The 140th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4. Guangzhou Metro is focusing on capacity, convenience, and service to fully ensure safe and smooth travel during the fair, providing a convenient and comfortable travel experience for both domestic and international visitors and local residents.
Launching a special fair timetable to boost key line capacity
To fully support the travel needs of visitors to the 140th Canton Fair, Guangzhou Metro will implement phased capacity enhancements on its lines before and during the event.
Starting from October 8, Line 11 will follow a new timetable on weekdays, adding 1 train in the morning peak and 2 trains in the evening peak. From October 15 until the fair ends, Lines 4 and 8 will operate on a special fair timetable. During the Canton Fair, Lines 4, 8, and 11 will add 1 to 10 trains compared to usual, shortening intervals between trains to increase capacity. During the fair's closing times, Guangzhou Metro will also organize empty trains to be sent on standby to Pazhou, Xingang East, Wanshengwei, and other stations to help handle large crowds leaving the venue.
At the same time, Guangzhou Metro will closely monitor network passenger flows, focusing on strengthening service capacity during dispersal periods. Backup trains are set up on all lines across the network. In case of sudden large crowds, backup trains will be deployed, and empty trains will be sent to designated locations to help manage the flow. Passengers can check real-time crowd levels on each line through the 'Passenger Flow Live' feature on the Guangzhou Metro app and plan their trips flexibly.
Optimizing passenger flow guidance to improve transfer efficiency
Given the high number of domestic and international visitors during the trade show, Guangzhou Metro has set up signage for the Canton Fair exhibition halls and travel guidance at neighboring stations: Xingangdong and Pazhou stations on Line 8, Pazhou station on Line 11, and the intercity Pazhou station. Transfer guide brochures are also available for passengers. A large network map is displayed at Pazhou station on Line 11 to help passengers plan their trips more easily.
Nearby stations have also strengthened signage. Pazhou station has illuminated hand-held signs and standing light guide signs clearly indicating transfer routes and entrance/exit information, making it easy to follow even at night or during peak times. Temporary canopies have been set up at exits A, B, E, and F of Pazhou station and exit A of Xingangdong station. Exits E and F have added LED lights and light strips to improve nighttime lighting and comfort for passengers on the concourse and exits. A 'meeting point' is set up outside exit F at Pazhou station for passengers to gather.
Key directional signs, prompt signs, and announcements at all stations across the network are covered in both Chinese and English, and 118 translation devices are available at hub metro stations, intercity stations, and stations around venues. Guangzhou Metro has invited experts to compile the 'Practical English Handbook for the Metro,' enhancing frontline staff service skills, and has organized employees with foreign language skills and university student volunteers to assist with on-site guidance. In addition, Pazhou Station and Xingang East Station will be equipped with multiple smart service robots, combining intelligent navigation and multi-language consultation, moving flexibly around the station hall to create a new smart travel experience.
It is reported that Line 11's Pazhou Station and Intercity Pazhou Station will feature a 70th Anniversary Canton Fair-themed station. One hundred lightbox ads at key network hubs and nearly 40,000 subway TVs will broadcast Canton Fair-themed content simultaneously, and Line 11's Pazhou Station will have a 'Maritime Silk Road' themed setup. Intercity Panyu Station will launch a new 'Ride the Intercity, Explore the Bay Area' themed display, showcasing famous attractions and transport guidance around intercity stations, along with transport guide notes for passengers to take.
In addition, Guangzhou Metro continues to enhance the guidance for using Mastercard, American Express, Visa, and JCB cards issued overseas for the 'tap card to pass through the gate' feature. They're also strengthening on-site staff instructions on directly swiping international payment cards at the gates and quickly handling issues when tickets or cards can't pass through. This further improves the efficiency for foreign passengers passing through the gates. Newangdong Station has added 3 new ticket machines, boosting ticketing capacity by 30%, shortening passenger queuing time, and improving the efficiency of buying tickets and entering the station.