Category Archives: cities

Explore Guangzhou 2.6: Ready for the Asian Games

We’re pleased to announce that Explore Guangzhou 2.6 for iPhone is now available on the iTunes App Store!

With just over a month a go until the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, we’ve launched this bumper update to ensure you’re all set for your Asian Games adventures!

What’s new:

Line 3 Airport extension and the Guangfo Line have not opened yet. Don’t worry, there will be another update before the Asian Games begins to add these lines šŸ™‚

Explore Guangzhou 2.6 is a free update to to existing users, and just $0.99 to purchase. Download your copy today and get ready for the Asian Games!

Guangzhou Metro Line 2, 4 and 8 open!

From September 25th, the new and improved Guangzhou Metro Line 2, Line 4 and Line 8 opened!

Our online map at www.exploregz.com has been updated with the new stations on Line 2 and Line 4, and the stations which have become part of the new Line 8. You can see how much time it will take to travel between two stations and the recommended route by dragging between two stations. Ticket price information is coming soon! There’s also a Metropedia page for each new station, such as Huangcun.

Line 3 extension and the Guangfo Line are expected to open in October.

Here’s a map of the lines and stations open so far, click to enlarge:

An update to our Guangzhou Metro iPhone app has been submitted to Apple and should be available in the next 7-10 days.

Countdown to the Guangzhou Asian Games: Guangzhou Metro Line 4

All this week weā€™re profiling the new lines and extensions being added to theĀ Guangzhou Metro before theĀ Asian Games.

Today, Line 4! Although Line 4 is only being extended by two stations to the north, it’s a key line for the Asian Games. Why? Huangcun Station, the new northern terminus is located at Guangdong Olympic Stadium, the main stadium for the games. Haibang Station, further south is the location of the Asian Games Village where athletes will reside.

Countdown to the Guangzhou Asian Games: Guangfo Metro

All this week weā€™re profiling the new lines and extensions being added to theĀ Guangzhou Metro before theĀ Asian Games.

Today, the Guangfo Metro. Billed as China’s first intercity metro line, it will link Guangzhou with Foshan, a city of 1.1 million people (with 5.4 million in the surrounding areas).

The new line starts at Xilang on Guangzhou Metro Line 1 and heads south and west into Foshan, terminating at Kuiqi Lu. Later plans will link the line to a future Foshan Metro, as well as further extensions within Guangzhou.

Countdown to the Guangzhou Asian Games: Guangzhou Metro Line 3

All this week weā€™re profiling the new lines and extensions being added to theĀ Guangzhou Metro before theĀ Asian Games.

Line 3 is a branched line, running north-south. The new northern extension, predicted to open on October 16, 2010, will extend the line to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, providing a metro link to the airport for the first time. An official announcement has not yet been made, it’s possible that Airport North station will open at a later date. Another new key station will be Jiahewanggang, providing interchange with Metro Line 2.

Countdown to the Guangzhou Asian Games: Guangzhou Metro Line 2

All this week weā€™re profiling the new lines and extensions being added to theĀ Guangzhou Metro before theĀ Asian Games.

Today, Line 2: currently an L-shaped line, some of its current stations will shortly become part of Line 8, while new extensions will be added to the north and south.

To the north, the line heads through Baiyun District towards a new interchange with Line 3 at Jiahewanggang. This will provide easy access to the new Line 3 Airport link. Beware of Xiao-gang station (č§å²—ē«™): it’s NOT the same as Xiaogang station (ꙓęøÆē«™), currently on line 2 and soon to be on Line 8!

To the south, the line heads through Haizhu and Panyu districts to the new Guangzhou South Railway Station. High-speed trains to Wuhan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong depart from here.

Choose your preferred language in our ExploreMetro apps

The ExploreMetro iPhone apps auto-detect your iPhone/iPod’s system language and show either English or Chinese labels. That’s useful for most people, but sometimes you’d prefer to be able to choose the language manually.

We’re pleased to announce that by popular demand, the next version of all the ExploreMetro apps will allow you to select your language manually via the Settings.app. See this Youtube video to see how simple it is to change.

Countdown to the Guangzhou Asian Games: Guangzhou Metro Line 8

All this week we’re profiling the new lines and extensions being added to the Guangzhou Metro before the Asian Games.

First up is Line 8. It runs from Wanshengwei in the east to Fenghuang Xincun in the west, entirely within the central Haizhu district. The eastern part of Line 8 is currently part of Line 2. Once Line 8 opens on September 28th 25th, the stations will become part of Line 8, as well as four new stations: Changgang (the new interchange with Line 2), Baogang Dadao, Shayuan and Fenghuang Xincun.

Line 8 will interchange with Line 2 at Changgang, Line 3 at Kecun and Line 4 at Wanshengwei.

Update: WarrenLOL provides some useful info in the comments:

the last 3 station in the west (Baogang Dadao, Shayuan and Fenghuang Xincun) wonā€™t operate on schedule because the government got involved in the dispute (noise from the cooling tower) with the nearby residents, so we are not sure whether these 3 stations will open before the Asian Games

Tomorrow we’ll profile the extensions to Line 2!