Do you know the world’s deepest subway station is roughly the equal of a 40-story skyscraper? Hongyancun Station in Chongqing, China is a whopping 116 meters beneath floor and we bought to trip a practice from it!
On a latest journey to China, we made it some extent to take a look at and trip a practice from the world’s deepest metro station, though it wasn’t a part of our tour.
I all the time discover using trains a novelty and enjoyable expertise throughout journeys overseas. I’ve skilled navigating trains in different Asian cities, like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, in addition to older practice programs in Europe and even our personal PNR from Naga to Legazpi. Nevertheless, China’s futuristic trains felt like gentle years forward of something I’ve ever skilled.
Chonging’s practice infrastructure is engineered on an insanely completely different stage. The sprawling mountainous megacity in southwestern China additionally has a monorail practice that passes proper by way of a residential constructing (Liziba Station), which we additionally visited one other day.
Most subway stations are normally positioned just some tales beneath avenue stage. You normally descend an escalator or climb down a flight of stairs to succeed in the practice platform. The deepest level of the Hongyancun Station on Line 9 of the Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) in China lies a staggering 116 meters or 39 tales beneath floor.
Simply think about the peak of a constructing barely taller than London’s Large Ben (96m) or the Thirty ninth-floor observatory of the towering Umeda Sky Constructing in Osaka, however deep beneath floor.
This station which opened in January 2022 within the Yuzhong District, is claimed to be precisely twice the depth of London’s deepest underground station.
Chonging’s hilly topography is makes their city structure fairly distinctive as many trendy buildings have a number of floor flooring and ranges, with many constructed towards or into cliffs and mountains.
Hongyancun Station has two fundamental entrances, numbered 2 and 4, with a big vertical peak distinction of 141 meters. The entrances are considerably far aside as a result of station’s depth.
From our resort, we took a cab to Entrance 4, the place we descended a seven-segment escalator from the bottom stage to the 116m station. Should you’re utilizing the escalator, it’ll take roughly 8 to 10 minutes to go all the way in which right down to the principle platform.
Whereas we didn’t attempt the elevator, the journey takes lower than a minute to get to the platform from floor stage. Some passengers who decide to whiz down by way of the elevator have reported their ears popping as a result of fast stress change, which you usually solely expertise throughout takeoff and touchdown in airplanes or quick descents/ascents through cable automotive.
In the meantime, in the event you have been to take the steps, you’d have to descend 860 steps to succeed in the deepest platform.
Apparently,Chongqing hosts a Hongyancun Metro Vertical Marathon. Runners climb 860 steps from the deepest subway station with a 141-meter vertical elevation achieve throughout the metro station. This distinctive city journey highlights Chongqing’s difficult terrain and the engineering marvel.
Since we have been already within the station, we determined to take a random practice trip from it earlier than taking a cab again to our resort.
At first look, the system appeared overwhelming because the CRT operates 12 completely different strains, masking a complete of roughly 561 km of observe, with extra expansions deliberate sooner or later. We skilled some challenges with the language boundaries in China, however fortunately, the automated kiosks had English translations for the routes and accepted money.
Based mostly on the kiosk, the fare is distance-based, and usually prices round 2–10 RMB, with most expenses capped at 7RMB or roughly Php 55. Our trip from Hongyancun Station to Liyuchi Station on Line 9 price solely Php 25.50 every.
Should you’re a fan of railway journey or occur to be in Chongqing and are in search of one thing enjoyable and distinctive to do apart from the same old spots like Hongyadon Cave, you may wish to attempt visiting the Hongyancun Station and using from there for your self.
NOTE: This go to to China was organized by BASK Journey and Excursions. Try their Fb web page for upcoming schedules, dates, and different tour choices.
