History of China Subway :
1 Oct 1970 - Beijingzhan (Railway Station) - Pingguoyuan (23.6km, 17 stations, all underground)

- all stations operational in 1972 (until 1977 only for Chinese people)

20 Sept 1984 - Beijingzhan - Fuxingmen (16.1km, 12 stations, all underground)

since 28 Dec 1987:

Line 1: Fuxingmen - Pingguoyuan

12 Dec 1992: Fuxingmen - Xidan (1.5km)

24 June 2000: Xidan - Sihuidong

27 Dec 2003: (Batong Line) Sihui -Tuqiao (trial operation, 19 km in length (above ground along Beijing-Tianjin Highway, 13 stations)

Line 2: 16 km circle line (transfer to line 1 at Fuxingmen and Jianguomen)

28 Sept 2002: Line 13 (CityRail) - Xizhimen - Huoying

28 Jan 2003: Line 13 (City Rail) eastern section Huoying - Dongzhimen

Project of China Subway

There are ambitious plans to expand the subway network in the Chinese capital, which include both subways, light rail and suburban trains (see map). In preparation for the Olympic Games held in Beijing in 2008, the following projects are currently under construction:

1) Subway Line 5: The 27.6-km north-south subway will have 16.9 km and 16 stations underground and 10.7 km and six stations above ground. Construction officially started in Dec. 2002.

2) Subway Line 4: 28.6 km with 24 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)

3) Subway Line 10 with Olympic branch: 30.5 km with 26 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)

4) In Dec. 2000 construction of an 18.9 km elevated light metro began, it will link the eastern suburbs of Tongzhou to the subway terminus at Sihuidong (BA Wang Fan). This line is due to be finished in 2002.