Beijing’s Subway Gets a High-Tech Upgrade
Imagine stepping onto a train at the last minute and the system swipes your palm or scans your face to let you glide through the turnstile—no more juggling tickets, no more queues. That’s the plan for Beijing’s sprawling underground network, said China Daily on Tuesday.
Why the Move?
- Peak‑time bottlenecks: With over 10 million riders each weekday, stopping at the ticket booth can feel like a marathon.
- Efficiency boost: The new tech can read your data in a blink and get you aboard faster.
- Data safety: The system is designed to match handprints and faces to a secure database—once you’re in, the only thing you need to worry about is the playlist on your phone.
What’s New?
Beijing will launch palm scanners and facial‑recognition cameras across 22 subway lines. The technology is already in Shanghai, where palm prints are compared against a database in seconds. The cameras could help travelers bypass traditional ticketing altogether, making the whole journey smoother.
Human Rights Concerns
While the tech promises speed, human‑rights watchdogs warn that it could be a step toward a broader surveillance state—an “all‑seeing eye” that might keep dissent in check.
All in all, Beijing is gearing up for a future where your next ride could be just a swipe or a glance away. Whether this means less wait time or more watching is a debate that’s bound to unfold.
