In 2002 when BEIJING and TORONTO were bidding for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing had 70 km of subway; Toronto 68 km. Thirteen years later, Beijing boasts 527 km and 320 stations serving 18 lines. TORONTO still has 68 km of track, with six new stations opening soon. Of course the two city regions aren’t the same size – Beijing’s population is 20-million; the Greater Toronto Area 6-million. But 18 lines – wow!