6am on Saturday, 26th May, saw Nanjing Metro Line S7 open right on schedule, turning the city into a 10 line network of which Nanjing can be rightfully proud.
The line’s “Ningli” moniker hints to its linking of the city of Nanjing; abbreviated “Ning”, and rural Lishui, abbreviated “Li”.
Residents in the southerly district of Lishui are visibly thrilled by the latest convenience in their lives, excitedly chattering away in the virtually unintelligible Lishui dialect, as they learn how to work the ticket machines and make the connection with line S1 that can take them into town.
Until Saturday, Line S1 terminated at Nanjing Lukou International Airport. Now, the latter is one stop short of the end of the line at Kongjiang Xincheng Jiangning. Therein, find a transfer to the new line S7 as easy as crossing the platform to the other side, similar to the system employed Nanjing South Railway Station when transferring between lines 1 and 3.
At present, 11 sets of trains are serving nine stations along the 30 kilometre line, on which construction began in July, 2014. The designated colour for Line S7 is pink, making it the most represented colour on the metro system, possibly as a nod to the peach blossom that is the official flower of Nanjing.
Line S7 stations, from north to south, are Konggang New City Jiangning, Zhetang, Konggang New City Lishui, Qunli, Wolonghu, Lishui, Zhongshanhu, Xingzhuang and Wuxiangshan.
In non Chinese-speaking circles, Konggang New City Jiangning and Konggang New City Lishui are also known as Airport New Town and Lishui Economic Development Zone.
The southern terminus of Wuxiangshan will in the future also be home to the new Six Flags amusement parks that were recently announced.
Not only is Nanjing Metro Line S7 an important addition to rural public transportation, it also provides essential connectivity to the growing international logistics hub just outside of Lishui, and helps in the economic development of the area around Nanjing Lukou International Airport.
