第二课 坐地铁 Lesson Two Taking the Subway (1)

Reporter: Looking for the faster and less stressful alternative? Be a true Beijinger, join us as we head underground to use Beijing’s subway system and learn some useful Chinese transportation phrases along the way.

Stephy: Well, to start off, we need to first find the subway or 地铁. I know I’m close, but I could use some help. Let’s just ask.

Stephy: 你好，请问地铁在哪？
Pedestrian: 你好。

GRAPHIC FLASH: 请问地铁在哪？请问 may I ask, 地铁 subway, 在 at,  哪 wher, together, 请问地铁在哪？May I ask wher the subway is?

Pedestrian: 就在前面。

GRAPHIC FLASH: 就在前面。就 just, 在 at, 前面in front, altogether, 就在前面。It’s straight ahead.

Stephy to pedestrian: 好的，谢谢。
Pedestrian: 不客气。

Stephy: She said it’s in this direction. Whenever in doubt, resort to hand gestures.

With 8 existing subway lines and 123 stations, Beijing has the longest subway system in China after Shanghai. You’re bound to run into a subway stop. 

Stephy: Just a lookout for the big D sign. We’ll start here at Yuanmingyuan (圆明园). Our destination? My friend Nicholas and I are going to hit up hotspot Wangfujing (王府井) for its exotic food market. Because subways go to popular destinations such as Tian’anmen Square and the Olympic Village, sometimes riding the subway is better than watching your cab fare tick away in slow rush hour traffic.
 
Nicholas: Stephy, I bet I can beat you to Wangfujing in a cab.
Stephy: Taxi versus subway? You’re on. Loser eats a scorpion. Deal? 
Nicholas: Deal.
Stephy: Ready? 出发！
Nicholas: 出发！

Stephy: With an average of more than 1,200 new cars added to Beijing streets daily, the odds are against Nicholas.

Stephy: We will start here at Yuanmingyuan (圆明园), a stop on Beijing’s newest subway line, Line 4. We’ll head south towards Xidan (西单). At Xidan, we will head east on Line 1, finally arriving at Wangfujing (王府井).