The Joy of Six: Changying

This month, we’ve checked out all the stops on Line 6 to tell you about the gems that you shouldn’t wait to discover in our station-by-station Going Underground special.

SELLING POINT
Truckloads of fun.

SPECULATE, PART 1
Buy a house. Go on. OK, that might be a bit strong. You have only just got here, after all, but you’re a little way out of town yet right on the subway, so it might be worth renting. Step into the Home Link and check out how much over the odds you’re paying for being near to Jenny Lou’s or a harmonica-wielding hutong barman. It’s enough to make you think.

SPECULATE, Part 2
What is this place going to be? That’s a question to ask yourself in this huge station. Could this be Beijing East Railway Station? A bus depot serving the eastern provinces? We’ve no idea, but something is definitely afoot underground. If you go outside, all signs point to something big, based on the depth of that hole in the neighboring construction site.

SPECTATE
If you’re a fan of classic Chinese trucks, then is this ever the stop for you. Our favorites were the two clapped-out charabancs that have taken their final resting place with a view of the Die Hard With A Vengeance-sized convoy serving the mysterious building site. Make a game of it. A drinking game.

EAT
Buying an out-of-town love nest and truckspotting are thirsty work. A venue known as Edge will sell you drinks. They also serve food such as pizzas to go with it, alongside foreign film screenings.

PUZZLE
Take a moment to wonder why you can only go West on the subway platform. Both sides point to Haidian Wuluju …

This article originally appeared on page 18 in the February issue of the Beijinger.

Photo: Lova