Subway war: Guangzhou beats NYC

In cooperation with the Guangzhou Library, Guangzhou Metro also opened the library for people to borrow books and take them home for reading.

"The library is my favorite," said Jiang Yang, who studies at the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. "It's a place for you to find peace for at least a moment. I also like the subway's setting different compartments with different temperatures. You may choose a cooler seat if you are dressed in layers and sweat."

"Many of the inner parts of the compartments shine like metal and the round light on the roof can adjust the brightness," he said. "It's becoming more people-oriented."