Beijing is an exciting city! Stay updated with our weekend summary of the latest happenings.
**Line 1 Bajiao Amusement Park Station to Close Until 2027**
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport has announced that starting June 2, 2025, the Bajiao Amusement Park station (八角游乐园站) will be closed for construction to transform it into a transfer station connecting Line 1 to Line S1. The station is anticipated to reopen on May 2, 2027. During the closure, trains will pass through without stopping.
The upgrades will not only facilitate the connection of the two lines but also enhance the passenger experience and operational efficiency. These improvements will include an expansion of the station's underground area, the addition of four new entrances and exits, the construction of two pedestrian overpasses on either side of the station, and the integration of the underground north and south sections with a single security and gate check area.
Aboveground transport options will be modified to mitigate the effects of the station's temporary closure and subway service interruptions. This will involve increasing the capacity of regular bus routes, adjusting bus stop locations, and extending some bus lines. For instance, bus routes 专210, 529, and 597 will link Line 1’s Gucheng station (古城站) with Line 6’s Yangzhuang station (杨庄站), while routes 专86, 专91, 965, among others, will temporarily extend their service from Bajiao Amusement Park station to Babaoshan station (八宝山站).
**Don’t Walk. Stand: Beijing Enhances Subway Escalator Safety**
Recent news reports have highlighted that subway passengers in Beijing have noticed small yellow footprints painted on escalators at some stations. These footprints are part of an initiative aimed at discouraging the practice of standing on the right and walking on the left, encouraging passengers instead to stand on both sides and use the handrail.
There are multiple reasons behind this gentle campaign to change passenger behavior. Long-term standing only on the left while walking on the right can lead to mechanical issues for the escalators, with 95 percent of escalator damage linked to unbalanced forces caused by this behavior.
Moreover, due to regulations and physical limitations, escalator steps are typically higher and deeper than regular steps, and escalators usually have a steeper incline than standard staircases. Escalators in subway stations also tend to operate at faster speeds than those found elsewhere.
Walking on escalators increases the risk of accidents, with approximately 75 percent of escalator-related incidents attributed to people walking.
Efficiency is another reason for promoting standing still and holding the handrail on both sides of the escalator. Studies indicate that a completely occupied escalator can transport 113 passengers per minute, whereas the "stand right and walk left" practice reduces that capacity to around 81 passengers per minute.
**READ:** Help CFFC Beijing Choose Their 2025 Charity Recipients
**Images:** Shangguan Xinwen, Wikimedia Commons: Tyg728 (used without alteration under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Beijing is an exciting city! Stay updated with our weekend summary of the latest news.
