleybuses. The clanging bells bid farewell to Beijing forever.

The car finally took the leading role in Beijing's public transportation system. The birthplace of the automobile is in Europe. It is a mechanical means of transportation produced during the Industrial Revolution. The emergence of the automobile was a revolution in the history of human transportation, and it soon developed into the most important means of transportation.

The first car in Beijing appeared in 1898. It was presented to the Empress Dowager Cixi by a foreigner. This was the first generation of "Mercedes-Benz" produced by the German Duer Automobile Company. This car It is rectangular in shape and has four large wheels like carriage wheels. It uses diesel as fuel and has two rows of seats in the front and back. This car was originally kept in the Forbidden City, but was later transported to the Summer Palace for Empress Dowager Cixi to ride during her tours. Since the driver's seat was in the front and Cixi was sitting in the back, she was unhappy, so she only rode it once and then abandoned it. In the late Guangxu years of the Qing Dynasty, as trade with foreign countries increased, the number of imported cars also increased, and most of the passengers at that time were dignitaries and government officials of the Qing Dynasty. After entering the People's Republic of China, there were gradually more cars on the streets of Beijing. In addition to cars from foreign embassies and foreign banks, some Beiyang government officials, warlords, foreign compradors, and wealthy businessmen also used cars. On the eve of liberation, the streets of Beijing were filled with foreign cars, and some people jokingly called it the "Automobile Expo of All Nations."

Before liberation, there were very few public buses in Beijing. There are only a few dilapidated fire trucks in the entire city of Beijing, and they often break down. Later, buses and buses appeared. In the early days of liberation, there was a shortage of gasoline and diesel, and there were even buses carrying "big bags". When Beijing was liberated in 1949, there were only 49 trams, 5 buses, 21,000 human-powered tricycles, 1,400 rickshaws, and 140 taxis in the city. The roads are narrow and the dust is flying, making it extremely inconvenient for citizens to travel.

In order to develop Beijing's public transportation industry, the beloved Premier Zhou Enlai has secretly "crowded" public buses with the masses in the form of "private visits" many times to understand the people's "difficulties in taking a bus". " problem, and worked with Beijing leaders to study and solve the difficulties in the development of public buses, and took many effective measures, such as hanging a carriage behind the bicycle and connecting them together with a "turntable"; opening express lines 20, the average vehicle speed increased by more than 20%, alleviating congestion on busy road sections. Organize hundreds of enterprises, institutions and agencies in Beijing to stagger commuting times, reducing the number of passengers on the bus during peak hours by more than 11%; open 4 night-shift bus lines to solve the problem of night-shift workers and passengers getting on and off the train. * Difficulties with cars. By 1956, Beijing's bus operation lines had grown to 27, with a line length of 356.56 kilometers and a passenger volume of 235 million. In February 1957, Beijing's first trolleybus line was opened to traffic. The last tram line was decommissioned in 1966. By 1976, the total number of buses in Beijing had reached 1,954, and the number of routes increased to 98, with a total length of 1,191.6 kilometers. In 1988, Beijing had 199 public transportation lines, 4,787 vehicles, and an operating mileage of more than 2,000 kilometers. There are 10,833 taxis. Construction of China's first underground railway started on July 1, 1965. By 1988, two lines were put into operation, with a total length of 41 kilometers and an annual passenger volume of more than 300 million.

This is really an amazing development speed!

However, in the face of Beijing’s development speed, the development of Beijing’s public transportation still seems too slow and has been accelerated repeatedly.

With the expansion of urban areas, the construction of satellite towns and industrial zones, and the construction of a large number of residential areas, Beijing's buses have now formed a complete network throughout the city and are constantly expanding. The development of new routes and new vehicles, such as air-conditioned luxury cars, double-decker buses, small buses, etc., has made Beijing citizens' travel more convenient and has become the most important bus transportation in Beijing. strength. According to incomplete statistics, Beijing currently has urban buses and trams 1 to 124; night buses 201 to 212; suburban buses 300 to 501; dedicated bus lines Bus No. 501--859; Suburban Special Line Bus No. 901--988; Double-decker Bus No. 1--8; Yuntong Bus No. 101--206 road. The city-rail connection line Lin 1-Lin 9; special bus routes including Kangen Special Line and Bailibao Special Line; 18 tourist bus lines, running daily and on weekends; Metro Line 1 and 2 Line 1; urban light rail; Urban Railway Batong Line, etc. In addition, taxis patrol the neighborhood day and night, making it convenient and convenient. Long-distance buses extend in all directions, even to other provinces, and intercity shuttle buses are luxurious and comfortable, even with sleeper berths.

There is a bus from Beijing to Tianjin every 20 minutes. You can just get on the bus and watch some TV. There are also train lines for suburban travel. High-tech means such as satellite communication systems and network services have also been widely used in public transportation. The diversified business models not only invigorate the bus economy, but also benefit the people.

In recent years, the number of vehicles in Beijing has increased dramatically, and many families have begun to travel by car, realizing their dream of owning a sedan. No matter how fast we build roads, we can't keep up with the sales of cars; no matter how fast we build roads, we can't keep up with the increase in cars. According to transportation experts, based on the experience of automobile development in developed countries such as Europe and the United States, when the number of motor vehicles in a thousand cities reaches 3 million, the total mileage of urban rail transit must reach 300 kilometers. Modern transportation in a city should not be at the expense of restricting the development of cars, but requires the development of corresponding comprehensive urban transportation strategies. Therefore, with the rapid growth of motor vehicles in Beijing, the corresponding urban rail transit construction also needs to be accelerated. To this end, the total mileage of Beijing Subway’s transportation lines will reach 113.96 kilometers, ranking first among major cities in the world. Beijing's subway construction began in 1965, and the project was carried out in two phases. In September 1984, the first and second phases of the subway were completed, with a total length of 39.7 kilometers, 29 stations and 2 ground depots. After the circular line started operation in 1987, the line from Shijingshan Apple Orchard to Fuxingmen was officially named "Metro Line 1", and the circular line was named "Metro Line 2". In September 1992, the subway project from Fuxingmen to Xidan Station was completed. The first line of the subway can go directly from Shijingshan Pingguoyuan Station to Xidan Station, and the loop line can transfer at Fuxingmen Station to Xidan Station. The main structure of Xidan Station is 260 meters long, 13.5 meters high and 26 meters wide. It is a double-decker island station and was the largest subway station in Beijing at the time. By the end of 1997, the city's two subway lines had a total length of 41.6 kilometers, 435 subway locomotives, and an annual passenger volume of 450 million, accounting for about 11.4% of the city's total bus volume. In 2005, Beijing will also build the Capital Airport Railroad, Line 5, Line 4, Line 10 (including the Olympic branch line), and Line 9. The construction speed is unprecedented. In addition to the five rail lines that have started construction in recent years, the construction projects of three Beijing-suburban railway lines, namely Liangxiang Line, Shunyi Line and Changping Line, are also under intense preparation. Among them, the Shunyi Line has been open to public bidding. This is also the first suburban rail transit in Beijing to launch bidding.

Beijing has shown unprecedented courage in vigorously developing rail transit!

Metro Line 4, which is under construction and has been planned, is 26.2 kilometers long. It starts from Majiapu, Fengtai, goes north through Caishikou Street and Xidan Street, and goes west from Xinjiekou, passing outside Xizhimen. From the main street to Baishi Bridge, it goes north along Baiyi Road, Zhongguancun Street, Old Summer Palace, and ends at the North Palace Gate of the Summer Palace. All are underground lines with 23 stations. The total length of Metro Line 5, which is under intense construction, is 27.6 meters. kilometers, starting from Songjiazhuang, Fengtai District in the south, to Taipingzhuang, Changping District in the north, with Changping Taipingzhuang Station, Tiantongyuan Station, Lishuiqiao Station, Lishuiqiao South Station, Beiyuan West Station, Datun East Station, Huixin West Bridge Station, and Beitucheng Station East Road Station, Heping West Bridge Station, Hepingli North Street Station, Yonghe Temple Station, Beixinqiao Station, Zhangzizhong Road Station, Dongsi Station, Dengshikou Station, Dongdan Station, Chongwenmen Station, Ciqikou Station, Temple of Heaven East Gate Station , Puhuangyu Station, Liujiayao Station, Songjiazhuang Station and other stations. Except for 6 above-ground stations, all are underground stations. The underground will pass through the north and south moats, Metro Lines 1 and 2, Gaiban River, etc. The lines will be buried within 20 meters. Currently, projects such as Chongwenmen Station on Line 5 are under construction and are expected to be completed and opened to traffic in 2006; Metro Line 9 is one of the main urban rail transit lines built in Beijing to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games. It starts from Guogongzhuang, Fengtai District in the south. (World Park), heading north through Beijing West Railway Station to Baishi Bridge, with a total length of about 18.3 kilometers. The first phase of the project starts from Beijing West Railway Station, crosses with Metro Line 1 to the north at the Military Museum Station, and ends at Baishi Bridge. The total length of the line is about 5.9 kilometers. Construction is expected to start in 2004; Metro Line 10 (Phase 1) It starts from Haidian Firearms Camp, goes east along Zhichun Road and Beitucheng Road, connects with the Olympic subway branch line at Panda Roundabout, and goes south along the East Third Ring Road at Taiyang Palace, passing through the CBD area. This line intersects with Metro Line 4, City Railway Line 1, Metro Line 5, and Metro Line 1 respectively. The total length of the line is 26.2 kilometers; the Olympic branch line starts from the Olympic Park and goes south along the Central Axis Road to the Panda Roundabout and connects to Metro Line 10. The total length of the line is 4 kilometers. This project will play an important role in solving traffic problems in the Olympic Park, Zhongguancun and CBD areas.

In addition, the construction projects of three Beijing-suburban railway lines, Liangxiang Line, Shunyi Line and Changping Line, are also under intense preparation. Among them, the Shunyi Line has been open to public bidding. This is also the first suburban rail transit in this city to launch bidding. The Liangxiang Line starts from Yongdingmen and ends at Liangxiang. The total length of the line is 32.4 kilometers and is expected to be completed in 2006. The Changping Line from Xizhimen to Changping is 44 kilometers long and is expected to be completed in 2007.

According to the latest Beijing urban rail transit network optimization and adjustment plan, before 2008, Beijing will add 154 kilometers of urban rail transit. Adding suburban railways, the total mileage of Beijing's rail transit will reach 300 kilometers. According to the mid-term plan for 2020, the total mileage of Beijing’s urban rail transit operating lines will reach 798 kilometers. According to the long-term goals, Beijing will continue to increase the density of urban rail lines and provide strong transportation support to key construction areas in the city. These include building two diagonal tracks through the city; to alleviate the shortcomings of Beijing's traditional checkerboard traffic; adding a second ring subway; and extending the urban rail transit network to the urban fringe groups and nearby satellite cities. According to the long-term plan for 2050, Beijing will have 22 urban rail lines with a total length of 693 kilometers, plus more than 300 kilometers of suburban lines, and the total mileage of Beijing's rail transit will exceed 1,000 kilometers. Among them, the urban rail transit system will bear 10% of the total passenger traffic. The proportion should reach 50% to 60%.

Since 1987, Beijing has built three expressways: the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan Expressway, the Capital Airport and the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway. The Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan Expressway, known as the "No. 1 Road in China", starts from Shibalidian, Fourth Ring Road, Beijing, and ends at Xiaoxintan, Tanggu District, Tianjin. It has a total length of 142.7 kilometers, of which the Beijing section is 35 kilometers. It is designed to run The speed is 120 kilometers per hour. This is a fully enclosed, fully interchanged, two-way four-lane high-speed artery. The entire line was completed in 1992. Known as the "No. 1 Road at the Gate of the Country," the Capital Airport Expressway starts from the Sanyuan Overpass in the west and ends at the Capital Airport No. 2 Bridge in the east. It is 18.1 kilometers long, has six lanes in two directions, is fully enclosed, and has a design speed of 120 kilometers per hour. 8 new overpasses, 5 large and medium-sized bridges, and 8 pedestrian passages have been built along the line. Among them, the Siyuan Overpass is currently the largest overpass in Beijing, and it is magnificent and spectacular.

The Beijing urban road network in 2008 will consist of 5 ring roads surrounding the urban area and 11 expressways extending from the city center to the surrounding areas. Ring roads are connected by numerous trunk roads and branch roads. In order to accelerate transportation construction, Beijing has formulated a road expansion plan to be completed by 2008, including plans to build a 93-kilometer fifth ring road, a 35-kilometer urban expressway connection line, and an expansion of 105 kilometers of urban main roads. These projects are already in the process of implementation.

In the transportation plan for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Second Ring Road, the Third Ring Road and the Fourth Ring Road, especially the Fourth Ring Road, will play an important role. The planned road network adopts a square grid, ring and radial layout. The road system is divided into three functional levels, namely urban expressway network, main road network and branch network. Rapid bus lines will be built on the planned expressways, and a bus priority system will be established, including bus lanes, bus first and signal priority.