Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Jan 20

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.

Beijing Daxing International Airport Marks Milestone in 2023 Operations: In 2023, Beijing Daxing International Airport reported significant operational achievements, according to Xinhua News. The airport managed a staggering 290,000 flights and served over 39.4 million passengers, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Daxing International facilitated a substantial flow of travelers with 2 million individuals passing through its entry-exit checkpoints last year alone.

The airport expanded its global reach, inaugurating over 30 new international routes, including flights to and from China's special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao, by year's end.

A noteworthy detail emerged about the demographics of the airport's users: more than 25 percent of the Chinese passengers at Daxing's entry-exit port were from the regions neighboring Beijing. This underlines its strategic importance as a pivotal transport hub for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.

Beijing Launches Unmanned Police Patrol Cars, a First in China: Beijing has recently escalated its autonomous driving capabilities, with the inauguration of unmanned police patrol cars in Yizhuang's high-level autonomous driving demonstration area, reports CGTN. As of Tuesday, this pioneering initiative has deployed 15 self-driving patrol cars outfitted with emergency lights to support the Daxing Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

These innovative vehicles are capable of performing varied police functions such as patrolling, securing events, broadcasting announcements, issuing warnings, and participating in emergency rescues. Developed by Neolix, the electric patrol cars boast remarkable efficiency with a 30-second battery replacement feature and a 100 km range. "These cars are designed with cutting-edge technology to ensure public safety," noted Zhang Weiling, Neolix's senior vice president.

The cars' advanced perception system offers a 360-degree view and can detect objects up to 120 meters away. They are powered by a high-performance computing platform that navigates in real-time, ensuring seamless and safe operations.

Beijing Advances Public Transit with Commencement of Metro Line 1 Extension: Beijing's urban transportation network is set to expand as construction for the Line 1 Branch Line commenced on Jan 18, reports Beijing Traffic Radio. This extension is a significant step in the third phase of the city's subway construction plan and is expected to enhance connectivity in the capital.

The branch line aims to bridge the Fengtai and Shijingshan districts, incorporating nine new stations into the existing network. Once completed, this project will bolster the public transportation framework in Beijing's western and southern regions, with the ultimate goal of alleviating daily road traffic in the region.

READ: Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Jan 13

Images: Unsplash, CGTN