Guomao Subway Station
From Beijingology
| Guomao Subway Station Ditie Guomao Zhan 地铁国贸站 地鐵國貿站 | |
|---|---|
 Above-ground view (Subway Line 1 part) | |
 Above-ground view (Subway Line 10 part) | |
 Interior view (Subway Line 1 part) | |
 Interior view (Subway Line 10 part) | |
| Station Number(s) | 122, 1003 |
| Location | Guomao Bridge, Chaoyang District |
| Lines | Subway Line 1, Subway Line 10 |
| Platforms | 2 (on one central platform) |
| First Train | 05:02 (Line 1 to Pingguoyuan) |
| Last Train | 23:43 (Line 1 to Sihui East) |
| Disabled Access | |
| Bus Stops in the Vicinity | |
| Bus Routes in the Vicinity | |
| Park and Ride Services | |
| Notes | |
| [[|360px]] Station diagram | |
Guomao station is at Guomao Bridge, with the Line 1 stations just to the west of the bridge, and the Line 10 stations just north of the bridge. Geographically, the station is located in eastern urban Beijing's Chaoyang District. Unfortunately, no exits are at the southeastern corner of the bridge.
The Line 1 stations appears a brown-marblish building, although some entrances fit in the much more modern style used by the China World Trade Center. The Line 10 station is a mix of the regular grey-and-transparent boxes and newer, slanted entrances.
Guomao station is often packed with commuters, especially during rush hour. The situation has worsened with the opening of Line 10, as both lines (Line 1 running west-east and Line 10 running north-south) are in huge demand throughout the week. Fortunately, the Line 10 part of Guomao station sports extremely wide platforms to deal with the situation.
Contents |
History
In the original Subway Fuba Line plans, this station was designated another name -- Dabeiyao Subway Station (地铁大北窑站). By the time of its completion, however, the Fuba line was renamed Line 1, and this very station was given its present-day name (Guomao Subway Station).
The subway station was completed by 1999. Guomao Station opened to the public beginning September 28, 1999. Full Line 1 services through to Pingguoyuan station were inaugurated in late June 2000. The Line 10 part, under construction before 2008, has been opened to the public as of 14:00 on July 19, 2008.
A second English name of this station was the International Trade Center station, briefly used before English signs and announcements were unified as Guomao station beginning October 7, 2007.
Beginning October 11, 2008, Exit C in the Line 1 part of the station became sealed. At the same time, a new Exit D in the Line 1 part opened up, providing closer connections to Jianwai SOHO, as well as a pre-reserved all-underground connection to the Yintai Centre. Exit C will be reopened in May 2009.
There remains an as-yet unbuilt Line 10 exit (which could potentially be labelled as exit G2) which, if opened and put into service, would finally resolve the problem of the southeastern part of Guomao Bridge (notably the Motorola Tower) being left without a Subway exit.
Geography
The station lies at the corners of Guomao Bridge. In its vicinity are also:
- North 3rd Ring Middle Road (north-south)
- Guanghua Dongli
- Guanghua Road
- Langjiayuan
- Nanlangjiayuan
- Jianguomen Outer Avenue (westbound)
- Jianguo Road (eastbound)
- Tonghuihe North Road
Architecture
The Line 1 part of Guomao station appears either in the form of two tan boxes (exits B and C) or as part of the China World Trade Center (exit A). The Line 10 exits appear either as a standard Line 10 box in a grey outline (exits F and G), or as two slanted boxes with a black outline (E1 and E2).
At least three more exits have been prereserved (although not built in full as of yet) for the Line 10 part of Guomao station. These are likely to connect to the new CBD hub, which will be located just to the northeast of Guomao Bridge.
Line 10 Part Design Notes
Construction of the Line 10 part of the station was a lot harder to undertake than the Line 1 part of the section. The Line 10 part of the station had to miss dozens of sunken bridge poles from the above overpass duo (Guomao Bridge and what used to be a separate Dabeiyao Bridge, now merged into Guomao Bridge), as well as dodge the Line 1 station just to the west of the bridge complex.
In the end, three proposals were submitted:
- Proposal 1 called for a full-scale Line 10 part of Guomao station to be built, which would span the full length of the central bridge complex. Two, not the present-day one, interchange tunnels would have been built (a la the Dongdan and Chongwenmen stations on Line 5), and six Line 10 exits would be provided on all four corners of the bridge complex, including an all-underground connection to China Textiles Tower. The Line 10 station would use split central platforms (like the present-day Line 10 part does). The pros were obvious: a complete interchange solution, full exit services, and a full use of underground space. The major con was the massive price tag.
- Proposal 2 called for a rather minimalistic solution to the problem: a "shrunk" island platform on the western half of the bridge. The pro here would be a reduced use of underground floor space, as well as the presence of two interchange passageways; the minus here would be the added skipping of sunken bridge poles in the unused parts of underground space.
- Proposal 3 called for a near full-scale Line 10 part of Guomao station to be built just north of the bridge complex. This would have caused the least potential friction with both the above-ground bridge system and the existing Line 1 part of Guomao station. The added plus: the price -- Proposal 3 was the cheapest choice in the three-set proposal. However, glaring cons were present: Line 10 would be unable to service the southwestern part of Guomao bridge (although passengers could easily transfer through the Line 1 part), and the presence of just one interchange passageway could easily create passenger flow chaos.
In the end, Proposal 3 was chosen and implemented. The flaws of this cheap design have become painfully visible during rush hour (especially in the interchange passageway), but to make up for further flaws, the Line 10 part of the station sports extremely wide split central platforms.
Interior
Both the Line 1 and the Line 10 parts of Guomao station have two underground levels, with the platform on the lower level. Underground Level 1 in both parts are through halls; passengers from Underground Level 2 can take any staircase or elevator to reach all exits on the upper level. The station is supported by two rows of firebrick red round columns at platform level in the Line 1 part; in the Line 10 part, no columns exist at platform level.
Passengers inside the paid area may use any exit from any part (Line 1 or Line 10) of the station, although the exit chosen may, at times, involve a walk through the transfer passageway between the two lines. Passengers outside the paid area are restricted to using exits available for that line's part of the station only.
Station Layout
Line 1 Part
| Ground Level (Public area) | Exits (A, B, C) | |
| Underground Level 1 (Mixed area) | Access to exits (through hall) Manned ticket counters Automatic ticket machines (28) Beijing Super Pass card kiosks (-) Ticket barriers (-) Interchange with Subway Line 10 | |
| Underground Level 2 (Paid area) | Northern platform | Subway Line 1 to Pingguoyuan (Next station: Yonganli) |
| Southern platform | Subway Line 1 to Sihui East (Next station: Dawanglu) |
Line 10 Part
| Ground Level (Public area) | Exits (E1, E2, F, G) | |
| Underground Level 1 (Mixed area) | Access to exits (through hall) Manned ticket counters Automatic ticket machines (-) Beijing Super Pass card kiosks (-) Ticket barriers (-) Interchange with Subway Line 1 | |
| Underground Level 2 (Paid area) | Western platform | Subway Line 10 (clockwise to Jinsong) (Next station: Shuangjing) |
| Eastern platform | Subway Line 10 (counterclockwise to Bagou) (Next station: Jintaixizhao) |
Interchange
A 70 meter long transfer passageway is used to move passengers from one line to the other. On the Line 1 end, the two transfer tunnels are direction-split and are in the middle of Underground Level 1. Passengers using the transfer passageway will keep left, making the flow appear like traffic in the UK and Hong Kong! (In previous plans, the flow would keep right, like traffic in China and the US.)
Station Services
Ticketing
- Manned ticket counters available.
- Fare Adjustment counters available.
- Automatic ticket machines: 28
- min 16 ticket barriers
- - central ticket barriers
- up to - in
- up to - out
- 8 at exits A and C
- up to - in
- up to - out
- - wide
- 8 at exit B
- up to - in
- up to - out
- - wide
- - central ticket barriers
Note: An in ticket barrier permits entry into the Subway system; an out barrier allows passengers to exit the System. Wide barriers allow both access into and out of the Subway system in the same barrier. All numbers given are upper limits; in the case of combo ticket barriers, which can be used as either an "in" gate or "out" gate, numbers will vary. Please note that some barriers may be out of service at times.
Train Services
- Subway Line 1:
- Service interval: Minimum 2 minutes 15 seconds (3 minutes over weekends)
- To Pingguoyuan (next station: Yongali):
- First train: 05:02
- Last train: 23:23
- To Sihui East (next station: Dawanglu):
- First train: 05:32
- Last train: 23:43
- Subway Line 10:
- Service interval: Minimum 3 minutes 30 seconds
- Clockwise to Jinsong (next station: Shuangjing):
- First train: 05:43
- Last train: 23:03
- Counterclockwise to Bagou (next station: Jintaixizhao):
- First train: 05:57
- Last train: 23:17
Passenger Flow
Guomao station can get extremely busy during rush hour, with both Line 1 and Line 10 being in very heavy demand. It is, in fact, not unusual to see nearly all passengers northbound from Shuangjing (Line 10) alight, only to see the train chock-full of people in just 20 seconds!
The interchange passageway has been optimized to reduce flow conflicts. Passengers to Bagou coming from Line 1 need to use, at times, use a slightly longer passageway, but the reroute is relatively less than at other stations. Nevertheless, the interchange passageway can be home to masses of travellers during rush hours. Passengers may also exit from Exit E1 in the Line 10 part and re-enter at Exit B in the Line 1 part of the station, but this will set them back an extra CNY 2 fare.
Neighboring Subway Stations
- Subway Line 1:
- Subway Line 10:
- Jintaixizhao: 2 mins 30 secs, - km north
- Shuangjing (interchange with Line 7): 1 min 30 secs, - km south
Exits
Four more exits have been opened for the Subway Line 10 part of Guomao station. In addition to the three extra exits already built for Line 1, Guomao now has a total of 7 exits. When Exit C reopens in May 2009, Guomao will have 8 exits in all.
Lines 1 and 10 use different exits, although by means of the interchange passageways, all exits are accessible. Therefore, it is possible for a Line 1 passenger to exit using any Line 10 exit after passing through the interchange passageway; equally, a passenger entering through a Line 10 "box" (exit) can access Line 1 after using the interchange passageway.
All-underground passageways are available at exit A (in the Line 1 part) from the basement of the China World Trade Center; access is provided to both the Line 1 and Line 10 parts of the station.
Of note is the fact that no exit uses the same letter, a situation repeated at Zhichunlu station, but not at other interchanges such as Dongdan station (where there are two exit As, and so on). Line 1 uses letters A through D; Line 10 begins with exits E1 and E2.
- To see a larger picture, click on the image
Line 1 Part
The Line 1 part of Guomao station has three exits. All exits are accessible by means of a through hall on Underground Level 1.
Exit A |
Exit B |
 |
Present Exit C |
- Exit A (northwest): China World Trade Center - China World Shopping Mall, Jianguomen Outer Street (north), Wall Street English Training Center; Bus Routes 9, 28, 37
- Exit B (northeast): Beijing Wanda International Cinema, Ciming Health Checkup Management Group Co, Ltd, China World Trade Center - China World Shopping Mall, Ciming Health Checkup Management Group Co, Ltd, Guomall Shopping Center, Jianguomen Outer Street (north), New Oriental School - Elite English Learning Center, Wal-Mart Supercenter Jianguo Road Branch, Bus Routes 9, 28, 37
-
Previous Exit C (southwest): - Beijing Yintai Center, Central International Trade Center, EF Guomao Center, Jianguomen Outer Street (south), Jianwai SOHO, New Oriental School - Elite English Learning Center, Oxford English China Merchants Training Center, Schouten China, Vivid English Club, Wall Street English Training Center; Bus Routes 9, 28, 37 - Present Exit C (southeast): Jianwai SOHO, Yintai Center
Exit Access
- Exit A: stairs and escalators
- Exit C: stairs and escalators
Line 10 Part
The Line 10 part of Guomao station has at least four exits. All exits are accessible by means of a through hall on Underground Level 1.
- To see a larger picture, click on the image
Exit E1 |
Exit E2 |
Exit F |
Exit G |
- Exit E (northwest): Eastern 3rd Ring Middle Road, China World Apartments, China World Hotel, Guanghua Dongli, Jianguomen Outer Street; Bus Routes 1, 4, 9, 28, 37, 348, 405, 503, 673, Special 3; Taxi stand (on side road, 25 m north of exits)
- Exit E1: Guomao Bridge
- Exit E2:
- Exit F (northeast): Eastern 3rd Ring Middle Road, Taida Times Center; Bus Routes 9, 28, 37, 113, 402, 405, 421, 488, 502, 683, Special 3; Taxi stand (on side road, 35 m south of exit)
- Exit G (southeast): Jianguo Road, China Textile Tower, Langjiayuan; Bus Routes 1, 4, 9, 11, 28, 37, 57, 205, 312, 402, 502, 647, 648
Exit Access
- Exit E:
- Exit E1: stairs and escalators (2)
- Exit E:2 stairs and escalators (2)
- Exit F: stairs and escalators
- Exit G: stairs and escalators
- Elevator to the north of, and between, exits E1 and E2
Local Information
Banks, hospitals, post offices, schools and universities, cafés, teahouses and restaurants, hotels, parks, museums, convenience stores, shopping centers and supermarkets, residential communities, office buildings, entertainment venues, government organizations and Beijing Super Pass Add Value locations are shown in this section.
Banks
- China Minsheng Bank Guomao Branch - east of present exit C, 128, Jianguo Road (1st floor, Yihang Building)
Cafés
- Starbucks Guomao Store: on ground floor inside Tower 1 of the China World Trade Center; exit A
Entertainment Venues
- Beijing Wanda International Cinema - east of exit G, on Jianguo Road
Office Buildings
- Beijing Yintai Center - exit C
- Central International Trade Center - exit C
Restaurants
- Fuxingmen McDonald's Store - exit B
Schools and Universities
- ABC Foreign Language School - exit C
- EIC Group - exit C
- Eloquence English Club - exit C
- New Oriental Elite Learning (Adult) - exits B and C
- Real Life English - exit C
- Vivid English Club - exit C
- Wall Street English China World Tower Training Center - exit A
- Wall Street English Shimao Mansion Training Center - exit A
Shopping Centers and Supermarkets
- China World Mall - exit A
- Wal-Mart Supercenter Jianguo Road Branch - exit B
Sources and References
Outside Beijingology Network
- CN: 北京地铁十号线一期工程国贸站方案设计, June 23, 2006, accessed October 31, 2008
| Beijing Subway Line 1 (Pingguoyuan - Sihui East) 23 stations • 31.04 km • Minimum 2 minutes 15 seconds (3 minutes over weekends) between trains | 
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| Beijing Subway Line 10 (Phase 1 Now Open; Phase 2 Opens 2012) (Outer orbital; Stage 1: Bagou - Jinsong presently open) 22 stations • 24.68 km • Minimum 3 minutes 30 seconds | 
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| Beijing Subway System (Current as of July 19, 2008) | 
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