China marks National Day with metro inaugurations

1 October is China’s National Day, this year marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong on 1 October 1949, and the start of a seven-day public holiday. Metro builders make strenuous efforts to complete their new lines under construction to mark the anniversary. In 2024 four cities were able to start carrying passengers on new sections of metro to mark the day. 

 

 

 

In Chengdu at 10.00 on 29 September the first train carried passengers on the 38.7km branch of line 18 known as the Ziyang Metro S3. In Tianjin Metro line 5 and the Jinjing Line were extended on 28 September by 1.3km + 13.4km to be linked as a through service Liqizhuangnan–Jinghuadongdao–Tuanboyixueyuan. In Wuhan 1 October saw the extension of metro line 7 by 15.1km from Hengdian to Huangopi. Finally in Xi’an the 34.4km automated metro line 10 (seven underground and 10 elevated stations) started trial operation on 26 September, linking Jingshan Village in the south with Zhaohui Square in the north. There is interchange with line 14 at Xi’angongda Wudelu. 

 

 

 

Since the first metro line was opened in Beijing in 1969, China has built some 6 500km of urban rail nationwide comprising 312 metro lines in 54 cities.