Subway riders nationwide will be banned from eating, drinking and playing music or videos on speakers in subway starting today (April 1), according to a new regulation on the operation and management of urban rail passenger transit released by the Ministry of Transport.

The regulation stipulates that passengers will be barred from:

1) Writing or scribbling on carriages and at stations;

2) Bringing with them animals (except guide dogs and police dogs) and articles with strong or pungent smells when entering stations;

3) Playing music or videos on speakers, begging, busking and peddling in carriages;

4) Using self-balancing scooters, electric vehicles (except those designed for people with disabilities), bicycles, skateboards and skates;

5) Eating and drinking, with exceptions for passengers with special needs such as infants and patients;

6) Lying down or stepping on seats, littering and spitting;

7) Other behaviors that would disturb fellow passengers.

The regulation also prohibits fare evasion and smoking on metro trains and at stations, but without specifying punishment.

Changes at Guangzhou Metro for the coming holiday

Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, will fall on April 4 this year, and people will enjoy a three-day holiday from April 4 to 6 (Saturday—next Monday).

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger flow is expected to fall by half to four million passengers on a daily basis at Guangzhou Metro in the coming festival. The expected rush will occur on April 3, with about 5.5 million passengers.

To deal with the expected travel rush, Metro Line 2 will extend its service hours by 30 minutes on April 5 and 6 (Sunday and next Monday) for trains bound for Jiahe Wanggang. During the extension, the train will drop off passengers only at the stations of Luoxi, Changgang, Gongyuanqian, Guangzhou Railway Station and Jiahe Wanggang, with no passengers allowed to board the train at these stations.

Besides, the E and F entrances of Nansha Passenger Port station (南沙客运港站) at Line 4 were temporarily closed on March 31 until further notice because of road construction. Passengers are reminded to plan their trips ahead of time and to pay close attention to broadcasts at stations in case of any further changes.