First phase of a subway network in Shenzhen, a boom city in south China and neighboring Hong Kong, is expected to be completed soon as the tunnel connecting the eastern section of Line One and the southern section of Line Four has been built recently.

Work on the extension section, the last project in the first phase, was still underway. According to the construction schedule, the first phase of the subway will be ready for service by late 2004.

The subway network will eventually link up Shenzhen and Hong Kong. At present, there is no subway service between the two places.

The first phase of the subway system has a total length of 21.87 kilometers and 20 stations. Construction of the first phase of the subway network began in March 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2003)