Han Ximin
A NEWSPAPER to serve Shenzhen Metro commuters will be issued in January, according to a strategic agreement signed by Shenzhen Press Group and Shenzhen Metro Co. Ltd. yesterday.
The newspaper, Metro 8 a.m. (temporary title), will print 200,000 copies a day from Monday to Friday after the launch, Liu Shuquan, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, said yesterday.
The copies will be given to commuters free of charge.
The strategic cooperation will create a win-win situation where Shenzhen Press Group will help build the city s Metro culture through the new publication that will cover the city s Metro network, Huang Yanglue, president of Shenzhen Press Group, said at a ceremony to sign the agreement.
The city s existing Metro lines transport around 400,000 commuters a day.
Metro Line 2 from the Window of the World to Chiwan, Shekou, and the extension of Metro Line 1 from Shenzhen University to Xixiang in Bao an District will open at the end of the month.
Five Metro lines will be in full operation on the eve of the Shenzhen Universiade in August, bringing the total Metro rail length to 178.8 kilometers.
It is expected to carry more than 1 million passengers a day.
Shenzhen Metro badly needs a platform to publicize the city s achievements in Metro construction and its culture, introduce updated Metro news and information and Metro culture with the construction of the second and third phase of network, said Huang Rui, chairman of Shenzhen Metro.
The city has planned 16 Metro lines with a total length of 587 kilometers.
Metros cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou have Metro newspapers.
Beijing Metro Corp. started the Beijing Star Daily in November 2007 and it is available at 89 stations.
Guangzhou started the Yangcheng Metro News in 2006 and it is available at 62 stations.
