BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's urban rail transit system carried 3.74 million people during the first two days of China's National Day "golden week" that started on Monday, almost double the normal number.

    A total of 3,364 subway and light rail trains, including 122 running only during the holiday, operated on the four routes on Monday and Tuesday, carrying 3.74 million people around the city, a top tourist destination during the seven-day holiday, according to the municipal metro authorities.

    On Monday, 1.93 million passengers traveled by subway. On the previous day, Line 13, the light rail link in northern Beijing, transported 316,900 people, its highest load since opening in January 2003.

    Beijing has four subway and light rail lines with a total mileage of 114 km and they transport about 1.15 million passengers daily, 15 percent of the total commuters.

    The 27.6-km-long No. 5 subway line, which runs through the heart of the city from north to south, is set to begin operation on Sunday.

    With a capacity for more than 23,000 bicycles, 22 parking areas at the23 stations on the route will be open to public.

    From Sunday, the Beijing government will cut fares from three yuan (40 U.S. cents) to two yuan (27 U.S. cents) to encourage the use of public transport, ease road congestion and improve air quality ahead of the Olympics.

    Three new lines will be added to the system next year and the total mileage will reach 200 km.

    Nineteen lines totaling 561.5 kilometers will have been put into operation by 2020, which could make it the largest underground rail system in the world, according to Beijing's city planning authorities.