Beijing will soon be home to a new tramway, which will connect tourist sites in western Beijing. The tram line will be the first to be built in the capital in 50 years, Xinhua reports.
This new line will have six stops that will connect tourist hot spots such as the botanical gardens, the Summer Palace and the Fragrant Hills, the Beijing Public Transportation Group announced on Wednesday. The tram will cater to tourists but will also act as another public transport option for local commuters.
The new line will extend 8.8 kilometers, of which 1.3 kilometers will be underground. The actual street cars will hold up to 300 passengers and will measure 10 meters wide and 32 meters long. The project will reportedly cost RMB4.7 billion (USD680 million).
Trams have a long history in Beijing, with the oldest tramway dating back to 1899. Trams were actually the primary form of public transportation for Beijingers from the 1920s to the late ‘50s.
It turns out Beijing isn't the only Chinese city to go retro with the whole tram thing. Shanghai recently announced plans to build their own tram. It appears that trams are all the rage in China right now.
[Image via baidu.com]
0 User Comments