New subway eases Beijing travel misery
A major new subway line in Beijing opened this week as part of China's bid to transform the city into a world-class capital prior to the Olympics and ease the misery of its long-suffering commuters.

"New Beijing, Great Olympics," is one of the host city's Olympic slogans and the ultra-sleek Line No 5 ties in with the government's 40-billion-dollar plan to renew the city's infrastructure in time for the Games.

The 26-kilometre (16-mile) service is aimed at improving Beijing's poor air quality and reducing traffic jams caused by the spiralling number of cars on the city's streets.

"It means we're catching up with Singapore, Hong Kong and places like that," said Yu Xiaobo, a communications student enjoying a smooth ride on the new line that is the first to run north-south through the city.