Line 4 (Guangzhou Metro)

Early Planning

A line resembling the current northern section of Line 4 first appeared in plans for Guangzhou Metro in 1997. It would have been a branch off what was called Line 5 at the time, running from Pazhou to Grand World Scenic Park.^[6]

By 2000, it had been separated into its own line and realigned to run from Xinzhao to Guangzhou Science City, with construction slated to start in 2002 or 2003, pending approval, and expected completion in 2010.^[7]

The line received planning approval in 2005, planned to eventually connect the new districts of Luogang in the north and Nansha in the south. Four carriage linear motor train sets would run on the line, with the full line expected to need 30 sets initially.^[8]

Phase 1 (Huangcun - Xinzhao)

Work on the line commenced on 28 January 2003, initially focusing on the northern terminus and interchange station with Line 2 (now Line 8), Chigang Pagoda station (since renamed Wanshengwei). The first section would run from here to Xinzhao via Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, with a total of 5 stations.^[9]

With planning approval, this early work now formed part of Phase 1 from Olympic Sports Center (since renamed Huangcun) to Xinzhao, with a total of 8 stations, as well as a maintenance and stabling facility in Xinzhao.^[8]

Phase 1 between Wanshengwei and Xinzhao stations opened for passenger service on 26 December 2005. The line initially operated at a very low frequency of approximately every 32 minutes, as only a single train was ready for service of the two that had arrived.^[10]

The line was extended one stop north to Chebeinan on 28 December 2009, providing an interchange to Line 5 which opened on the same day.^[11]

The final section of Phase 1 (Chebeinan to Huangcun) opened on 25 September 2010.^[12]

Phase 2 (Xinzhao - Jinzhou)

A southward extension to the line, Phase 2, was approved in 2006. It would run from Xinzhao to Chongwei (since renamed Jinzhou), with a total of 10 stations, including 2 designated infill stations to be built later. Unlike phase 1, this section would be built elevated on a viaduct.^[8]

The first section of Phase 2 between Xinzao and Huangge opened on 30 December 2006, following a 9 day full line closure for train testing.^[13]

In the following year, the line again closed on 8 May for further testing, with replacement buses being provided. Upon reopening on 28 June, the remaining section of Phase 2 between Huangge and Jinzhou was opened for passenger service.^[14]

The first of the infill stations opened as Qingsheng on 28 December 2017, together with Phase 3 of the line.^[15] Work began on the second, named Guanqiao, in 2021. It was planned to be completed in 2024 but has not opened as of May 2026.^[16]

Phase 3 (Jinzhou - Nansha Passenger Port)

In 2012, as part of the Guangzhou Urban Rail Transport Near-term Plan (2012-2018), a further southern extension of Line 4 to Nansha Passenger Port was approved, with a further 5 stations to be completed between 2013 and 2017.^[17]

Work on the extension was officially started in Jinlong station (since renamed Feishajiao) on 31 May 2013.^[18]

Phase 3 opened in full on 28 December 2017.^[15]

Opening timeline