Beijing Holds Record for Longest Commutes, Again

In the 2023 "Commuting Report" survey on China's major cities, Beijing once again stood out with the longest average commute time, clocking in at a hefty 47 minutes for one-way travel. This is the third consecutive year that Beijing has claimed the dubious distinction of having the longest average commute times in China.

The study further highlights that the dream commute, affectionately referred to as 幸福通勤 xìngfú tōngqín (happy commute) in Chinese, would fall under 45 minutes. Unfortunately, those stuck in transit for over 60 minutes are categorized as "extreme commuters." In 2023, a substantial 28 percent of Beijing's commuting population landed in this category, marking a slight 2 percent decrease from the previous year.

The report also threw a spotlight on the commute times of young professionals fresh out of university and aged below 25. It seems that this group bears the brunt of the commute burden, with a whopping 80 percent spending at least 45 minutes on their one-way travels. Moreover, an unfortunate 14 percent of these youngsters have to endure an intimidating commute stretching beyond 25 kilometers.

The study also suggests that your home address plays a significant role in determining your commute duration. For instance, those hailing from Tongzhou or Daxing are more likely to be stuck in transit for extended periods, with less than 50 percent making it to their workplaces within the coveted 45 minute mark. On the brighter side, it seems Yizhuang dwellers have nailed the commuting game, with over 70 percent managing to reach their workplaces within the happy commute time.

Another interesting tidbit is that roughly three percent of commuters aren't even Beijing residents. They're residing in neighboring Hebei province and commuting to Beijing. To put it in perspective, we're talking about approximately 333,000 hardcore commuters who spend an average of one hour and 47 minutes covering 36.3 kilometers just to get to the capital city. But hey, there's a silver lining! With the construction of the Chaobai River Bridge ramping up, and the Beijing-Harbin Expressway widening project moving into phase two, these extreme commuters can anticipate a smoother ride in the future.

Digging deeper into the data, we find some intriguing commute habits. It seems like the folks who work in the CBD and Zhongguancun areas are night owls, typically hitting the snooze button until 8am and not wrapping up until around 7.30pm. On the other hand, those hustling in Yizhuang are the early birds, rising with the sun to beat the traffic and usually clocking out earlier too. And then there are those in the Shangdi area, where a good chunk of commuters from Huilongguan or Tiantongyuan tend to work late and, sadly, overwork.

So, what about you? What's your commute time in Beijing? Are you one of the fortunate ones who enjoy a "happy commute," or are you part of the "extreme commuters" club, battling long hours on the road every day?

Read:Beijing-Shanghai Rail Trips Are Outpacing Flights, Here's Why 

Images: Unsplash, 澎湃新闻