Beijing Subway Line 6

The new colorful decorative concrete panels for Beijing Subway Line 6 - A masterpiece by HuiLiao Group

The western extension of Beijing Subway Line 6 is set to open 5 stations by the end of this year. These 5 stations, both inside and outside, boast unique 'scenic' designs that are so beautiful they could be the backdrop for wedding photos.

Starting from the east, the first station on the westward extension is Tiancun Station. The station features a unique decorative concrete panel with a red brick texture on its walls (provided by Shanghai Huiliao Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.). The flooring is made of light gray granite, with a central arch, matching the ceiling and column surfaces in the same color. Everything blends seamlessly, creating a spacious and open atmosphere while reducing a sense of confinement.

Tiancun Station Hall and Internet-famous Channel

At Tiancun Station, the passageway connecting the two terminal station halls features a raised central arch, with the ceiling seamlessly integrated with the walls. The combination of white and blue colors creates a more spacious and expansive atmosphere. Liaogongzhuang Station, Xihuangcun Station, and Yangzhuang Station are standard two-pillar three-span underground stations. The walls incorporate artistic arched moon gate designs, blending artistry with the station's structure, which complements the arched patterns on the ceiling.

Liaogongzhuang Station Hall and Art Channel Mural

"Liaogongzhuang Station also features an “Internet-famous Channel”. Upon entering the station from Entrance A, passengers will first pass through a corridor designed to resemble the “Summer Sea” effect of Liaogongzhuang Station. The walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with starfish, creating the sensation of passengers strolling as if they were in the sea.

Real Scene of Xihuangcun Station Hall

Real Scene of Yangzhuang Station Hall

In the station's interior design, some areas have incorporated with white pillars. In contrast to traditional aluminum panels, they have used inorganic porcelain enamel aluminum panels, which are more environmentally friendly and durable. He mentioned that the station's walls feature arched moon gate designs with a red brick texture, achieved through new decorative concrete panels. These panels strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and enhanced aesthetics.

Apple Park Station's opening has been postponed due to construction challenges and other reasons, but once completed, it will facilitate transfers to Line 1 and S1. The station is themed around “Under the Apple Tree”, featuring a design that weaves through the space with an overhead canopy structure and wall elements. Through the use of ambient lighting, it creates a relaxed and natural space reminiscent of being under the shade of a tree.

Tiancun Station Weather Corridor

Jin'anqiao Station provides transfers to operational Line S1 Line and future Line 11. On its south side, it seamlessly integrates with a newly developed commercial and office district, while on the west side, it connects to the Shougang Industrial Creative Park. The station's interior design combines a blend of solid and void elements, with some sections featuring exposed ceilings. The overall ceiling design incorporates exposed industrial elements and modern aluminum panel structures, representing the convergence of history and the future.

Jin’anqiao Station 

It's worth mentioning that among the 6 stations on the western extension of Line 6, 5 stations have implemented a station-city integration design. This is one of the lines in Beijing with a relatively high rate of station integration. Through efficient connections with various transportation systems, including pedestrian, motor vehicles, buses, and the subway, it seamlessly integrates urban living functions such as commuting, transfers, stops, relaxation, living, social interactions, and entertainment.

However, the buildings around these integrated-design stations are new constructions, most of which are not yet completed. Let's take a look at some renderings first.

Rendering of Apply Park Station

For the westward extension of Line 6, designers made a deliberate effort to achieve "integrated design" with existing old buildings. According to the original plan, Entrance B of Tiancun Station was supposed to be constructed next to Jingliang Square, with various ancillary facilities like entrances, ventilation shafts, and cooling towers totaling over 50 meters in length. This design was neither aesthetically pleasing nor convenient.

Jin’anqiao Station Integration

Xihuangcun Station Integration

Integrated Reconstruction of Tiancun Station and existing block buildings

The subway station's entrance and the adjacent Jingliang Square are not far from each other. Can they be integrated? Since late 2015, discussions about an "integrated" plan for these two buildings began to take shape. After several rounds of negotiations, it was finally confirmed that the original ground square in front of the mall would be transformed into a sunken plaza, and the entrance would be directly incorporated into the sunken plaza. The sunken plaza could also be developed for some commercial purposes. In the future, subway passengers heading to Jingliang Square won't need to climb stairs to exit the station and then enter the mall; they can go directly to the sunken plaza underground.

The ground-level ancillary design for the westward extension of Line 6 places a stronger emphasis on seamless connectivity between the subway and other forms of urban public transportation. Additionally, it includes features such as green parking facilities, a landscaped plaza, and covered walkways at the entrances to provide shelter from wind and rain.

Upon exiting from Entrance D of Tiancun Station, passengers will no longer directly face the station square; instead, they will encounter a "weather corridor." This corridor is over 20 meters long and 6 meters wide, providing a seamless connection to the entrance, with greenery adjacent to it. In inclement weather, such as rain or snow, passengers can seek shelter from the wind and rain in this covered walkway.

The entrances Liaogongzhuang Station are located within the bridge area. When exiting from Entrance A, passengers used to have to take a detour down a two-meter-high platform. Yang Jingtao mentioned that, taking advantage of this "unique terrain", they converted the platform in front of the entrance into a flight of steps and transformed the surrounding area into an "Urban Square". This not only created a distinctive landscape, but also reduced the walking distance for passengers who wished to transfer to buses or taxis.