The Hangzhou Metro is a rapid transit system that serves Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, China. The system opened on November 24, 2012. It is the 17th city in China to operate a rapid transit system.

Network

There are currently 12 lines in operation. The adjacent Shaoxing Metro connects the system at Guniangqiao station on Line 5, and the Hangzhou-Haining Intercity Rail connects to the system at Linpingnan Railway Station on Line 9. The Hangzhou Metro has the only metro system map in China whose first seven lines follow the hue order of the rainbow colors.

Metro

History

Initial plans

The planning for a metro system in the city started in the 1990s and was about to start construction works in September 2003, but the State Council suspended construction works due to increasing costs. The state council approved the construction and operation of a rapid transit system by the Hangzhou Subway Group Co. Ltd in Hangzhou on June 5, 2005. The preliminary design for the first line, Line 1, was approved on January 11, 2007, by the Development and Reform Commission after four days of study. It would be 47.97 km long, of which 41.36 km is underground, 6.14 km elevated, and 0.47 km at grade.

Construction

Construction of the first phase of Hangzhou Metro Line 1 began on March 28, 2007, with subsequent phases beginning later in that year. The first phase included three underground stations in Qianjiang New City. Jiubao East Station is the biggest station along Line 1 and will be a hub for the future metro system and other forms of public transport. The funding of Line 1 came from both the city government and the banks, with 10.2 billion yuan and 5 billion yuan respectively. The first phase construction was estimated to be 45 billion yuan. In January 2009, it was announced that MTR Corporation would invest in a 22 billion-yuan ($3.2 billion) / 25-year / 49% share joint venture with the Hangzhou government to operate Line 1 of the metro. The first section of Line 4 opened for trial operation on February 2, 2015. In December 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission approved the planning for 10 lines, including extensions to the three existing lines, scheduled to open in time for the 2022 Asian Games. By then the Hangzhou Metro network is projected to be 446 km long. As of 2018 there are over 300 km of subway lines under construction in Hangzhou.

Accident

On November 15, 2008, a 75 m section of the tunnel near Fengqing Avenue in Xiaoshan District collapsed while under construction, killing 17 people.

Future expansions

Under construction

Phase IV Expansion

On November 14, 2022 the NDRC approved the 4th Phase Expansion plan consisting of 152.9 km of new lines.