Shenzhen expands Metro network with 5 new sections

Commuters stream through Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station as Metro Line 13 opens in Shenzhen today. The line is expected to offer enhanced travel connections between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photos by Liu Xudong

Five new Metro line sections were officially put into operation at 10:18 a.m. today, bringing the total length of the city's Metro network to 595.1 kilometers and more choices for travelers and commuters.

The five sections, spanning a combined length of 28 kilometers, include the Shuanglong to Pingdi section of Line 3 in Longgang, the Xili Lake to Shenzhen University Lihu Campus section of Line 7 in Nanshan, Line 13's Phase I in Nanshan District, the Gangxia North to Huaqiang South section of Line 11 in Futian, and the Shenzhen Waterlands Resort to Songgang section of Line 12 in Bao'an.

Commuters line up at Fuxing Station on Line 11, waiting for a Metro train.

Four out of the five sections are extensions of pre-existing lines, with the exception being the Phase I section of the new Line 13 that runs between Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station and Hi-tech Central Station.

The opening of the five line sections, on the occasion of Shenzhen Metro marking its 20th anniversary, will enhance Metro connectivity in Pingdi, and relieve traffic congestion in Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, according to Shenzhen Metro Group.

Travelers pose for photos with a mascot in the bustling hall of Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

Before the opening, many travelers gathered at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station waiting for the first train.

“It is now really convenient with the opening of Line 13 for us to travel between Nanshan and Hong Kong. Previously we had to take buses, or taxis to the checkpoint. It was often congested,” a woman surnamed Huang, who often commutes between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, said in an interview. From Exit C, travelers can walk about 100 meters to the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint.

The southern section of the south-north Metro Line 13 has seven stations that include Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, Talent Park, Houhai, Keyuan, Yuehaimen, Shenzhen University and Hi-Tech Central stations. The operation of the 6.36-km section is expected to relieve traffic congestion in the hi-tech park area in Nanshan District. It offers transfers with Line 1, Line 2, Line 9 and Line 11.

A boy poses with a sign celebrating the launch of Line 13 at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

A woman who lives near Keyuan Station and works at the hi-tech park, said it now takes only five minutes from her home to her work place. Previously it took about 20 minutes because the road was often congested.

According to the operators, the new Metro stations are equipped with advanced customer service centers, featuring self-service areas boasting 55-inch touch screen displays and AI-driven digital employees, catering to multiple passenger needs from ticket processing to bio-ticket registrations.

See more photos:

Student reporters from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area document the bustling scene at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station on its first day of operation.

Commuters queue to pass through the ticket gates at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

A Metro staff member assists a senior at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

A Metro staff member helps tourists navigate a touchscreen display at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

Tourists interact with an MTR mascot and signs celebrating the opening of Line 13 at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station.

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