Beijing has the longest average commute in the country, with the average commuter's one-way trip to work clocking in an an unenviable 97 minutes.
The capital city was named the "City with the worst commuting conditions in the world," in an IBM 'Commuter Pain Survey' (lovely titles, these things). The pain survey also included traffic congestion, something that, again, isn't Beijing's strongest suit.
That said, Shanghairen aren't exactly zipping to work either: Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen all clocked in average commutes of greater than 90 minutes, while those lucky speed fiends in Tianjin, Nanjing and Chongqing averaged (only) a bit more than 65 minutes.
More extensions to Beijing's subway lines in the coming years (an extra RMB400bn has been earmarked for its investment) means better transport for those outside the fifth and sixth ring roads, but it's safe to assume this will also mean next-level pushing and squeezing in the carriages.
It's not that we ever thought that commuting in Beijing was paradise, but when the city is winning first prize in any kind of "Pain Survey," it can't be a good sign.
(Also, please re-read the utterly bullshit report filed by some Beijing researchers earlier this year in which they claimed that Shanghai had the worst traffic in the country. Try to hold your laughter when you picture them on an hour-and-a-half long subway commute to the office to write that report.)
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