Our apartment here in Beijing is located seven stories over the bustling intersection of Chengfu Lu and Caijing Lu, right next the Wudaokou subway station. The perch is a perfect vantage point to observe the crossroad’s cartage carnage.
This video was shot on two separate but similar days and spans approximately nine hours worth of traffic, catching the afternoon rush hour where crammed buses ram through impasses, taxis mill about waiting for fairs, cyclists weave through the gauntlet and commuters flock to and from the subway (seen snaking in and out of frame in the upper left corner).
The intersection has been an endless source of entertainment for us. The wacky U-turns, the occasional collision and the cacophony of horns create comedic and dramatic moments, complete with symphonic soundtrack. Unfortunately that soundtrack doesn’t hold up when sped up several thousand percent like the video does.
