Staying alive
December 21 has passed, but surviving in Beijing is a daily battle. Over the course of 2012, Beijing saw deaths by vehicles, explosions, stabbings and a slew of other unimaginable ways of mortal injury.
Here's a list of some of the things to watch out for while living in Beijing. All the cases were reported by Metro Beijing in 2012. May we all have a safe 2013.
Substandard housing
News: Illegal two-story building collapses, results in four dead, six injured
On March 3, a two-story illegal building collapsed at a construction site in Chaoyang district, resulting in four killed and six injured.
What to do: Don't rent a house just because it's cheap. Check for licenses.
Car crashes
News: Coach crash kills four
A coach and a minibus crashed on the Jingjia highway on March 12 in northern Beijing's Huairou district, killing four and injuring five.
What to do: Buckle up and obey traffic laws. This sounds easy, but when thrown into China's chaotic traffic, with cars cutting in line at random and pedestrians jaywalking, it might take some extra effort.
Unforeseeable deaths
News: Woman scalded in sidewalk collapse
On April 1, a 27-year-old woman, Yang Erjing, was walking on her way to work when a one-square-meter section of sidewalk on Beilishi Lu, Xicheng district, collapsed. She fell into scalding hot water spraying from faulty pipes and had burns covering 99 percent of her body. She died after suffering for eight days.
What to do: Always watch out for what's beneath your feet and stay aware of your surroundings. But when this happens, the best you can do is pray for your safety.
Explosions
News: Factory blast kills two women, injures one
On June 5, a nitrogen factory, which is part of Beijing Taiyanggong Gas-fired Thermal Power Company, located on Xibahe Donglu, Chaoyang district, exploded and killed two female employees while seriously injuring a third one.
What to do: Gas explosions can happen in residential buildings as well. Always turn off the stove and do annual maintenance checks on gas pipelines in the kitchen.
Murder
News: American stabbed in Dashilan
An American tourist was murdered at Qudeng Hutong in Dashilan, Xicheng district on July 11. According to the police, the suspect, An Libo, was born in 1977 and is from Heilongjiang Province. He had previously committed two robberies in Shanghai in 2011 before being sent back to his hometown due to mental problems.
What to do: Don't go to narrow spaces (such as hutong) by yourself or late at night. Travel with others and stay away from suspicious-looking people.
Poisonous gas
News: Four die from poisonous gas
On July 17, four employees of a telecom company, who worked and lived in the basement, illegally used a fumed electricity generator and were found dead by the police due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Xibahe, Chaoyang district.
What to do: Don't burn coal stoves in a small space, especially during the night. Remember to keep the windows open once in a while to let fresh air in.
Drowning
News: Funeral for bridge flood victim
The July rainstorm killed 79 people in Beijing. The most well-known one is 34-year-old Ding Zhijian, who was an editor at magazine Ah Ah Xiong. He was locked in his submerged Hyundai Tucson SUV under Guangqumen Bridge, Dongcheng district on July 21 and drowned.
What to do: Beijing rarely rains like it did on July 21. But to prepare for the future, learn how to swim and have a kit in your car in case you find yourself in an emergency.
Negligence
News: Child, 2, dies in illegal clinic; Boy, 2, dies at unlicensed kindergarten
On July 28, a 2-year-old child was given an injection at an illegally-run clinic in Tongzhou district and died. On April 19, a 2-year-old who attended the illegal kindergarten of Xintong Yangguang Bilingual Kindergarten in Mentougou district died by choking.
What to do: Check licenses at the places you are sending your children to.
Subway slashings and falls
News: Two women slashed on subway in Beijing
In early December, two women had their faces slashed on the subway. On December 13, the police announced the slayer was an unemployed man, angry over a broken relationship, who went on the subway and randomly slashed young girls. Also, both this year and in 2010, people have fallen into the subway tracks and died.
What to do: Stay with the crowd, away from suspicious-looking people. Follow rules and stay behind the yellow line.
Freezing to death
News: Deadly cold snap grips Beijing
Over the weekend, the coldest weather in 30 years overcame two lost hikers and a homeless man in Beijing. The hikers were reported lost on Saturday afternoon in Ling Mountain and were discovered dead on Sunday.
What to do: Dress warmly in extreme weather and try to stay indoors.