Duck snack subway station leaves a bitter taste (2)

"The government will drop the sponsored name if the criticism is loud enough," he predicted.

Not all residents are against the name. Cai Yang, a student at Wuhan University, said he supported the decision.

"Zhouheiya is a famous snack brand and makes people think of Wuhan, so I'm OK with it," he said.

Line 2 is the city's first underground subway service and will pass through the city's busy downtown. Upon the completion of phase one, the subway will stretch 27.73 km, according to transportation authorities.

A spokesman for Wuhan Metro Group, the network operators, declined to comment on the residents' response on Wednesday. However, he did confirm that a six-year deal worth 5 million yuan had been signed with Zhouheiya in December.

Twenty-four signs carrying the snack company's name have been placed on walls throughout the station, although none were visible at its entrances on Wednesday. The name has not yet appeared on any official maps.

A spokesman for Zhouheiya declined to comment.