4 additional Metro sections start service

Four Metro lines (sections) including the Line 5 West Extension, Line 8 Phase III, Line 11 Phase II Hongling South Section, and Line 13 Phase I North Section commenced operations at 10:18 a.m. yesterday, bringing Shenzhen’s urban rail transit network to a total length of 634.5 kilometers.

Commuters board a train at Shangwu Station on Metro Line 13’s Phase I North Section yesterday morning. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Metro

With the operation of the new lines (sections), Shenzhen has achieved full Metro coverage in each district. The city's rail transit network density has reached 0.32 kilometers per square kilometer, solidifying its top position among Chinese mainland cities.

The ceiling at Xichong Station on Metro Line 8’s Phase III features an artistic design.

Line 8 Phase III marks the end of Dapeng’s history of having no Metro line. The Line 5 West Extension helps alleviate passenger congestion in the Luohu core area. The Line 11 Phase II Hongling South Section establishes an east-west "efficiency corridor,” while Line 13 Phase I North Section activates a vital north-south channel in the western part of the city, according to the operator, Shenzahen Metro Group.

"Though the west extension of Line 5 is only 2.88 kilometers, it connects three major commercial hubs — Dongmen, Hubei, and the Grand Theater — providing direct access to Luohu's business center. It will significantly ease transfers at Huangbeiling Station and make travel and shopping more convenient," said Xiao Liang, duty head at the Grand Theatre Station, said in an interview earlier yesterday. 

A view of the Grant Theater Station on the west extension of Line 5. 

Among the stations, Dongmen Station offers shopping convenience, allowing citizens to enjoy a seamless shopping experience from the station to the shopping mall.

The Line 11 Phase II Hongling South Section runs from the existing Gangxia North Station to Hongling South Station. It will increase the capacity of Line 11 by 20% during the rush hour and relieve passenger loads on Lines 1 and 5. 

This extension also enhances Metro coveraeg in the Luohu business center, offering residents more efficient cross-district travel options — a 30-minute direct trip from Luohu to Bao’an via a transfer to Line 14 at Gangxia North.

Line 8 Phase III extends eastward from Xiaomeisha Station to Xichong Station, serving as a link connecting the urban area with the mountain-and-sea region in the east. 

The station hall at Shigu Station on Metro Line 13 features vaulted ceilings and futuristic architectural elements.

Line 13 Phase I North Section runs from Gaoxin North Station to Shangwu Station, comprising 9 stations and 9 sections. 

The operation of the section provides commuting convenience for residents along the route.  The travel time from Shangwu to Shenzhen Bay Port will be reduced to 37 minutes.

As of Dec. 28, Shenzhen Metro has cumulatively transported over 3.2 billion passenger trips throughout the year. The year-on-year growth rate leads among first-tier cities, setting a new historical record.