Mainland Chinese like to use Apple products such as iPhones. Photo: iStock
While over 600 billion yuan (US$86.69 billion) was invested into the metro sector, only a few cities managed to break even financially. Photo: iStock

China’s expanding metro system has hit a new milestone, with about 4,600 kilometers built since the country’s first subway line opened in Beijing in 1969,  the 21st Century Business Herald reported.

Unsurprisingly, Shanghai led the way with an operating mileage of 669 kilometers as of June, followed by Beijing and Guangzhou, with 617 kilometers and 473 kilometers respectively, the newspaper said. As a whole, 13 out of the 33 cities ran lines exceeding 100 kilometers in the same period.

However, the financial situation in operating these urban rail networks was not satisfactory, according to the 21st Century Business Herald.

While over 600 billion yuan (US$86.69 billion) was invested into the sector, only a few cities managed to break even financially.

Data from 28 cities showed that the ratio of revenue and expenditure stood at 78 percent in 2018 after increasing 8 percentage points from the previous year. Only four cities — Hangzhou, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Beijing — achieved balance last year.

In the meantime, six out of 29 cities, including Kunming, Ningbo, Xiamen and Guiyang, recorded less than 7,000 visits per kilometer for each day, below the 7,000-visit bottom line required by the National Development and Reform Commission.

Join the Conversation

1222 Comments

  1. What i do not realize is in truth how you’re no longer really a lot more smartly-preferred than you might be right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know thus considerably when it comes to this topic, produced me individually imagine it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men aren’t involved unless it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!

  2. I do consider all the ideas you’ve presented to your post. They are really convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for beginners. May just you please lengthen them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

  3. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

  4. Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & help different customers like its helped me. Great job.

  5. I haven?¦t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  6. I?¦ll immediately clutch your rss feed as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me realize in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  7. Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.