New Beijing--Transportation
With our motto "New Beijing, Great Olympics" and our goal to host a "Green Olympics", a "Hi-tech Olympics" and the "People''s Olympics", Beijing is ready to become a truly international city. As is expected, Beijing has made great efforts to improve all kinds of conditions to reinforce its candidature.
By Plane:
There are three airports in Beijing that can be used during the Olympic Games in 2008. The Beijing Capital International Airport is the largest international airport in China. It has two runways, two airport bays, and can accommodate 35 million passengers each year. The airport has flights to most large cities in the world. It takes only 20 minutes'' drive from the Olympic Green to the airport. Nanyuan airport in south Beijing and Xijiao Airport can both provide transport services for the Olympic Games.
Buses
There are more than 20,000 buses in Beijing. Half of them use natural petroleum gas. By the end of this year, all the buses in city will be converted to natural petroleum. There are 648 bus routes in Beijing that take 10 million people each day.
Roads
Beijing has a road network totaling 12,852 km in length, including 216 km of expressway. The Fourth Ring Road connects with seven expressways.By 2008, Beijing''s total road length will be more than 700 kilometers after the construction of the Beijing-Kaifeng, Beijing-Miyun expressways.All the towns with populations of more than 50,000 will be linked by expressway networks.
Taxis and Railway
At present, there are 67,000 taxis in Beijing. By the end of 2008, all the taxis will be equipped with a wireless telecommunication system and Global Positioning System (GPS).
Beijing has two subway routes totaling 53.7 km in length. One runs from east to west and the other loop line goes around the city.
The 40.85-kilometer long No.13 subway will be ready by the end of 2002. A branch line to connect the Capital International Airport with the city will be built in 2005. The 27.7-km No.5 subway and its connecting route will be completed by 2007, linking Olympic Green to the city. The 18.93-km Bawangfen-Tongzhou light railway is scheduled to be completed by 2003. By 2008, the total length of subway will reach 140 km.