Shanghai and Beijing open new metro lines today

The Shanghai Metro and Beijing Subway open new lines today, December 28th December 30th 2010: in Beijing, 5 new lines are opening to the outer suburbs, while in Shanghai, Line 7’s northern extension opens.

We’ve updated our online metro map for Shanghai and online subway map for Beijing with the latest lines and stations (some information, like first/last train times will be added soon).

Updates for our iPhone apps are currently in review by Apple and will be available soon.

Shanghai Metro Line 7 northern extension to open December 28th

The northern extension of Shanghai Metro Line 7 will open for trial operation on December 28th. This is great news if you live in Baoshan District, as you can now go shopping in Jing’an Temple then catch the last metro home 🙂 The new terminus will be at Meilan Lake.

Unfortunately not all the intermediate stations will be opening on December 28th: see the route map above. Also, trains on the northern extension will only be once every 15 minutes, compared to every 5 minutes on the main line as far as Shanghai University.

Of course, we’ll have an update to our online Shanghai Metro map and iPhone app available soon!

Beijingology profiles Beijing’s five new Subway lines

Over at CityWeekend’s Beijingology blog, David Feng has been tirelessly profiling every single new Beijing Subway station for 2010! Five new lines will be opening on December 28th, 2010: the Daxing extension to Line 4, the Yizhuang Line, Line 15, the Changping Line and the Fangshan Line.

These all connect to some of the suburbs of Beijing. Each station has an article hyperlinked below. We’ll be updating our online Beijing Subway map and iPhone app with all the new lines, stay tuned!
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The ExploreMetro Christmas Sale: Buy one app get one free!

Every app, every city, just $0.99

From now until December 15th you can buy any ExploreMetro iPhone app for just $0.99! That’s 50% off the regular price. Whether you live in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, Singapore or Hong Kong, or are planning a trip there during 2011, be sure to grab a copy today!

Buy one for you, get one for a friend!

The first 100 people who buy an ExploreMetro app will be eligible for a FREE extra copy to send to a friend! That’s right, just purchase any ExploreMetro iPhone app, and forward your iTunes email receipt to iphone at exploremetro dot com. We’ll send you a promo code which you can give to your friend for a free copy of the same app! Hurry, stocks are limited, we only have 100 free apps to give away!

The small print:

  • Promo codes will work in any country, the recipient will require an iTunes account
  • Promo code will be for the same app you purchase.
  • Limited to one code per person
  • Only 100 free apps available, we’ll update this blog post once we’ve sold out

Explore Shanghai 2.7 for iPhone with Retina Display

Our most popular iPhone app, Explore Shanghai has just received an update on the iTunes App Store, and it’s a big one!

  • All the latest stations! Includes the new Line 10 extension to Hongqiao Airport. Every Shanghai Metro station and line is up-to-date.
  • Retina Display! iPhone 4 and iPod touch (4th generation) users can enjoy incredibly crisp graphics
  • All new map! We took the opportunity to redesign the map with a new font and clearer graphics
  • Choose your language! If you have your iPhone set to English, but you’d prefer to use a Chinese map, now it’s as simple as toggling a setting.

Screenshots! (Click on any screenshot for hi-res retina display goodness!

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Explore Singapore: now with LRT

Version 2.7 of Explore Singapore for iPhone is now available in the iTunes App Store! As well as being the latest app to be updated for retina display graphics, we’ve also added support for LRT lines and stations, including the Bukit Panjang LRT, Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT.

Each LRT station includes the English/Chinese name and street map. We’ll be adding support for the journeyplanner with times and prices in the next update! If you have any other suggestions to improve our LRT support, do get in touch!

Explore Singapore is a free update for our existing users. Download it now!

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!