On August 2, a trial run of the west extension of Shenzhen Metro Line 5 — from Huangbeiling to Grand Theater — was completed, marking a key milestone ahead of the line's planned opening by the end of the year.
Running beneath Shennan Boulevard, the project faced significant technical challenges due to saturated surface traffic, dense buildings, complex underground pipelines, and challenging geological conditions. Its successful completion provides valuable experience for metro construction in high-density urban cores with difficult terrain.
Currently, Metro Line 5 (Huangbeiling to Chiwan) connects Shenzhen's inner and outer urban rings and links the city’s western, central, and eastern development axes. With an average daily ridership exceeding one million passengers, it is the busiest metro line in Shenzhen.
Once the west extension opens, passengers will be able to reach major commercial hubs such as Grand Theater Station without transferring to Line 2, significantly improving travel efficiency. The project is expected to further expand Shenzhen's metro network, enhance public transport services, boost regional economic activity, and inject new momentum into the city's development as a world-class metropolis.