“A monthly pass to the past, please!” a young boy chirped, clutching his worn teddy bear. We stand before the Pingxi Underground Transportation Line Themed Exhibition Hall. It’s not just a museum. It’s a time machine back to Beijing’s public transit past. Opened in 2023, this hall isn’t about ancient relics. It showcases the evolution of getting around this bustling city, a story spanning over a century.
The Pingxi Underground Transportation Line Themed Exhibition Hall boasts over 6,000 exhibits. You can almost hear the clang of the first tram wheels, weighing over 400 kilograms. Imagine “clipping tickets” on a vintage bus or even ringing the bell. You can even “customize” your own public transit monthly pass, adding a touch of nostalgia to your present journey.
One of the highlights is a replica of Beijing’s first tram, a steel-wood structure proudly displaying “Route 1” on its roof, a tangible link to 1899 when Siemens introduced trams to the city, running from Majiabao Railway Station to Yongdingmen. The hall showcases 16 key bus models, each a chapter in Beijing’s transit story. From the Dodge bus with its prominent nose, also serving Route 1 (Qianmen to Jiaodaokou), to the domestically produced “Five Seven Type” bus from 1958, each vehicle whispers tales of a bygone era. Remember the “Yellow River Passage” bus? This workhorse from the 70s and 80s, built on the chassis of Yellow River trucks, evokes a wave of familiarity for many.
The Pingxi Underground Transportation Line Themed Exhibition Hall offers more than just vehicles. Glass display cases hold treasures like staff medals, certificates, anniversary publications, licenses, riding rules, and even employee uniforms, water bottles, and handheld loudspeakers. These artifacts paint a vivid picture of the people behind the transit system.
The hall uses technology to bring history to life. In the “Century memory, Ticket recollection” section, a wall displays bus tickets from different eras. Nearby, electronic devices let you create a personalized vintage monthly pass with your own photo, a unique souvenir of your journey through time. The Pingxi Underground Transportation Line Themed Exhibition Hall is a testament to Beijing’s ever-evolving public transit system, a journey of innovation and progress. It reminds us that even everyday aspects of life hold fascinating stories waiting to be discovered.