What transportation do you use the most?

I take the metro the most because the subway system in Guangzhou is super-convenient. It stretches in all directions of the city and it even reaches Foshan, the adjacent city! I take the metro to work, to go shopping, and to the airport if I have a flight or to pick up a friend. The metro ticket is pretty inexpensive and so it’s affordable for everyone, and besides that, it’s clean and safe and that’s another reason why I use it.

• subway system 地铁系统


• super-convenient 超级方便


• stretch 延申


• in all directions 四面八方


• adjacent 相邻的


• inexpensive 便宜的；实惠的


• affordable 负担的起的

How is the subway system developing in your country?

Well, I actually think China’s subway system development is amazing. I have seen videos of other countries’ metro systems, and they kinda look like a nightmare. But China’s systems, in so many cities, are extensive, clean, safe and cheap. I think they’re a marvel of engineering.

The general trend is that they are building more lines connecting city centers to outlying districts while simultaneously designing and constructing lines to shorten the distance between certain spots. For example, Guangzhou’s sprawling metro system now allows commuting between different districts that before was a time-consuming journey, as now they have more lines and stations that more directly connect districts and there’re even express trains.

I really believe, again for example in Guangzhou, that it has released a great deal of economic potential that previously was locked away in remote satellite communities, but now, even a young, and one might say, relatively poor person, now has easy access to the city, which I think is great, so yeah, I have to say China’s subway development is incredible.

• nightmare 噩梦


• extensive 广大的；广阔的


• a marvel of engineering 工程奇迹


• time-consuming 耗时的


• express trains 快车


• release 释放


• a great deal of 大量的


• economic potential 经济潜力


• locked away 锁着


• satellite communities 卫星城

What can be improved in public transportation?

Honestly, I can’t think of anything I would change, except for perhaps the subway running later at night as many lines close around 11 pm, but I don't go out late at night anyway, so that doesn't affect me.

Is public transportation popular in China?

Hmmm, I’d have to say yes, simply because there are so many people. I mean, I think many people usually do a lot of things in China, like even one percent of the population is a very large number of people, but when it comes to public transportation, I’d have to say that generally speaking, millions upon millions of people take public transportation, and unlike, say, Japan, where people are literally squeezed into the subway cars like sardines, that the subway, even during rush hour, minus a few particular lines in some cities, are still fairly comfortable to ride in. It sure beats driving cost-wise, and as I’ve mentioned, it has several favorable aspects, such as safety, cleanliness, etcetera.

If a city in China has a subway system, you can guarantee that if a person doesn't have a car but lives relatively close to a subway station, they’ll take the subway. It's a hassle-free way of commuting to work and into the city.

• millions upon millions of 千千万万的


• literally 字面意义上


• squeezed into the subway cars like sardines 像沙丁鱼一样挤在地铁上


• beats 战胜


• cost-wise 在价格方面


• etcetera 等等


• hassle-free 省事儿的