the Hongyancun Station in Chongqing is so deep it’s equivalent to 40 storeys below (Image: Wiki Commons)
City living means time is often of the essence but patience is required for this unique underground station.
That’s because this particular station requires 10 minutes and several escalators just to reach the platform.
Being the deepest underground station in the world means it’s an experience just to get there, which is a staggering 116 metres below the Earth’s surface.
The Hongyancun Station in Chongqing is so deep it’s equivalent to 40 storeys below.
This station in first opened in 2022, and its depth broke the country’s previous record of Line 10’s Hongtudi station.
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The Hongyancun Station in Chongqing sits at a staggering 116 metres below the Earth’s surface. (Image: Wiki Commons)
Located in the city’s Yuzhong District, the station also surpasses the depth of the Kyiv Metro’s Arsenalna station, which previously held the record for being the deepest metro station.
For comparison, London’s deepest tube station is found in Hampstead and lies 58.5 metres below ground level.
That’s only half the depth of the Chongqing station and far surpasses the deepest subway station in New York City, with 191st Street Station being about 53 metres below street level.
The Hongyancun Station is located on Line 9 of the Chongqing Rail Transit system and took workers around 38 minutes just to climb to the top from the bottom of the station.
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The Yuzhong District in Chongqing is well known for its steep hills and mountainous landscapes. (Image: Getty)
Passengers must take eight escalators to reach the platform.
The station’s lift provides a faster option to reach the platform, taking 53 seconds. The descent is so quick and so deep that some have reported having their ears popping just from the sheer change of pressure.
Yuzhong District, Chongqing, is well known for its steep hills and mountainous landscapes, providing an engineering conundrum when building its station.
The station required engineers to be creative with the project’s result, giving passengers the feeling of journeying to the centre of the Earth.
Despite being so deep underground, on a visit to Hongyancun Station’s platform, you’ll be met with a futuristic design and total comfort.
It’s a true example of how modern engineering in China can transform even the most challenging landscapes into functional masterpieces.
The station attracts many tourists who all want to experience this engineering feat.
Hongyancun’s combination of mountainous landscapes with cutting-edge engineering makes it a unique destination and another impressive structure in China.