by Victoria Yang and Paul Pennay



Among a range of other Olympic provisions, this Sunday, July 20, marks the beginning of the odd-even car restriction measures, a tightening of the rules governing dust and emission producing industries, the implementation of stricter security controls at the Capital International Airport and the opening of three new subway lines. Aside from all of these major security, air quality and transport measures, Beijing will also launch 10 of the 34 new Olympic bus lines, open a new express BRT bus service and, what we find most appealing, unveil two new sightseeing bus lines devoted to providing visitors with a cheap (only 3 kuai)and comfortable means of exploring the city.

Although these two new routes are especially aimed at tourists, it might be a good idea to take a ride on the guanguang xian before the hordes arrive. The two routes are serviced by brand new double-decker tour buses and are staffed by young Chinese women who provide commentary on the route's various Olympic and historical sites in both English and Chinese. The coaches sit 60 passengers and the soft cushioned seats are specially designed to handle the extra width of many a foreign backside. The first deck of the spacious vehicles also contain small fold out tables and travelers are encouraged to eat while touring the city in air-conditioned comfort. The tour buses also boast extra large windows.



Where do they go?
While Line 1 takes passengers on a tour of some of the major historical sites of the capital city, it actually starts at one of Beijing's newest buildings, Beijing South Railway Station. The bus heads north from the railway station to Yongding Men, one of the main gateways to the ancient capital which lies on the city's main north-south axis, directly south of the Forbidden City. Unfortunately, given that the nice park that heads north from the old gate is being used as the starting point for some of the Olympic cycling events, passengers will not be able to get off and take a closer look. Next the bus continues to head north, passing by the west gate of the Altar of Heaven (Tiantan) before arriving at Qianmen, just to the north of the yet-to-be-completed themed shopping street Qianmen Dajie. After that, the bus continues north past the east side of Tiananmen Square where tourists can, if they turn the camera to the right, take snaps of the Olympic Countdown Clock out the front of the under-renovation National Museum. The bus then heads east past the Ministry of Defense and makes a quick left at Nanheyan Dajie and follows the narrow park that marks the site of the old Ming Dynasty wall to the Imperial City north before stopping just south of the Shatan intersection where tourists, forgoing the imperial nature of the tour, will be able to look (but not enter as it too is in the process of being renovated) at the Red Building Hong Lou that is regarded as the birth place of the May 4th Movement and also housed the library where a young Mao Zedong worked as a young man. The bus then heads west, and if passengers turn their cameras to the left, they'll be able to get some nice shots of the northeast watchtower of the Forbidden City before the bus makes a right and stops at the east gate of Jingshan Park. Finally, a stop where it'd be a good idea to get off and explore the park, especially on a Sunday morning when groups of retirees singing revolutionary songs take over the place. You can also had up to Wangchun Pavilion where you might bump into a policeman with a knack for languages. Given it's proximity to the Forbidden City and the fact that the Hall of Supreme Harmony has just been re-opened to the public, it'd be a good idea to cross the road and take a look around the former Imperial Palace.

The bus continues to head north where tourists will be told there is nothing to see on the right until they cross over Di'anmen Dajie and start getting close to the Drum Tower (Gulou). Gulou is another stop at which it's actually worth getting of the bus and taking a walk around. Heading southwest you can browse the stores of Yandai Xiejie and pick up a 20 kuai Mojito at Huxley's or you could head east a long Gulou Dongdajie - again browsing the boutiques and musical instrument stores before stopping for a coffee over at Nanluogu Xiang. The 18km journey is almost over with the bus again heading north and then turning right on to the second ring road where it'll shoot by the Lama Temple (Yonghegong) and the friendly offices of the PSB's Entry and Exit Administration before heading on to the terminus of Beiguanting that sits at the very tip of the northeastern corner of the second ring road and from where you might just be able to glimpse the Russian Embassy through the trees.



Line 2, on the other hand, presents visitors with the modern, Olympic face of Beijing. It conveniently also ends at Beiguanting, so travelers can get take Line 1 to the terminal station and then swap on to Line 2. The route basically takes passengers on a tour of the major Olympic venues and centers on those located within and around the Olympic Green in the north of the city. It takes about an hour to complete the 16km journey that passes by the Bird's Nest, Water Cube and the Olympic village. You can take a look at the video below (narrated in Chinese) for a map of the route.



Price: RMB 3 - you can swipe your Yikatong, but it won't give you a discount as it does on most other bus routes.

Line 1:
Yongding Men, Tiantan West Gate, Qianmen, Tiananmen Square East, Shatan Lukou Nan, Jingshan Dongmen, Gulou, Yonghegong Beiguanting.

Line 2:
Hui Zhongli, Beichen Donglu, Olympic Green South Gate, The Olympic Village East, Bird's Nest, Beichen West Bridge, Yonghegong Bridge East, Beiguanting.

Other Related News:
The Olympic lanes also come into effect on Sunday. Ordinary drivers without the necessary Olympic credentials are liable for a RMB 200 fine if caught either by a police officer or one of the many camera monitoring the roads.



Links and Sources
China Economic Net: Beijing opens new bus tour routes for Olympics
China Daily: 34 new bus lines in Beijing: Just the ticket
Xinhua: Beijing to open three new subway lines by Sunday
The First: 城市观光专线票价3元
Sohu: 视频：奥运观光公交专线开通 美女记者体验新北京
Xinhua: 北京观光公交周日开通 票价3元可刷卡不打折
Sina: 北京观光巴士共两条路线 双层空调车配“小饭桌”
People.com.cn: 北京城市观光专线1、2路票价3元周日正式开通
CCTV: Hall of Supreme Harmony Welcomes Visitors again
Sina: 图文-北京公交推出两观光线 “古都”“奥运”为主题 (image of bus)
8684.cn: Maps of new Olympic lines in pinyin and Chinese (only opens in IE)
The Beijinger Forum: Where to find new Sightseeing Bus?