Line 7 (Guangzhou Metro)

Planning

A tangential line serving southern Guangzhou was first proposed in 2002 as the Fangcun-Panyu-Huangpu Line. It would have started at Xilang station on Line 1 in the southwest, running southeast to Nanpu, then east along the northern edge of Panyu District. Interchanges were planned at Dashi and Xinzao with what is now Line 3 and Line 4 respectively. Finally the line would cross the Pearl River to terminate at the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone.^[4]

Subsequently, Line 7's design was greatly revised in 2003, with most of the line realigned further south. It would now start at Guangzhou New Passenger Station, what is now Guangzhou South railway station, with the interchange with Line 3 at Hanxi Changlong station. From here, it would turn northeast to meet Line 4 at Higher Education Mega Center, passing Changzhou Island before crossing the Pearl River west of the original plan into Huangpu District.^{[citation needed]}

By 2010, the line had been split into two stages at Higher Education Mega Center South, with stage 1 being the western section from Guangzhou South Railway Station and stage 2 the eastern section to Dashadong.^[5]

Phase 1

On 16 July 2012, Phase 1 of the line received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission. It would run from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Higher Education Mega Center South, with 9 stations and a total route length of 18.6 km (11.6 mi). The line would share Line 3's control center at Dashi.^[6]

On 27 May 2014, the first tunnel section was completed, from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Dazhou depot.^[7]

By April 2016, tunnelling and the main structure of all stations was complete.^[8]

Phase 1 opened for passenger operation on 28 December 2016.^[9]

Phase 1 west extension

The plan for west extension of the first phase from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Meidi Dadao in Shunde District, Foshan was approved in October 2015.^[10] The construction of the west extension to Shunde began in June 2016.^[11] The west extension opened on 1 May 2022.^[12][13][14] The extension is 13.447 km (8.356 mi) in length with 8 stations.^[2] It has an interchange with Foshan Metro Line 3 at Beijiao Park.

Phase 2

The Northern extension to Yanshan opened on 28 December 2023. It extends the line into Huangpu District, having a total length of 22.2 km (13.79 mi) with 11 stations, 10 of which are operational^[3] (Hongshengsha station is complete, but was not opened pending development in the area). It has interchanges with Line 13 at Yufengwei, Line 5 at Dashadong, Line 6 at Luogang and Line 21 and Huangpu Tram Line 1 at Shuixi.