On Sunday, three new metro lines were launched in Beijing, bringing the total length of the city’s urban rail transit network to 879 kilometers, making it the longest among Chinese cities.
The newly opened lines include the first phase of Line 3, which runs from Dongsishitiao to Dongba North, Line 12, which connects Sijiqingqiao to Dongba North, and the final section of the southern extension of the Changping Line. These additions expand the network by approximately 43 kilometers, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.
Wu Yulan, a representative from the commission, highlighted that the new metro sections include an underground corridor running east to west across the city. This corridor connects with several existing north-south rail lines, offering more travel options for people living in large residential areas.
Currently, Beijing’s rail transit system includes 522 stations, with 98 of them being interchange stations. To alleviate traffic congestion, Beijing has been expanding its subway network, offering mass rapid transit solutions for the city’s growing population. Since the opening of Beijing Metro Line 1 on October 1, 1969—the first urban rail line in China—the city has built the longest-operating urban rail system in the country.
Wu emphasized that the expansion of the rail network is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of life for residents and to support the city’s high-quality development goals.
