"It has set a milestone in the city's construction history while offering a big New Year gift for Shenzhen residents," said Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong.

The Shenzhen Metro would not only help alleviate the increasing traffic pressure but also greatly change the city's development layout. It could break the traffic bottleneck between commercial centers and the city center, adding vigor to the city's future development, Li said.

"It will launch a new traffic mode for city residents while upgrading the level of development," he said.

After the ceremony, the official party traveled on two trains to Window of the World, where hundreds of residents and tourists were waiting to be among the first passengers to travel on the Metro.

There were busy scenes at Metro stations at Old Street (Laojie), Huaqiangbei and Honey Lake.

"More passengers can be expected in the evening and Wednesday," said Jiang Weibin, general manager of the Operations Branch of Shenzhen Metro Co. Ltd.

While a six-car train can accommodate 1,920 people only about 1,000 people were admitted on the first train at Luohu Station to avoid overcrowding, Jiang said.

The first two passenger trains departed at about 5 p.m. from Luohu Station and Window of the World.

Line 1 and 4 will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day and until midnight on New Year's Day, during the Spring Festival, the May Day and National Day holidays.

There will be a total of 22 trains running on Line 1 and 4 by the end of next year. Eight trains started running Tuesday, one on Line 4 and the other seven on Line 1.

Trains on Line 1 depart every 15 minutes while trains on Line 4 every 20 minutes. The interval will be shortened to eight minutes by the end of 2005. Metro fares range from 2 to 5 yuan (US$0.24 to 0.6).

Costing 3.2 billion yuan, the equipment and technology, 70 percent of which were provided by domestic suppliers or joint-venture companies, were in line with international standards.

With a total cost of 11.553 billion yuan, Phase I of Shenzhen Metro comprises Line 1 from Luohu to Window of the World and Line 4 from Huanggang Checkpoint to the Children's Palace. Line 1 runs from east to west and Line 4 from north to south. The new Convention and Exhibition Center Station is the transfer station for Line 1 and 4.

Starting in March 2001 and completed this month, the Metro extends for a total of 21.866 kilometers with 20 stations.

Source: Shenzhen Daily