Category Archives: cities

Shanghai Metro Line 10 Hongqiao branch opens

Today, November 30th 2010, the second branch of Shanghai Metro Line 10 opens!

After passing Longxi Road station, the line now branches in two. There are new stops at Shanghai Zoo and Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1, and new interchange stations at Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station.

Note that the free shuttle bus between Hongqiao Airport T1 and T2 is now discontinued. You’ll need to use Metro Line 10 to shuttle between the two terminals!

Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station is a “virtual interchange”, you’ll need a Shanghai Public Transportation Card to transfer free-of-charge between Line 2 and Line 10.

The opening times have also been extended on Line 10, with the last train of the day departing Hongqiao Railway Station at 10pm. You can find the first/last train times for any station on our interactive map, fully updated at www.exploreshanghai.com.

iPhone users, never fear! An update to our Explore Shanghai iPhone app is on its way to Apple, including not just the new line but awesome retina display graphics for iPhone 4 and iPod touch!

Going to the Asian Games? Three ways to access our Guangzhou metro map!

The Asian Games are now just 4 days away! One of the easiest ways to reach the Games venues will be by metro. Even better, there’s free transport on the Guangzhou Metro for local and long-term residents. Of course, you’ll need a metro map to help you get around! Here are three ways to access our maps:

1. Online:

Just visit exploregz.com on any computer to use our interactive Flash map. You can plan routes and search for stations in English or Chinese.

2. On your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad

Download Explore Guangzhou for iPhone from the App Store. Version 2.7 includes retina display and Google Maps for every station. Version 2.8 is currently being reviewed by Apple and will include station updates on Line 8, and new timetables.

3. On paper (print a PDF!)

We’ve made a handy printable version of our map as a PDF, which should print out in A4 size. You can fold it up and take it with you while you’re headed to the Games venues! Download it here: PDF in English or PDF in Chinese.

The Clockwork Orange: Taipei Metro Xinzhuang and Luzhou lines open!

The Taipei Metro’s Orange line received two new additions this week with the opening of the Luzhou branch line from Luzhou to Daqiaotou, and the Xinzhuang line from Daqiaotou to Zhongxiao Xinsheng. As you can see from the map below, this doesn’t yet link up with the existing part of the Orange Line from Nanshijiao to Guting. The gap from Guting to Zhongxiao Xinsheng will be completed in June 2011, with an intermediate station at Dongmen.

We’ve prepared an update for our Taipei Metro iPhone app (including retina display) and it should be available in the next week!

The sharpest Beijing Subway map you’ve ever seen!

We’re delighted to announce version 2.7 of our Explore Beijing subway map for iPhone is now available on the iTunes App Store!

It has all-new retina display graphics designed for the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th generation, as well as new Line 4 stations on the Daxing Line. Plus you can now easily switch languages between English and Chinese! Explore Beijing 2.7 is a free update for existing users! Download now from the iTunes App Store!

Shanghai Metro Line 13: More than just the Expo

Today marks the final day of the Shanghai World Expo, and Shanghai’s Line 13, the Expo line, will also be closing. During the Expo, only three stations were open: at Madang Road, Lupu Bridge and Shibo Avenue.

The good news that is eventually the line will become a major north-south route, connecting with several other key metro lines. The bad news is that this won’t happen until at least 2012. Anyway, to whet your appetite, here are the stations.

  • Huajiang Road
  • West Jinshajiang Road
  • Fengzhuang
  • South Qilianshan Road
  • Zhenbei Road
  • Daduhe Road
  • Jinshajiang Road (Line 3/4)
  • Longde Road (Line 11)
  • Wuning Road
  • Changshou Road (Line 7)
  • Jiangning Road
  • Hanzhong Road (Line 1)
  • Shanghai Nature Museum
  • West Nanjing Road (Line 2)
  • Middle Huaihai Road
  • Xintiandi (Line 10)
  • Madang Road (Line 9)
  • Lupu Bridge
  • Shibo Avenue
  • Changqing Road (Line 7)
  • Chengshan Road
  • Dongming Road (Line 6)
  • Liuli
  • Xianan Road
  • Yanglian Road
  • Lianxi Road
  • Middle Huaxia Road

UPDATED 2nd November to correct some stations

Guangzhou’s Line 3 reaches the airport

On October 30th, Guangzhou’s Metro Line 3 northern extension opens to passengers, connecting Baiyun Airport to the metro system. We’ve previously written about the extension, note that two stations (Airport North and Gaozeng) will not open until 2012.

The new stations from north to south, are listed below. Click any station name for the Metropedia page with a location map, photos and travel times:

We’ve updated our online interactive metro map at www.exploregz.com with the new stations. We’ve also launched an awesome update for our iPhone app, which not only includes the new stations, but adds beautiful hi-res retina display graphics: see our Guangzhou iPhone app post for more details!

We’ve also updated the map to include the Guangfo Line and marked the Automated Passenger Mover, a new driverless train in central Guangzhou. Both are expected to open in early November.

The wow is now! Explore Guangzhou 2.7 with retina display

We’re delighted to announce that Explore Guangzhou 2.7 is now available for download from the iTunes App Store.

The update includes new lines and stations including the Line 3 Airport Extension and the Guangfo Line.

As we previously blogged this is the first of our apps to include hi-res graphics for the iPhone 4/iPod touch 4th generation retina display, and the results are great!

Explore Guangzhou 2.7 is available in the iTunes App Store now!

The dashing Daxing Line: Beijing’s Line 4 heads south

On October 28th, Beijing’s Daxing Line (大兴线) opens, adding an additional 11 stations on the south end of the existing Line 4. Although originally planned as a separate line, it will now be fully integrated with Line 4 and trains will travel the full 40 km of the line.

The new stations from north to south, are listed below. Tap any station name for a Subwaypedia page with maps and photos.

Here’s a view from Google Earth looking south at the new stations.

Daxing district (大兴区) may not be frequently visited by most Beijingers, but it’s home to over 600,000 people. It’s also likely to be home to Beijing’s second airport.

We’ve updated our online interactive metro map at www.explorebj.com with the new stations. We’ll be adding timetable and routeplanner info shortly. An update for our Explore Beijing iPhone app will be available soon!

Saturday Subway Stuff: Stinks, security, shuffling and songs

A roundup of the latest metro news and links from ExploreMetro cities!