Commuters queue outside Xizhimen subway station yesterday, when an automatic fare collection system was introduced. Beijing has scrapped the decades-old paper monthly passes for public transport and is replacing them with palm-sized "smart" cards. There was some chaos as commuters tried to adapt to the change.

A bus rider uses his smart card to enter Bus NO.300 yesterday, when an automatic fare collection system was introduced.

A commuter uses hersmart card to enter the Xuanwumen Subway Station yesterday.

A bus rider uses her smart card on Bus No. 957 yesterday.

A passenger uses her smart card to pay taxi fare yesterday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2006)