Xiamen Metro started limited passenger operations on two new lines on September 16, 2026, adding 57.4 km or 37% more coverage to the existing network. The new routes allow free travel during an informal running-in phase characterized by long headways and restricted service hours.
Technical Features and Operation of Line 4
Both lines run fully automated four-car B-type trainsets powered by 1.5 kV DC overhead electrification. Line 4 is designed as an express metro with a maximum speed of 120 km/h and longer spacing between stations, suited to connecting major transport hubs efficiently.
Line 4 Route Details and Expansion
The initial 31.3 km segment of Line 4 operates between Jimei Software Park North
and Qianwu. Extensions under construction at both ends include a future connection to the under-construction Xiang’an International Airport at the east and an infill Xiyan station. A planned five-station branch will run southwest from Xiamen North main line station to Huizuo / Maluan Bay South within the medium term.
Line 6 Inter-Urban Link to Zhangzhou
Line 6 spans 26.1 km, marking Xiamen’s first metro line connecting it inter-urban with the neighbouring Zhangzhou municipality. The line links Huaqiao University in Xiamen to Jiaojiang Road in Zhangzhou’s suburbs and operates as a through service developed and managed jointly by both municipalities. Currently, a two-station extension in Zhangzhou and
an infill station at Chenjing in Xiamen are under construction.
The inauguration of these two new lines raised the system’s total metro route length from 98.4 km to 155.8 km. The running-in period with free passenger travel allows the operators to test system performance under limited service hours and long intervals between trains. These expansions exemplify the ongoing growth of express metro networks across China, improving speed and connectivity in urban and suburban areas alike.
