Even Wuhan (“The Chicago of China”) has a pretty nifty metro system. It only has 12 lines currently (compared to Shenzhen’s 17), with ~520km of track (compared to Shenzhen’s ~580km) serving 312 stations (compared to Shenzhen’s 398). Like Shenzhen it’s ultramodern, smooth, fast, and comfortable.
Here’s Wuhan’s lines and start dates. (There are extensions to almost all of these that were built over ensuing years.)
Metro Line
Service Start Year
Line 1
2004
Line 2
2012
Line 3
2015
Line 4
2013
Line 5
2021
Line 6
2016
Line 7
2018
Line 8
2017
Line 11
2018
Line 16
2021
Line 19
2023
Yangluo
2017
And here’s Shenzhen’s:
Metro Line
Service Start Year
Line 1
2004
Line 2
2010
Line 3
2010
Line 4
2004
Line 5
2011
Line 6
2020
Line 6B
2022
Line 7
2016
Line 8
2020
Line 9
2016
Line 10
2020
Line 11
2016
Line 12
2022
Line 13
2024
Line 14
2022
Line 16
2022
Line 20
2021
Both are awesome systems that are constantly growing. (Both Shenzhen and Wuhan are constantly extending lines on each end: line 11 in Wuhan just opened a new extension on December 28, 2024 that dramatically lengthens its run and connects it to several other lines.)
Note that both of these metro systems started building in 1999 (Shenzhen) and 2000 (Wuhan). The New York City Subway opened in 1904 and now, 120 years later, has 36 lines, 472 stations, and about 1400km of track. In a sixth of that time Wuhan has constructed a system that has ~33% of the lines, ~66% of the stations, and ~37% of the track. For Shenzhen those percentages are ~47%, ~84%, and ~37% respectively. Picture how much larger they’re going to be in another 100 years…
In just 20 years, with all these new metros and the incredible high-speed network, China really has completely revitalized the international rail sector. It really is an astonishment achievement and we have to give China credit for it, alongside the necessary criticism for its political repression.
Even Wuhan (“The Chicago of China”) has a pretty nifty metro system. It only has 12 lines currently (compared to Shenzhen’s 17), with ~520km of track (compared to Shenzhen’s ~580km) serving 312 stations (compared to Shenzhen’s 398). Like Shenzhen it’s ultramodern, smooth, fast, and comfortable.
Here’s Wuhan’s lines and start dates. (There are extensions to almost all of these that were built over ensuing years.)
And here’s Shenzhen’s:
Both are awesome systems that are constantly growing. (Both Shenzhen and Wuhan are constantly extending lines on each end: line 11 in Wuhan just opened a new extension on December 28, 2024 that dramatically lengthens its run and connects it to several other lines.)
Note that both of these metro systems started building in 1999 (Shenzhen) and 2000 (Wuhan). The New York City Subway opened in 1904 and now, 120 years later, has 36 lines, 472 stations, and about 1400km of track. In a sixth of that time Wuhan has constructed a system that has ~33% of the lines, ~66% of the stations, and ~37% of the track. For Shenzhen those percentages are ~47%, ~84%, and ~37% respectively. Picture how much larger they’re going to be in another 100 years…
Interesting comparison. Just checked, and Shenzhen is currently ranked 6th in the world for number of stops. Paris is #5 and Wuhan is #7.
In just 20 years, with all these new metros and the incredible high-speed network, China really has completely revitalized the international rail sector. It really is an astonishment achievement and we have to give China credit for it, alongside the necessary criticism for its political repression.