Ningbo Metro Line 8 Officially Launches

After completing unmanned trial runs, passing pre-operation safety assessments, and obtaining municipal government approval, Ningbo Metro Line 8 (Phase 1) commenced operations at 10:00 a.m. on June 30. The 23.3-kilometer Phase 1 section runs entirely underground with 19 stations, connecting Kaiyuan Road Station and Hansong Road Station.

Line 8 Phase 1 features interchange stations with all existing lines: Zemin Station (Line 1), Liyuan South Road Station (Line 2), South Business District Station (Line 3), Hongda Road Station (Line 4), and Miaoyan Station (Line 5). Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Station will connect to the future Line 6.

As a backbone route in Ningbo’s third-phase rail network, Line 8 links the city’s southeast and northwest. Starting in Xiaying area of Yinzhou District, it passes through Yinzhou Higher Education Park, South Business District, Zhonggongmiao, Haishu’s Duantang, Liyuan Road corridor, Qinglinwan residential area, and terminates in Hongtang area of Jiangbei District. The line strengthens the radiation capacity of the Three-River Estuary core area, optimizes urban transportation structure, and promotes regional synergy.

Ningbo Metro actively develops "micro transit hubs" centered around stations to advance green mobility. Around Line 8 stations, 48 bus stops and transfer facilities have been newly built or upgraded, significantly improving accessibility and travel comfort. With this launch, Ningbo’s total operational rail network expands to 222 kilometers, accelerating the development of a high-quality, integrated multi-modal rail system.

Kaiyuan Road and Hansong Road stations serve as terminals. First trains depart at 6:00 from both ends, with last trains at 22:00. Full-journey travel time is approximately 38 minutes. Initial service intervals are:

Peak hours: 6 minutes

Regular hours: 8 minutes

Off-peak hours: 10 minutes

Following the metro network’s distance-based progressive fare system, the maximum single-trip fare remains 10 yuan across all lines.

To celebrate the opening, Ningbo Metro offers immersive travel experiences. From July 1 to 6, passengers may collect complimentary ride vouchers at any Line 8 station (one per person, while supplies last).