Subways in China
According to a white paper issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, in 2016, China will built about 3,000 kilometers of subways during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) to release the traffic pressure in cities. As of January 2019, China has 38 urban subways, including 2 maglev line. Beijing is the first city to have subway in 1965 in the country, which has an urban rail transit system of 637 kilometers. Shanghai has the world’s longest built-up subway system, 705 kilometers by Dec 2018, with 16 lines having 415 built-up stations, transporting half of commuters in the city every day.
1. Currently Operational Subways in China
Anhui
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Hefei Metro | 26 December 2016 | 2 | 52.38 km |
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Beijing Subway | 1 October 1969 | 22 | 636.8 km |
Shijiazhuang Metro | 26 June 2017 | 2 | 30.3 km |
Tianjin Metro | 30 September 2003 | 5 | 217 km |
Chongqing-Sichuan
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Chengdu Metro | 27 September 2010 | 6 | 226.01 km |
Chongqing Metro | 6 November 2004 | 10 | 313.60 km |
Fujian
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Fuzhou Metro | 18 May 2016 | 1 | 24.89 km |
Xiamen Metro | 31 December 2017 | 1 | 30.30 km |
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Dongguan Metro | 27 May 2016 | 1 | 37.743 km |
Foshan Metro | 3 November 2010 | 1 | 32.16 km |
Guangzhou Metro | 28 June 1997 | 14 | 478.00 km |
Mass Transit Railway | 2 December 2007 | 11 | 175 km |
Shenzhen Metro | 28 December 2004 | 8 | 286.2 km |
Guangxi
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Nanning Metro | 28 June 2016 | 2 | 53.10 km |
Guizhou
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Guiyang Metro | 28 December 2017 | 1 | 34.30 km |
Heilongjiang
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Harbin Metro | 26 September 2013 | 2 | 23.07 km |
Henan
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Zhengzhou Metro | 26 December 2013 | 3 | 95.41 km |
Hubei
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Wuhan Metro | 28 July 2004 | 12 | 318.00 km |
Hunan
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Changsha Maglev Express | 6 May 2016 | 1 | 18.7 km |
Changsha Metro | 29 April 2014 | 3 | 68.71 km |
Jiangxi
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Nanchang Metro | 26 December 2015 | 2 | 48.47 km |
Jilin
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Changchun Subway | 30 June 2011 | 5 | 100.17 km |
Liaoning
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Dalian Metro | 8 November 2002 | 4 | 153.66 km |
Shenyang Metro | 27 September 2010 | 2 | 59.68 km |
Shaanxi
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Xian Metro | 16 September 2011 | 4 | 126.55 km |
Shandong
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Qingdao Metro | 16 December 2015 | 4 | 171.80 km |
Jinan Metro | 1 January 2019 | 1 | 26.27 km |
Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Hangzhou Metro | 24 November 2012 | 3 | 117.60 km |
Nanjing Metro | 3 September 2005 | 10 | 378.00 km |
Ningbo Rail Transit | 30 May 2014 | 2 | 74.52 km |
Shanghai Maglev Train | 31 December 2002 | 1 | 30.5 km |
Shanghai Metro | 28 May 1993 | 16 | 673 km |
Suzhou Rail Transit | 28 April 2012 | 3 | 121.00 km |
Wuxi Metro | 1 July 2014 | 2 | 56.11 km |
Wenzhou Metro | 23 January 2019 | 1 | 34.77 km |
Xinjiang
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Ürümqi Metro | 25 October 2018 | 1 | 16.50 km |
Yunnan
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Kunming Metro | 28 June 2012 | 4 | 88.76 km |
Taiwan
System | Began Operation | Lines in Operation | Network Length |
Taipei Metro | 28 March 1996 | 8 | 191.50 km |
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit | 9 March 2008 | 3 | 51.40 km |
Taoyuan Metro | 2 March 2017 | 1 | 51.03 km |
2. Subways in China under Construction or Planning
Anhui
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Hefei Metro |
5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; S1; S2
|
2020; 2021; 2022; 2022; 2023; 2024; 2025; 2025; 2025; 2022; 2022 |
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Beijing Subway | 3; 7(East Extension); 8(Middle Section); 11; 12; 14(Middle Section); 16(South Extension); 17; 19; 28; Batong(South Extension); Fangshan(North Extension); Changping(South Extension); Yizhuang T1; Houshayu T2 | 2022; 2019; 2021; 2022; 2020; 2021; 2021; 2021; 2020; 2023; 2019; 2020; 2021; 2019; 2023 |
Tianjin Metro | 4; 10; 7; 8; 11; B1; Z4 | 2020; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2020; 2020; 2020 |
Shijiazhuang Metro |
3(the rest section); 2; 4; 5; 6
|
2020; 2020; 2022; 2023; 2023 |
Chongqing-Sichuan
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Chengdu Metro |
6; 8; 9; 10(Phase II); 11; 17; 18
|
2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2020 |
Chongqing Metro | 5(South Section); Guobo(Phase II); 9(Phase I); 10(Phase II); 5(Phase II); Loop(Chongqing Library-Chongqing West Station-Haixia Road); 5(the rest of Phase II); 9(Phase II); 4(Phase II); 5(North Extension); 5A | 2019; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2021; 2021; 2022; 2022; 2022 |
Fujian
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Fuzhou Metro |
2; 4; 5; 6
|
2019; 2024; 2023; 2021 |
Xiamen Metro |
2; 3; 4; 6
|
2019; 2020; 2021; 2022 |
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Guangzhou Metro | 3(East Extension); 5(East Extension); 7(West Extension); 7(Phase II); 8(North Extension); 8((2nd North Extension); 10; 11; 12; 13(Phase II); 14(Phase II); 18; 22 | 2021; 2021; 2020; 2022; 2019; 2023; 2023; 2023; 2023; 2022; 2023; 2022; 2022 |
Shenzhen Metro |
Baoan; Pingshan; Nanbao; Shiyan; East Express Line; Longping |
2020; 2022; 2022; 2022; 2022; 2022 |
Foshan Metro |
3; 4; 6; 9; 11 13
|
2021; 2022; 2022; 2022; 2022; 2022 |
Dongguan Metro |
1; 3; 4; 5
|
2022; 2023; 2024; 2024 |
Zhuhai Metro |
1; 2; 3
|
2024; 2024; 2025 |
Guangxi
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Nanning Metro |
2; 4; 5
|
2020; 2020; 2021 |
Guizhou
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Guiyang Metro |
2; 3; 4; S1; S2; S3; S4
|
2020; 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024; 2025; 2026 |
Heilongjiang
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Harbin Metro |
2; 3(Phase II); 4; 5; 6; 7
|
2020; 2020; 2023; 2022; 2023; 2025 |
Henan
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Zhengzhou Metro |
3; 4; 6; 8; 10
|
2020; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2021 |
Luoyang Metro |
1; 2
|
2021; 2022 |
Hubei
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Wuhan Metro | 4(Phase III); 5; 6(Phase II); 8(Phase II); 8(Phase III); 10; 11(East Section); 12; 16; 19 | 2019; 2020; 2022; 2020; 2019; 2021; 2020; 2023; 2020; 2021 |
Hunan
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Changsha Metro |
5; 6; 7; 8
|
2020; 2021; 2022; 2022 |
Jiangxi
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Nanchang Metro |
3; 4; 5; 6; 7
|
2019; 2020; 2022; 2022; 2023 |
Jilin
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Changchun Metro |
5; 6
|
2021; 2022 |
Liaoning
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Dalian Metro | 2; 5 ;13 | 2020; 2021; 2019 |
Shenyang Metro |
9; 10; 3; 4; 6
|
2019; 2019; 2022; 2022; 2023 |
Shaanxi
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Xian Metro | 5; 6; 8; 9; 14 | 2020; 2020; 2023; 2021; 2022 |
Shandong
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Qingdao Metro |
1; 4; 7; 8
|
2020; 2022; 2020; 2021 |
Jinan Metro |
R2; R3; M3; M2; M1; R5
|
2021; 2020; 2023; 2023; 2024; 2024 |
Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Shanghai Metro | 10(East Extension); 14; 15; 18; 19 | 2019; 2020; 2020; 2020; 2022 |
Nanjing Metro |
Ningchu North; Ningju(South Extension); 1(North Extension); 2(West Extension); 3(Phase III); 4(Phase II); 5; 6; 7; 9; 10(Phase II); 11
|
2022; 2021; 2020; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2022; 2021; 2021; 2021; 2022; 2022; 2023 |
Suzhou Rail Transit |
5; 6; 7; 8; S1
|
2020; 2022; 2023; 2022; 2022 |
Hangzhou Metro |
3; 7; 8; 9; 10; Linan; Haining; Fuyang; Shaoxin
|
2021; 2021; 2022; 2021; 2022; 2021; 2021; 2019; 2021 |
Wuxi Metro |
4; 5; 6
|
2020; 2022; 2022 |
Ningbo Rail Transit |
4; 5
|
2019; 2020 |
Changzhou Metro |
1; 2
|
2019; 2020 |
Nantong Metro |
1; 2
|
2022; 2023 |
Wenzhou Metro |
S2; S3
|
2021; 2025 |
Xuzhou Metro |
1; 2; 3
|
2019; 2020; 2020 |
Xinjiang
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Urumqi Metro |
2; 3
|
2020; 2021 |
Yunnan
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Kunming Metro |
1(Northwest Extension); 2(South Section); 4; 5; 9
|
2020; 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024 |
Gansu
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Lanzhou Metro |
1; 2; 3; 4
|
2019; 2020; 2023; 2021 |
Shanxi
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Taiyuan Metro |
1; 2; 3
|
2022; 2020; 2023
|
Inner Mongolia
System | Lines under Construction or Planning | Expected Opening Date |
Hohhot Metro |
1; 2
|
2020
|
3. Ticket Fare of China Subway
System | Price |
Beijing Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 3 yuan/6 kilometers. Airport line is excluded. |
Shanghai Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2(only Line 5)-3 yuan/6 kilometers. Shanghai Maglev Train is excluded. |
Guangzhou Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Shenzhen Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Suzhou Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Hangzhou Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Shenyang Metro | Based on stops. The starting price is 2 yuan/8 stops. |
Tianjin Metro | Based on stops. The starting price is 2 yuan/5 stops. |
Chongqing Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Nanjing Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/10 kilometers. |
Harbin Metro | Based on stops. The starting price is 2 yuan/8 stops. |
Xian Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Kunming Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Wuhan Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Zhengzhou Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Chengdu Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Changsha Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Ningbo Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Dalian Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Qingdao Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/5 kilometers. |
Fuzhou Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/5 kilometers. |
Nanchang Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Guiyang Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Xiamen Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
Shijiazhuang Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Nanning Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/6 kilometers. |
Hefei Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/8 kilometers. |
Dongguan Metro | Based on distance. The starting price is 2 yuan/4 kilometers. |
4. The “Most” of China Subway
The world’s largest rapid transit system by route length
Shanghai Metro. As of December 2018, Shanghai metro has opened 16 lines (line 1-13, line 16, line 17 and Pujiang line), one maglev line, with a total length of 705 km and 415 stations.
The first China metro system
Beijing Subway. Beijing is the first city to have subway in 1965 in the country, which has an urban rail transit system of 637 kilometers.
The longest subway line in China
Line 111 of Shanghai Metro.
The first intercity subway & The first line across cities
Guangfo(Guangzhou-Foshan) Metro opened in November 3, 2010.
The first subway line across provinces
Shanghai Metro Line 11.
The first one-step circular metro line
Chengdu Metro Line 7.
The shortest subway line in China
Taipei Metro Xinbeitou Line.
The subway line with the most stations
Beijing Metro Line 10(45 stations).
The shallowest subway line
Tianjin Metro Line 1. The shallowest subway in the world, with a depth of only 2-3 meters.
The deepest subway lines
Line 10 of Chongqing Rail Transit. It has the country’s deepest subway station – Hongtudi Station with a depth of 94.467 meters.
The largest metro station
Xinjiekou Station of Nanjing Metro.
The subway station with the most exits and entrances
Futian Station of Shenzhen Metro(36).
Keep Reading