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Guangzhou Metro

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The Guangzhou Metro is a huge rapid transit system in China.

Guangzhou Metro Network
Guangzhou Metro Network

It serves the capital city of Guangdong, which is named Guangzhou. This system is very important for moving people around the city and nearby suburbs. It is the third busiest metro system in the whole world. In 2018, it delivered 3.029 billion rides to its passengers. Every day, more than 7 million people use these trains.

Guangzhou metro evolution
Guangzhou metro evolution

The metro is also the third largest system in terms of its total length.

Building a metro works by creating paths for trains to travel. Some paths go deep underground using tunnel boring machines. Others use a method called immersed tubes, like the Pearl River Tunnel. In the past, workers used a method called cut-and-cover to build tunnels. This way of working meant many buildings had to be moved.

Guangzhou Metro 1988 route proposal en
Guangzhou Metro 1988 route proposal en

The system uses different types of trains to move people quickly. Some lines are designed to be much faster than normal lines. These fast trains run at high speeds because their stations are far apart. Lines 18 and 22 are currently the fastest metro lines in China.

Long ago, leaders had different ideas for underground paths. In 1960, Chen Yu proposed an underground system for the city. He even ordered a secret survey of the groundwater levels. In 1965, a project called "Project Nine" began for wartime safety. This name came from the number of strokes in the Chinese word for underground. Workers built a small tunnel in 1966 for 13 million yuan. However, the tunnel was only 3 meters wide and 2.85 meters tall. It was too small and messy to be used for public trains.

Modern construction for the metro finally started in the 1980s. The first real line, Line 1, began construction in 1993.

Platform 1, Yuexiu Park Station, Guangzhou Metro 20231229
Platform 1, Yuexiu Park Station, Guangzhou Metro 20231229

It opened in 1997 with only five stations in operation. Later, Line 2 began construction in 1998 to help the network grow. This line used equipment that was 53% cheaper than Line 1. Today, the system has grown to include 19 different lines. It also features 399 stations for people to use.

You can think of the metro as a giant web of paths. Some paths connect the urban core to the outer suburbs. The Guangfo Line is a special path that connects two cities. It links Guangzhou and Foshan together for the first time in China.

Guangzhou-Foshan Metro Diagram by Tim
Guangzhou-Foshan Metro Diagram by Tim

Most trains run from 6:00 am until midnight every day. The system is still growing with many new extensions being planned. New work is happening on Line 8, Line 10, and Line 12. Some new paths will even reach the Baiyun Airport.

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🖼️ Images & Media (63)
File:Guangzhou Metro Network.png
Guangzhou Metro Network.png
File:Guangzhou Metro 1988 route proposal en.svg
Guangzhou Metro 1988 route proposal en.svg
File:Guangzhou metro evolution.gif
Guangzhou metro evolution.gif
File:Guangzhou-Foshan Metro Diagram by Tim.svg
Guangzhou-Foshan Metro Diagram by Tim.svg
File:Guangzhou Metro Martyrs' Park Station Platform 202008.jpg
Guangzhou Metro Martyrs' Park Station...
File:Platform 1, Yuexiu Park Station, Guangzhou Metro 20231229.jpg
Platform 1, Yuexiu Park Station,...
File:Shiqinan_Station_Platform_1_20241102.jpg
Shiqinan_Station_Platform_1_20241102.jpg
File:Nansha Passange Port Station Platform 1 Part 2.jpg
Nansha Passange Port Station Platform 1 Part 2.jpg
File:Taojin Station Platform 1 2019 08.jpg
Taojin Station Platform 1 2019 08.jpg
File:Beijing Lu Station Platform 20231228-A.jpg
Beijing Lu Station Platform 20231228-A.jpg
File:Platform 1, Chencun Station, Guangzhou Metro 20240531.jpg
Platform 1, Chencun Station, Guangzhou...
File:Pazhou Station Platform 1 202011.jpg
Pazhou Station Platform 1 202011.jpg

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