Beijing by Numbers: Blue Skies, Cheap Flights and Nobel Prize Winners

4
Number of times Jay Chou (Zhou Jielun) has won the World Music Award

Jay Chou, the Taiwanese musician, singer, producer, actor and director has once again taken the ‘Best Selling Artist in China’ honors at the 2008 World Music Awards held in Monte Carlo.

5.8
Amount in RMB that regular #93 fuel costs at a gas station in Beijing

With the slump in international oil prices, prices at Beijing gas stations began to drop in early November. The lowest price of regular 93# fuel in a gas station is already RMB 0.57 less then the retail price in early October.

7
Numbers of Nobel Prize winners who appeared at the "2008 Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum"

Seven Nobel winners were invited to give academic lectures and discuss academic, social and industrial issues at the 4-day "2008 Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum" which opened on Nov 11 at the Great Hall of the People. The prize winners also met with local residents and gave public speeches at Zhongshan Park.

26
Number of "Blue Sky Days" in Beijing from October 11- Nov 10

Since the new traffic restriction came effect in Beijing one month ago, statistics from monitoring stations indicate that Beijing has experienced the best air quality results for October in 8 years.

70
The current price of a flight from Beijing to Shenyang in RMB

The price of domestic flight tickets has dropped dramatically in recent weeks with most airlines offering big discounts. Some routes are offering discounts of 90% off the regular price, making it even cheaper to fly than take the train. The best price that we could find for a flight to Shenyang was RMB 110.

91
Number of stairs from the Airport Express platform to the ground floor exit at Dongzhimen station

As many passengers traveling to and from the airport have to lug heavy bags, Beijing Subway were on the receiving end of plenty of passenger complaints about the lack of an elevator at the Dongzhimen station. The good news is that elevators are set to be installed within 3 months.

30,000
Amount in RMB of the fine for violating a ban on non-standard heating systems in rural lodges (Nongjiale) in Beijing.

Two guests were found dead after a leak in the "kang" bed that they were sleeping on released carbon monoxide at a rural lodge in Beijng's Pinggu District. Local authorities have announced a crackdown on faulty stoves and heated brick beds in rural hotels and homestays.

700,000
Amount of RMB claimed by the relatives of a man who was killed when he collided with a taxi door while riding his bike.

The man died earlier this year when a a 17-year-old girl opened a taxi door in the path of his bike in the Beitucheng area. The man's relatives have filed a lawsuit against both the girl and the taxi company.

1,330,000
Number of views of a video showing the head of Peking University singing “Invisible Wings”with students

Peking University president Xu Zhihong's impromtu performance was caught on camera during a recent visit to a student dormitory.

34,000,000,000
Amount in RMB that will be spent on upgrading the city’s traffic infrastructure over the next 5 years.

According to the director of the Beijing municipal committee of communications, the money will mainly be invested in extending the city's subway lines, which is expected to be 420km long by 2012.

Links and Sources
HC360.com: 周杰伦《苏乞儿》“武神”造型独家曝光(组图)
Beijingology: Beijing Subway Network 2015 (image)