I've noticed the x-ray screening since the pre-olympics last year as well at all the stations I've been to and the screening has not stopped since then. At least it is not the same as at the airport where metal objects are emptied and individuals personally go through a metal detector (not yet at least). During certain times of day, the lineups can be quite long. Luckily I do not carry a bag most of the time and can pass on through..
Originally Posted by
jiejie
The bag checks were instituted summer 2008 pre-Olympics and have never gone away, though at some stations, inspection had become a bit disinterested. I can personally say every time I've been on the subway since then (and that's a lot of trips, living in Beijing), I have ALWAYS been made to put my purse or bag through the x-ray. And so have all the others I've seen. Men carrying no purses or bags have been able to skip this, you've never had to empty your pockets or take jackets off. Laptop carriers I've seen go both ways but nothing ever has to get taken out of the bag airport-style...