Following nearly six years of construction, Fuzhou's Metro Line 1 got up and running on Jan 6. The new metro line is a significant step in the continued development of Fuzhou and supporting trains are capable of carrying 2,000 passengers between 21 stations spread along the 25 kilometer route.

Citizens queue at the Dongjiekou Station of Metro Line 1 in Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo/Fuzhou Evening News]

Having developed later than many of China's metro systems, engineers have intelligently applied the lessons from other cities and have built a system integrating both the latest technologies and practical functions.

Passengers ride a goldfish featured metro carriage in Fuzhou, Fujian province on Jan 6. [Photo by Lin Shanchuan/Xinhua]

Trains run at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour, among the fastest in China, and the system is focused on being user friendly, as indicated by the numerous information points, self-service ticket machines, and efficient transition services in place.

Passengers take a photo while riding Fuzhou’s Metro Line 1. [Photo by Lin Shanchuan/Xinhua]

An added feature demonstrating the intelligent planning is the heating system found aboard the trains of Metro Line 1 - something typically absent in China's southern regions. A further coup for passengers seeking relief from chilly winter temperatures is the fact train seats will be heated.

Metro staff offer help to a person in a wheel chair. [Photo by Lin Shanchuan/Xinhua]

Metro Line 1 is made all the more impressive by the numerous challenges faced by engineers since construction started in April 2011. Firstly, the Fuzhou region is composed of highly variable terrain and complex soil layers, with the 400 meter riverbed section around the Minjiang River proving particularly testing.