Please get ready for your arrival!

Ladies, gents, and fellow subterranean people, it's been probably the longest wait on the surface of the planet since... Heaven knows, but the news is probably too good to keep as a state secret: Subway Lines 8, 10 and the Airport Express will be opening THIS WEEK. A date has been announced as pre-July 20, 2008, which, for you maths people out there, could mean -- this very second.

NOW OUT -- OUT WE GO! OFF TO THE NEXT LINE 10 STATION!

Yes, only to find it all bolted up, as ever.

Your Beijingologist predicts an opening on or around July 19, 2008 (that's a Saturday; we think there are better chances to catch your now Subway-mad Beijingologist outside Anzhenmen station than outside the Apple Store in Sanlitun). (It's a Saturday, so it kind of makes sense.)

All this week on The Beijingologist on City Weekend and on Beijing A to B -- stay tuned for what we hope will be the best Subway coverage, period.