Prof. Ouyang Ming, dean of the Auto Engineering Department at Tsinghua University, claims that although the per capita level of car ownership in China is only one-third of the world average, automobiles devour up to 60 percent of the country's total annual refined oil consumption. According to the present growth speed and oil consumption levels, by 2020 China's total number of automobiles will exceed 150 million, and annual fuel consumption will surpass 250 million tons. In other words, there is an intense contradiction between the huge market demand and limited energy resources. As a result, Li Jingwen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, believes that the situation of China's resources and environment means private cars will not become the norm.

    By late 2006, difficulties with travel and commuting, and the increasing cost of transport delays had become the largest problems facing Chinese cities. An official of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development warns, "If we don't take firm action to speed up the development of public transport in cities and rationally regulate the use of road resources, a complete standstill in certain cities can be expected soon."

    Two years ago, Beijing conducted reform in its public transport sector, with the government underwriting fare subsidies. On more than half the city's bus lines, an adult passenger now pays only RMB 0.4, and a student RMB 0.2, per trip. This fare is lower than 30 years ago. On more than 600 bus lines passengers can use integrated transport cards. Those aged 65 or older take buses for free, while the subway fare has been reduced from RMB 3 to 2. In 2007 the municipal government allocated RMB 4.15 billion to public transport subsidies.

    Beijing's modern public transport system was initiated in the early 20th century, but when the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949 the capital had only seven bus lines. In the late 1950s Beijing used imported Skoda coaches. Later domestically made buses were produced, similar to the Skoda in appearance. Some buses were fitted with trailers to increase carrying capacity.

    Due to oil shortages in the 1960s, buses sometimes used coal gas as fuel, carrying a large bag on their roof. Buses often broke down, and passengers were frequently mobilized to push them to restart the engine. What's more, buses were alarmingly over-crowded during rush hours. In 1956 China successfully experimented with its first trolley bus, and 15 of these lines now operate in Beijing.

    This year marks the 40th anniversary of the operation of China's first subway – Beijing's Line 1. It is also the 20th anniversary of subways in Shanghai and Guangzhou, and the 10th anniversary of domestic-made urban rail transportation equipment. Before 2000, only three cities in China had urban rail transportation, but now Tianjin, Changchun, Dalian, Chongqing, Wuhan, Shenzhen and Nanjing have also opened local rail systems. By the end of 2008, the total mileage of city rail transportation had reached 775.6 kilometers, and China had invested RMB 800 billion in construction of the networks over the past decade.

    According to incomplete statistics, among 48 cities whose population exceeds one million on the Chinese mainland, 25 are making preparations for city rail networks, and the total planned length exceeds 5,000 kilometers. China will become one of the world's most advanced countries in terms of city rail transportation. Vice Minister Qiu Baoxing said, "Facts have shown that city rail transportation has merits such as better performance, alleviating traffic congestion, saving land resources, and bettering cities' layout and development."

    This year the Beijing municipal government is set to increase the ridership of public transport to 38 percent of all Beijing transportation options, which is still far behind the 60 to 80 percent achieved by urban centers in developed countries. Beijing has more than 20,000 buses, and its eight subway lines total 200 kilometers. Even so, during rush hours the commuter crush still slows down the city that grows so fast.