Subway is more than just a means of transportation; it has improved the quality of life of many locals. While many regard the clean and spacious subway station as a good place to have a short rest, some young people use the station as a place for socializing.

Tang Feng, founder of www.speeddating.com, a matchmaking website free of charge, says the subway symbolizes a modern lifestyle, and the subway station is a fantastic venue for romance. "Because when I think of it, it gives the mystic and warm impression," he says.

Tang has organized several speed dating parties inside subway stations. At each party, he invited 15 men and 15 women and divided them in five groups. The five groups of women waited at five stations. The five groups of men took the subway to meet the women. Each group had 20 minutes to communicate.

"Someone doubted whether such a speed dating would work, but romance did happen in the subway. Many people believe in love at first sight," Tang says.

Xu, 28, immediately asked Zhang, 26, for dinner after their first subway meeting, Tang says. Xu then discovered that Zhang had graduated from the same Tongji University as he did. They chatted away the whole evening.

"They've become a couple. Subway is the very matchmaker," says Tang, smiling.

Besides the nouveau matchmaking role, the subway plays its role of transporter very well. Xue, an office worker in her late 30s, believes the subway has made her life easier. "Thanks to the extended Metro Line 1, it helps me save a lot of time spent on going to work."

Xue lives in the residential area on Yangqu Road, Baoshan District, and her office is in the downtown Xujiahui in Xuhui District. Xue leaves for work at 6:45 am every day. After traveling on a bus for four stops, she then takes the extended Metro Line 1. Then she catches another bus for one stop to reach the office at 8 am.

"Without the extended Metro Line 1, I had to spend at least two hours on the way every day. When I arrived at the office, I was already very tired. "

There are now five subway lines in operation in Shanghai, covering 145 kilometers. By 2010, Shanghai will have 13 subway lines extending 400 kilometers.

Most of the local residents who use the subway as their major transportation means believe that more subway lines will shorten the time to work and make their lives more comfortable, says a recent survey on different transportation means.

(China Daily October 23, 2007)