Shanghai on Saturday expanded its piloting of an "open fare gates" mode at subway stations in a bid to facilitate passenger flows during rush hours.
In April, Shanghai started keeping turnstile gates open at Zhanghuabang Station on Line 3, Yangshupu Station on Line 4 and Wuzhong Road Station on Line 15, so that the passengers could enter or leave the stations more quickly after paying with their transport cards or smart phones.
Shanghai on Saturday increased the pilot station number to 21 to collect data until June next year, when relevant authorities will assess the data and decide whether to further the measure.
"It's convenient and smart, with the passengers passing through the fare gates fast," said a passenger.
"We will continue to arrange staff and volunteers to guide the passengers, until the passengers get comfortable with the measure," said Chen Lei, an official with Line 9 of Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai expands "open fare gates" piloting to facilitate subway passenger flows
A series of cross-Strait exchange activities have been held in north China's Shanxi Province, providing platforms for people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to explore shared history, culture, and business opportunities.
A ceremony worshiping Emperor Yandi, a legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, was held in Gaoping, a county-level city in Shanxi on May 24.
The worship ceremony featured rituals including incense offering, the reading of eulogies, ritual bowing, and traditional Chinese instrument performances. The solemn event brought together people from both sides of the Strait, strengthening their shared sense of cultural belonging and deepening consensus around a common Chinese identity.
"Because (in Taiwan), we've known since childhood that we are descendants of Emperor Yandi and Emperor Huangdi, so attending this ceremony really meant a lot to me," said Hsieh Yu-Chan, a Taiwan resident.
"It truly gives me the feeling of being as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi. I was deeply moved. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come again next year," said another Taiwan resident.
Shanxi Province has a solid industrial base and a favorable business environment. The province has rolled out preferential policies for Taiwan residents, attracting more than 100 Taiwan-funded enterprises to invest and settle in.
On May 23, an event highlighting cross-Strait business exchanges was held in the province's Jincheng City, attracting nearly 150 Taiwan businesspeople and youths, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring business opportunities.
"(Shanxi's) cultural tourism, healthcare, and coal chemical industries, in particular, offer excellent opportunities for Taiwan businesses, while Taiwan businesses are also very strong in producing key components for AI computing power. The prospects [for cooperation] are very promising," said Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland.
"The mainland's economy is actually very strong. I think the success rate of starting a business and investing here is at least twice as high as in Taiwan. So I encourage young people in Taiwan to come and visit more often," said Chang Han-hsuan, a businessman.
During the event, participants also visited local enterprises, a short video production base, and popular tourist attractions across Shanxi.
Cross-Strait cultural, business exchange activities held in Shanxi
