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Beijing's new No. 10 Subway line has been undergoing engineering trials since February. The new line is part of the subway expansion planned in conjunction with the Olympic Games.

The?Beitucheng?Station?is?the?line's?most?eye-catching?station. Traditional?Chinese?elements?of?blue?and?white?porcelain?welcome passengers?to?the?new?Olympic?Branch?Line.(Photo: CCTV.com)

The decoration of the subway stations along the new line has become the talk of the town. Let's take a look at the official opening of Beitucheng Station.

The Beitucheng Station is the line's most eye-catching station. Traditional Chinese elements of blue and white porcelain welcome passengers to the new Olympic Branch Line. The station is located at the site of the Yuan Dynasty city wall, built in the 14th century.

Chinese?people?started?making?blue-and-white?porcelain?as?early as?the?Tang?Dynasty,?some?1300?years?ago.(Photo:?CCTV.com)

A designer said, "The platform of Line 10 is dark gray, like the city wall. The pillars on the platform of the Olympic Branch Line are covered with different blue and white porcelain patterns. China, after all, represents Chinese culture to the world."

Archeological discoveries reveal that Chinese people started making blue-and-white porcelain as early as the Tang Dynasty, some 1300 years ago.

The recent popularity of blue-flower porcelain is attributed to a pop song by Taiwan singer Jay Chow. The moving lyrics and tune convey the quintessential beauty of blue-and-white porcelain to modern people. The song probably is responsible for the fact that many more people than in the past, are visiting porcelain exhibitions around the country.

(CCTV March 11, 2008)