At major transport hubs, passenger volumes are high and travelers can easily end up taking unnecessary detours after arriving. In Beijing, this common frustration may soon be resolved through AR navigation.

A view of Beijing West Railway Station in the "Arriving Beijing" (到站北京) mini-program

At Beijing West Railway Station, passengers now have a new way to navigate the station: there is no need to download a separate app. They simply open the "Arriving Beijing" (到站北京) mini-program in WeChat, grant the required permissions, select a destination, and point their phone's camera at the surrounding area. Within seconds, a virtual arrow appears on the screen. By following the on-screen arrow, passengers can navigate to station entrances and exits, waiting halls, taxi stands and ride-hailing pickup areas, subway entrances, and bus stops.

Follow the AR navigation arrow to the ride-hailing pickup area.

The AR navigation service also allows users to add waypoints. Passengers who want to use the restroom or grab a quick bite while entering or leaving the station can add these stops without interrupting navigation. Before arriving at the station, passengers can also preview the full walking route on a floor plan in the "Arriving Beijing" mini-program and familiarize themselves with key locations in advance.

For onward travel after leaving the station, the mini-program provides real-time information on several transport options at Beijing West Railway Station, including taxis, ride-hailing services, private cars, the subway and buses. For taxis, the mini-program clearly displays the number of vehicles and passengers waiting at each dispatch area, and the system recommends areas with shorter waits, helping to disperse passenger flows and reduce congestion.

Following the pilot launch at Beijing West Railway Station, the in-station AR navigation service will be expanded to all eight major railway stations in Beijing, including Beijing Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station, Beijing Fengtai Railway Station, and Beijing Tongzhou Railway Station. The service will also be rolled out at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)