See the Most Beautiful Map of Beijing's Subway Produced So Far

Steven Schwankert | Apr 18, 2014 9:00 am | 6 comments | 4761 reads

The Beijing Subway is not usually considered one of the world's most attractive transportation systems. Moscow's is elaborate, Paris's a gallery of styles, Beijing's is, uhhh. But now, thanks to a Paris-based architect and cartographer, at least there's a beautiful representation of it.

"I started drawing schematic metro network maps for pocket sized prints, trying to reach a compromise between legibility, usefulness and beauty of design," Jug Cerovic writes on his website.

Cerovic created INAT, what he views as a cartographic standard to make reading, using, and memorizing transporation maps easier. "The maps are design [sic] so as to be legible on small sized prints for pocket use and suitable for display on a wide array of supports." The easy curved lines are elegant but also minimized: the maps are not intended to mirror the actual geographic route of the subway line, but to fit for printing and to remind the user of stop order. For example, lines such as 4 and Y don't curve into a U, but are drawn that way on Cerovic's map to make the graphic more compact.

Between this map, the pleasant weather, and knowing that the clock is ticking on fixed-price, RMB 2 fares, there's no better time to go for a ride on the subway.

Photo: Jug Cerovic

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mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 09:47

1) The Airport Express is still not shown to scale on this "beautiful" map.

2) The official map is beautiful because it uses a Beijing icon to note the Forbidden City. This one resorts to simple text; not as cool.

3) @tomarnstein: we get what we pay for and currently that's a paltry 2 kuai. The current pricing scheme is so heavily subsidized I'm glad even more money isn't devoted to things which you believe make for an eyesore, and instead provide safe, clean, frequent, temperature-controlled rides all over this vast city -- on the cheap. Yes, the maps at stations are not consistently placed (I believe at least 1 in every 4 columns on the platform should have a map of the entire subway system and at least 1 of every 4 columns has a neighbhorhood printout (dual-language would be great, always pointing north, etc.) and save the other 2 for advertising) but I would need more examples of 'poor upkeep' before I take your line hook, line and sinker. Yes, there is a broken turnstile every once and again or an esclator under maintenance every so often, but I've never found the cars themselves to be in need of upkeep.

Perhaps when the distance-based fare scheme is enacted there will be more money to print pretty lil' stickers for you to stare at on your commute? Smile Paper maps will likely soon become interactive touch displays, capable of providing all the answers anyone might have of the area.

wwpk2008's picture wwpk2008 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 08:25

admin wrote:
Mabelling wrote:
You call this beautiful???? More like a distortion of actuality. I am no architect and cartographer, but I can design an even more beautiful one than this Paris based person, whoever s/she is.

Do it!

We'll pay you freelance and give you plenty of publicity.

When can we expect your first draft?

I expect too. It's a really difficulty to balance status and beauty in small paper. There's a lot of Extension cord in next years. Wish more elaborated map comes.

Don't touch me. I have a wife.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Sat, 04/19/2014 - 06:55

Mabelling wrote:
You call this beautiful???? More like a distortion of actuality. I am no architect and cartographer, but I can design an even more beautiful one than this Paris based person, whoever s/she is.

Do it!

We'll pay you freelance and give you plenty of publicity.

When can we expect your first draft?

 

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

tomarnstein's picture tomarnstein Submitted by Guest on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 12:02

Beijing's subway system is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, in the world in terms of price. I do not miss the days of paying the equivalent of RMB 30+ for a single trip in London. Saying that, Beijing's subway is definitely not easy on the eye – poor upkeep, shoddy stickers, poor map placement and ugly government-funded posters don't do it any favours.

Managing Editor, the Beijinger

Mabelling's picture Mabelling Submitted by Guest on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 11:46

You call this beautiful????

More like a distortion of actuality. I am no architect and cartographer, but I can design an even more beautiful one than this Paris based person, whoever s/she is.

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER。 If s/she has any sense of at, s/he should design it more towards Chinese culture side. Then that will make it even more unique !!

hoyasnaxa's picture hoyasnaxa Submitted by Guest on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 10:19

How is Beijing subway considered ugly compared to Paris? Beijing has one of the best subway systems in the entire world, and if you factor in price, it is easily the best in my opinion. Paris subway is also great, but it is hideous and you have to walk so far to go between stops. Subways in the USA are a joke.

Don't hate on what is possibly the best thing about this entire city...

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