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20 years on the track, a veteran's journey with SZ Metro

Writer: Wei Jie  |  Editor: Lin Qiuying  |  From: Original  |  Updated: 2025-01-24

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the bustling commuters moving in and out of Jingtian Station on Jan. 8, Ye Linfang was approached by a female passenger inquiring about transfer between lines. Having just arrived at Jingtian Station for her daily patrol of the stations under her responsibility, Ye greeted the passenger with a quiet smile.

After listening to her inquiry, Ye directed the passenger to the correct platform for the train. “This is a fairly common scenario regarding line transfers,” said Ye as she watched the passenger head in the right direction. Jingtian Station, the busiest stop on the Antuo Hill section that Ye oversees, connects Lines 2 and 9 with a large volume of transfers.


Eager rookie

For Ye, the recently concluded 20th anniversary of Shenzhen Metro on Dec. 28 felt more like a personal milestone than a mere celebration of infrastructure, as it also marked two decades since she first set foot on a Shenzhen Metro platform. Memories flooded back: the excitement of engineering crews racing against the clock, the subtle nerves on the day of opening, and the joy of watching a vibrant city come alive with a new rhythm.

Ye Linfang checks fire-fighting gear at Jingtian Station. Photos by Wei Jie except otherwise stated

Ye joined Shenzhen Metro in October 2004, two months prior to the official opening of the city’s first subway lines Dec. 28. Although it wasn’t her first job, she still felt like an eager rookie, ready to embark on a new era in urban transportation.

Ye Linfang works at her office at Jingtian Station. 

“I still remember vividly the afternoon when the Metro started operations,” said Ye, who was assigned to the Civic Center Station of Line 4, which was handed over to the HKMTR for operations July 1, 2010.

On Dec. 28, 2004, the entire city felt like it was celebrating an important festival. The winter chill did not deter excited residents from waiting eagerly outside each Metro station for its grand opening. “The Civic Center Station wasn’t particularly large, but there were lots of enthusiastic residents outside the entrances,” she recalled. “Inside, the Metro staff shared in the excitement. After thorough preparation, the moment had finally arrived.”

Ye Linfang offers a helping hand to seniors at Jingtian Station.

In the two months leading up to the opening of Shenzhen’s first Metro train, Ye and her fellow staff members went through rigorous training on a wide array of matters, getting ready for the safe and smooth operation of the initial phase of the city’s Metro network. This initial phase included a total of 18 stations along Line 1, from Luohu Station in Luohu District to Window of the World Station in Nanshan District, as well as Line 4 from Fumin to Children’s Palace in Futian District.

“The working conditions were nothing like today, but we were filled with ambition, especially those of us who were freshly out of the school, ready to embrace all the challenges ahead,” said Ye, reflecting on those early days.


Career growth

Ye was transferred to Qianhaiwan Station in the western area of Nanshan District around 2010. At that time, the personnel assigned to Qianhaiwan were key staff with extensive experience, which was needed due to the technical complexities of the work there compared to many other subway stations. Ye was selected for the assignment because of her previous experience at the Futian Checkpoint Station, the southern terminus of Line 4.

During her time working at Qianhaiwan Station, the station felt like it was in the middle of nowhere. “At that time, outside the office was just dirt — there were no proper urban roads yet. We couldn’t even order take-out in the office because the GPS would position Qianhaiwan Station in the sea,” she recalled, reflecting on her challenging experiences at what is now a bustling interchange for Lines 1, 5, and 11 in Qianhai.

Ye and her colleagues worked in a makeshift office, conducting various equipment adjustments and other tasks in preparation for the opening of the station on the western extension of Line 1 and the terminus of Line 5. On June 15, 2011, the Line 1 section of the Qianhaiwan Station officially opened, followed by the Line 5 section a week later as scheduled. Line 11, which also services the station, started operating June 28, 2016.

Ye Linfang poses for a photo at her office at Futian Checkpoint Metro Station in 2008. Courtesy of the interviewee

About 10 years ago, Ye was appointed as the section chief for Antuo Hill on Line 2 after gaining experience at several other stations, including Shenzhen University Station, which is known for its exceptionally high passenger flow.

As she reflected on her early days at Shenzhen Metro, Ye was filled with emotion. Staff members worked as a close-knit team to overcome challenges one by one, she said. Witnessing the continuous expansion of the subway network and the increasing number of people served, Ye finds it difficult to fully express her pride in mere words.


Unforgettable moments

Amidst the vast canvas of her progress at work, there are specific moments that remain vivid in her memory, bearing witness to the unique connections formed in the heart of Shenzhen’s bustling underground.

Ye recounted a memorable incident when she put her first-aid skills into action. It was at Xiangmi Station where she performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a senior who had collapsed.

Ye Linfang guides young passengers at Xiangmi Station in this June 17, 2022 photo. Courtesy of the interviewee

“I was conducting a routine check around the station when a panicked passenger came to me for help,” Ye said. She rushed to Exit B and saw the elder lying on the ground unconscious. She immediately had her colleagues disperse onlookers and secure the area to protect the elder woman’s privacy.

“Upon checking her condition, I told a colleague to call an ambulance while performing CPR on the woman according to my first aid training. Although I was kind of nervous, I kept telling myself to remain calm and that ‘I can do it,’” she recalled.

Ye continued performing CPR until the ambulance arrived at the scene 10 minutes later and took the senior to the hospital. Seeing the lady being placed in the ambulance, Ye came to notice that her clothing was drenched and her hands trembling.

“I finally heard that the elderly lady was OK. I was so happy as all our efforts on first-aid training during our off-work time were worthwhile,” Ye said.

During Super Typhoon Mangkhut on Sept. 15, 2018, Ye demonstrated quick responsiveness by coordinating efforts to protect Metro stations under her charge from flooding.

Mangkhut emerged as the strongest-ever typhoon that directly struck Shenzhen, unleashing fierce winds and torrential rains that put economic activities in the city on hold. Ye, alongside her fellow staff members, worked around the clock, using sandbags to set up water-proof barriers amidst the adverse weather conditions to ensure the safety of both infrastructure and passengers.

Ye expressed gratitude for the recognition of her work by Metro passengers and residents. She once received a heartfelt thank-you letter, along with several calligraphy pieces applauding the Metro’s convenient, comfortable, and safe services, from an elder man.

She said, “He is among the first groups of construction workers involved in Shenzhen’s early development, who hold a significant amount of emotional attachment to the city. I was deeply moved by his letter, which I think signified that the efforts and dedication of front-line workers were valued by the public.”


Overseas recognition

The work and commitment to maintaining an efficient and safe underground transportation network by Shenzhen Metro staff like Ye has garnered attention and recognition not only from local residents, but also numerous foreign vloggers.

British vlogger Jason Lightfoot, with 531,000 YouTube subscribers and nearly 1 million followers on Bilibili, China’s equivalent to YouTube, said his breath was taken away when walking into Guangxia North Station in Futian District. “I feel like I literally walked into a science fiction movie, this is just crazy...” he said in a video he posted on Bilibili, receiving more than 10,000 views.

A screenshot of a British man named Jason Richard Lightfoot introducing Gangxia North Metro Station against the backdrop of the “Shenzhen Eye.” File photo

Reece Martin, a Candanian YouTuber and host of the RMTransit channel, made a detailed 28-minute video to introduce Shenzhen’s Metro network in December last year. The video provides a comprehensive introduction to the subway system of Shenzhen. Also released on Bilibili on Dec. 31, it has amassed 470,000 views, 512 comments, and 2,100 likes in less than three weeks.

Martin, a transit enthusiast and advocate who writes about public transport, technology, urbanism, and more, has only done a handful of videos explaining the “truly enormous Metro systems” around the world, and Shenzhen is one of them. He called the Shenzhen subway network “unbelievable” and said it surpassed London’s Underground “on every single metric.”

The unwavering dedication and hard work of Metro staff members like Ye ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The recognition and acknowledgment they receive serves as a testament to their profound role in maintaining a reliable and secure public transport system. With the network continuing to expand, each staff member contributes to the vast tapestry of the bustling underground network.


As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the bustling commuters moving in and out of Jingtian Station on Jan. 8, Ye Linfang was approached by a female passenger inquiring about transfer between lines. Having just arrived at Jingtian Station for her daily patrol of the stations under her responsibility, Ye greeted the passenger with a quiet smile.