Keeping true to past promises, city officials have confirmed that before December is up, four new lengths of metro will be gracing the subway network of our fair city. The Guangzhou transit authority invited journalists Tuesday to come take pictures of the shiny new stations, which boast, among other things, public bathrooms and the mama-friendly nursery rooms we reported on back in August.

Each of the new stations will be fully compatible with cashless payment options and more of the female-priority platform sections rolled out earlier this year.

Perhaps the juiciest innovation is the addition of extra-wide-gauge carriages on some lines that promise higher passenger capacity to take the squeeze out of rush hour. Sure, the nostalgics among us will miss the musty intimacy of the morning scrum, but our standing policy here at That’s is that the fewer opportunities for prick-piddling tomfoolery, the better.



So what does the ongoing blossoming of the metro map mean for your daily commute? Read on to get the skinny on where these fat new lines can take you in 2018.

Line 4 (Southern Extension)

Okay to be fair, this isn’t a whole new line in its own right, but the southern extension of Metro Line 4 will be bringing much more comprehensive coverage to residents of Nansha District. The line will now terminate at Nansha Passanger Wharf, which makes for seamless ferry connections to Hong Kong, drastically improving the feasibility of a maritime visa run. If you think that's impressive wait till next decade's debut of Line 18 has you going from Guangzhou East Station to Nansha in 30 minutes flat.

Line 9



We don’t know about you, but we’ve always felt the Guangzhou Metro network could use some more pastels in its palette. Line 9, which began trial runs last month, delivers with seamless peppermint green service gracefully arcing its way east-west across Huadu District along the city’s northern edge. Spanning 20.1 kilometers and boasting 11 stations, an interchange with Line 3 at the line's eastern terminus will offer easy connection with the rest of town. Want to familiarize yourself with the literal English translations of each of Line 9's station names for no reason at all? Go ahead and check out our handy (albeit bizarre) map.

Line 13



This is where Guangzhou Metro really brings out the big guns. Running east-west right through the densenst portions of Liwan, Yuexiu and Tianhe districts, the imminent opening of Line 13 has the potential to really change the game. Designed as an cross-town express line that is sure to take some of the pressure off Line 1, the new route will feature extra wide train carriages with plenty of breathing room. Wide spacing between stations will allow the train to really pick up speed as it traverses the city, meaning this behemoth of the urban rails will be capable of transporting 3,456 passengers at highway-like speeds of 100 kilometers per hour.

Line 14



Line 14 will be servicing the suburban areas of northeast Guangzhou. Like Line 13, it will be capable of achieving high speeds, while some of the stations will have ‘passing loops’ allowing for both express and local service.

Keep in mind, dear readers, that this is only the beginning for Guangzhou Metro’s ambitious expansion plans. Many of the openings coming later this month are merely the first phase of what will eventually constitute much longer lines, not to mention the half dozen more lines planned in the coming years.

[Images via Nanfang Kuaibao]