On October 17, during a visit to the construction site of the Beijing Urban Sub-center Station Comprehensive Transportation Hub, the vibrant scene was filled with towering cranes, bustling vehicles, and the din of machinery. This hub, touted as the largest underground transportation facility in Asia, reached a significant milestone in August by completing its primary structure and has now entered the phase of electromechanical and equipment installation. It is projected to be largely completed by 2025.

Accompanying a media tour under the theme “High-Quality Development Research Tour,” I had the opportunity to explore the Sub-center Station, a flagship project that embodies the national strategy for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It aligns with the goals set forth in the “Beijing Urban Master Plan (2016-2035)” and aims to relieve non-capital functions from Beijing.

Zhou Wei, Deputy General Manager of the Beijing Investment Sub-center Hub Construction Management Company, shared insights on the station’s design, which emphasizes the integration of transportation and urban space. The underground hub spans a massive 1.28 million square meters and consists of three levels. It includes facilities for the Beijing-Tanggu (Beijing-Binhai) intercity rail and its connections, the Pinggu Line and M101 subway stations, transfer platforms, a comprehensive transportation hub, public service areas, and municipal support systems. Above ground, there’s over 1.3 million square meters dedicated to office, commercial, and hotel spaces.

Zhou highlighted the station’s comprehensive transportation integration, which is a first in China, bringing together intercity railways, urban transit, an urban terminal, piers, and mixed developments. This innovative design aims to facilitate seamless transfers between various modes and lines of transportation, significantly enhancing travel efficiency.

The rapidly progressing construction of the Sub-center Station is set to provide essential modern transportation support for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. “From here, you can reach Beijing Capital International Airport in just 15 minutes, Daxing International Airport in 35 minutes, and Tangshan in the same timeframe,” Zhou stated. “In an hour, you can make it to the Xiongan New Area in Hebei and the Tianjin Binhai New Area.”

Li Zejun, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission, indicated that Beijing’s infrastructure is increasingly interconnected. With the operational launch of Beijing Daxing International Airport, the primary railways, intercity railways, and railway hubs within the city are nearing completion. Once the Sub-center Station is operational, it will establish a new hub pattern known as “Eight Stations and Two Airports,” featuring eight railway stations and two airports. The total railway mileage will reach 1,372.4 kilometers, creating a “one-hour traffic circle” connecting Beijing, Xiong’an, Tianjin, and Baoding.