A passenger takes photos at Ping'anli Station in Beijing on Dec 30, 2012. Four new subway routes went into operation, increasing the length of the capital city's subway to 442 kilometers. [Photo/Xinhua]

A beam of light shoots 5,000m into the Beijing sky, in preparation for the New Year countdown on Dec 30, 2012. The installation, titled "Light of Beijing", was designed by visual artist Wang Jianwei and has been installed at China Millennium Monument. [Photo/China Daily]