OFFICIAL statistics released recently reveal that the total length of metro networks in mainland China had reached 10,004.8km at the end of 2025. In the course of last year, new construction on 44 lines totalled 731.5km.
Ridership on both the Shanghai and Beijing metros fell slightly by 1% last year, with 3.72 billion passengers carried in Shanghai and 3.58 billion in Beijing. Traffic increased year-on-year in many other cities: the Guangzhou metro carried 3.4 billion passengers, up 4.51%, traffic was up by 5.91% in Shenzhen at 3.29 billion, and 2.26 billion passengers were carried in Chengdu, up 2.15%.
Guangzhou accounted for the most intensively-used individual metro lines with lines 1, 2 and 8 recording an average of 4.26 million, 3.45 million and 2.69 passenger-km each day, respectively. Lines in Xi’an, Shanghai, Changsha, Shenzen and Beijing all recorded daily average passenger-km of between 2.14 and 2.65 million.
China’s metro networks continue to expand, with 2544.14km of new infrastructure under construction in 35 cities at the end of 2025. Looking ahead, 400km of new metro lines are planned in both Shanghai and Shenzhen, 300km in both Beijing and Chongqing and 150km in Ningbo, Xiamen and Qingdao.
However, many of China’s metro operators are operating at a loss and rely on significant government subsidy to break even. Consolidated data for 35 cities shows that the national average operating cost per vehicle-km last year was Yuan 35.28 ($US 5.19), almost twice the average revenue obtained, and the average operating cost per passenger-km was Yuan 1.63, up Yuan 0.14, two-thirds more than average income.
In-depth analysis of the latest developments in China’s metro and urban rail networks will appear in the August issue of IRJ.
For detailed information on metro projects across Asia, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
