To accelerate the “double-first class” metro construction campaign across the board, Qingdao plants to execute 25 projects on metro construction and development along metro lines. Among them, the construction of 10 metro lines, with a total length of 188 km, will be expedited. The 10 lines comprise 3 lines for the first phase and the second phase (the first phase of metro line no. 6, the west extension section of the first phase of metro line no. 2 and the south section of metro line no. 8), and 7 lines for the third phase (the second phase of metro line no. 2, the second phase of metro line no. 5 and metro line no. 6, the second phase of metro line no. 7, the branch line of metro line no. 8, the first phase of metro line no. 9 and the first phase of metro line no. 15).

Qingdao continues to advance “minor construction” of the existing lines. This year, the Guanxiangshan Station (Municipal Hospital) Station on the metro line no. 4 will be opened. In 2023, express lines in the West Coast New Area all opened to traffic, all unfinished stations on metro lines that have gone into operation were put into use, including Haixinqiao Station on the metro line no. 2 and Xizhen Station on the metro line no. 1, an operating mileage of 3 km was achieved, 5 stations and 11 entrances and exits were put into service, and metro lines became more widely accessible. By the end of 2023, Qingdao boasted 7 metro lines that were put into service, with a total length of 318 km and 150 stations. In 2023, the passenger volume of all metro lines amounted to 470 million, accounting for 42.73% of the total volume carried by public transport. Travelling by metro, which is safe, punctual and comfortable, is increasingly preferred among the means of public transport.

(Zhou Jianliang)