BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Public Security Administration (BPSA) has some 80 sniffer dogs in training for regular patrols in the city subway system to detect incendiary and flammable substances such as fireworks.

    Sun Weinian, head of the BPSA's public transport section, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the administration has set up a facility where the dogs are trained.

    "Dogs that patrol subways should be able to detect dangerous items without touching passengers' clothes, which may terrify people, especially children and those who dislike dogs," said Sun.

    The officer said that police had seized more than 700 kilograms of incendiary substances carried by passengers into the subways last year, which could be disastrous if they caught fire accidentally.

    The subway network in Beijing is one of the world's busiest; it set a new record daily ridership of 2.89 million passengers on Nov. 16, 2007. There are 97 subway stations in the city.

    Eight dogs began regular patrols at five downtown stations, including those that serve the central landmark, Tian'anmen Square, on New Year's Day.

    "We only use small species, such as Labrador retrievers and spaniels, for their communications and people skills," said Wang Ning, a deputy head of the detection detachment of the Beijing Traffic Police Division of the Beijing Public Security Administration.

    "The sniffer dogs look as cute and friendly as some pet dogs. Their presence makes me feel safe in taking the subway," said passenger surnamed Zhou at the Tian'anmen East Subway Station on Wednesday morning.

    Police have advised people to keep their distance from the dogs and not try to pet or feed them.

    Firecrackers and oil-based paints are the flammable products most often seized by the police on public transport. Fireworks are considered a must by many Chinese for festival celebrations, especially for the coming Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, which will fall on Feb. 6.

    The security patrol ahead of the festival will be good practice for the police dogs ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games later this year, said Wang.

    The capital city has been using sniffer dogs to detect drugs in public places, such as the airport, subway and railway stations and shopping malls since June 2007. But local residents are not familiar with regular dog patrols in public places.