Posted on 07/20/2008 8:27:48 PM PDT by Flavius
BEIJING, July 21 (Reuters) - One of Beijing's most important subway lines seized up on Monday when the mass of passengers forced workers to close off entrances for safety on the first working day of pre-Olympic traffic restrictions. Passengers were being allowed off Line 2, which runs in a loop around central Beijing, but not on to it. At least one major transfer station, at Jianguomen, was closed.
"There is a big crush of passengers. We've had to close the line for safety reasons," said a subway worker, standing in front of locked gates at the Fuxingmen station, a transfer point for Line 1.
The subway company was not immediately available for comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
This does not bode well for .............the travesty that is about to take place over there. Why did the Ol.ympic committee ever agree to hold the games over in that cruel twisted arena?
I’m in Beijing now. Yesterday we drove leisurely through traffic. Later I wanted to go a couple stops W on Line 1 to get dinner. But my kid said, “dad, the subway will be packed!”
Guess she was right. But we’ll have to try it today, so wish us luck!
Your there for the games?
And good luck.
The same reason that they chose every location for the last 30 years. Bribes.
I wish someone would bribe me already
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
This Olympic event will be one to remember. A little debacle here and small debacle there … Military clampdown hither and yon. If the Chinese still believed in “face”, this would be their downfall. However, the press will make light of anything bad and all will be forgiven, because they, after all, are the enlightened ones.
They felt Portland,Oregon would be worse.
I spend several weeks each quarter in Beijing for business purposes. Just out of curiosity, which Hotel? I’m not currently in China, just wondering.
They also think that the Chinese are as stupid as the Soviets were, and will nationalize all of the foreign investment any day now a la the “New Economic Plan.” The Birchers are big on that one. Don’t get me started on the “all Chinese factories are dependent on slave labor” myth.
Bomb scare shuts Beijing subway station
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=367598&type=National
Bomb scare shuts Beijing subway station
Created: 2008-7-21 10:58:45
Author:Yang Lifei
A BOMB scare forced a subway station in Beijing’s Tongzhou District to close for one hour yesterday afternoon less than three weeks before the Olympic Games, a Beijing newspaper reported today.
According to the Beijing Times, no explosives were found following a search at Jiukeshu Station on the Batong Line.
The station reopened at 4:30pm yesterday.
The report said officers arrived at the station at 3:30pm and started to evacuate the station after an anonymous caller said there were bombs there.
After people were moved out, riot police and firemen entered the station while armed officers patrolled the exits. They prevented anyone from entering the station while the station was searched, the report said.
A cleaning worker told the newspaper that police used sniffer dogs to examine every corner and room.
``Each dustbin was checked several times,’’ said the cleaner, adding that station staff would also check trash cans after the officers.
About 4:30pm, dozens of police equipped with various anti-explosion devices were seen leaving and the station reopened to passengers. Passengers were supposed to receive security checks when entering the station, the report said.
The Beijing Olympics begin on August 8.
The Batong Line is the eastern extention of Line 1. It starts at Sihui Station in Chaoyang District and ends at Tuqiao Station in Tongzhou District. The route stretches 18.96 kilometers and includes 13 stations, said the report.
****Elaine is still trapped in a stopped train.****
Elaine’s voice: “Oh, this is great. This is what I need, just what I need.
“Ok, take it easy I’m sure it’s nothing. Probably rats on the track, we’re stopping for rats. God, it’s so crowded. How can there be so many people?
“This guy really smells, doesn’t anyone use deodorant in the city? What is so hard, you take the cap off, you roll it on. What’s that? I feel something rubbing against me.
“Oh, I can’t breathe, I feel faint. Take it easy, it’ll start moving soon.
“It’s a nightmare! Help me! Move it! Com’on move this fu(beep) thing!! Why isn’t it moving?!? What can go wrong with a train!?! It’s on tracks, there’s no traffic! How can a train get stuck.
“Step on the gas!! What could it be? You’d think the conductor would explain it to us? ‘I’m sorry there’s a delay we’ll be moving in 5 minutes’!! I wanna hear a voice!! What’s that on my leg?!!”
****Lights in the train go off****
This Olympics is going to be a disaster from a logistical point of view. The IOC is going to look foolish before it is over.
The press will minimize and ignore many problem issues because there is too much business to be done in China to risk embarrassing the ruling elite.
I know things are much cleaner now that they’ve taken most cars off the street and shut down most factories but Beijing is a hole. The pollution is just stunning for someone coming from America. Buildings a few hundred feet away just vanish into the vile smog. You can’t even see more than the outline of the sun on some “sunny” days. Avoid it. Rural china is nice but stay away from Beijing.
My favorite hotel in Beijing is the St Regis - it’s in the embassy row area, within walking distance of the Silk Market and the Russian market. They Grand Hyatt at Wangfujing is also nice - awesome pool.
We’ve been here over a month, but we’ll leave the day before the open ceremony. My kid and I just got back from a subway ride up Line 1. This is usually the busiest line, but today passenger traffic seemed light—my kid even got a seat.
We went to the Silk Market area, ate in an outdoor cafe, took a walk, and rode back home. No problems at all.
What’s more (and I hope I don’t get flamed for having a good time here), the air seemed cleaner today.
We’re staying on the east side in a friend’s apartment, out near the 4th ring.
Man that’s messed up. A lot of bad history there. THe Chinese and the Japanese going after each other.
How long since you were in Beijing? When we first arrived here in mid-June, it was pretty much like what you described. But recently we’ve had a lot of clear sunny days. You could see the moon at dusk clear as a bell and even some stars after dark.
Some days the air is smoggy as hell, but today it’s kind of pleasant. We’re having a lot of fun here — no real problems at all.
Timid people.
You can have Beijing. Shanghai is much better. If traffic gets bad, just take your bicycle. Beijing always seemed to me to be nothing but traffic.
Alright, now the big question: How is it that you can get on the internet? On FreeRepublic even? You must be a communist plant with special access to the internet. You commie you. Don't you know that no one on here is going to believe you are just an ordinary person that has found an internet connection. Just how stupid do you think we are?
That’s sarcasm, right? I’ve never had a problem getting on FR from China, either form my hotel rooms, or from internet cafes.
Glad to hear you’re having a good time. Stories like this one make me glad I’m not going to be in Beijing for the Games... but I really wish I was in other parts of China. The Olympic run-up (TV commercials, etc) has got to be really annoying by now (it was starting to get to me back in May!), but it must really cool to feel the energy there right about now.
Best satire I've seen here since joining up! Good work! But for those who think you're serious, I'll say that I'm just an average American tourist staying with friends. Freerepublic.com has been freely available to me here since arriving in June. I also can access Taiwan newspaper sites. The only thing I haven't been able to get online is Engrish.com - they seem to want to censor that.
It is kind of cool to be here, at what is and may even more so become a fascinating point in history.
A few months ago. That was well before they started shutting factories and reducing car traffic.
Internet cafes?! Now we really know you are feeding us communist propoganda. Why, there can not possibly be internet cafes in China. Next thing you know you will be telling us that you can get print copies of USAToday, Business Week and the International Herald Tribune.
Of course it is sarcasim.
You can also get Rice Crispies and Cheerios!
In 1984, when there were mostly bikes, few cars, (no private cars) diesel work trucks -— and horse-driven wagons -— there was still pollution in Beijing. Alot of it came from nearby provinces and the use of coal. There was/is also the dust from the Gobi Desert. A change in the wind direction and all cleared up. I vividly remember one morning when a front had passed and the sky was clear blue and I could see neigboring buildings, after days of thick pollution!
And it is not just the Eastern cities. There was a rare night that I could see stars when in the countryside.
It must be worse now, with all the cars, but the “Beijing cough” has been around for years.
Find yourself a sidewalk “cafe” where you can get a boiled chicken. You will not believe how good it tastes compared to chicken in the U.S.
It will be the little place with a single lightbulb hanging down for light, a table placed on the sidewalk and, of course, chicken in the pot.
Oh, I agree. Shanghai offers all of the comforts of home...including Cafe du Monde!
Thanks! I will keep my eyes open for this place!
I was thinking more of the pub crawls!
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