Sea Breeze Light Rail: Shuttle Through Time Tunnel in Egret Island

A steel giant moves quietly underground, silently connecting Xiamen's past and future. On December 31, 2017, as the first metro line traversed the city's underbelly, Xiamen officially stepped into the "Metro Era."

The rhythmic clatter of steel wheels against tracks resembles the steady heartbeat of the city. The Xiamen Metro has now woven a network of four lines, nearly a hundred kilometers in total length, closely linking the island with the outer districts. Every day, nearly a million passenger trips shuttle back and forth within this underground labyrinth, forming a flowing urban landscape.

The most astonishing line is undoubtedly Metro Line 1. When the train departs from Gaoqi Station and suddenly emerges from the ground onto an elevated section, the view opens up dramatically for passengers——the skyline of Xiamen city lies to the right, while the boundless blue sea stretches to the left. At this moment, the metro transforms into a sightseeing train, and passengers unanimously raise their phones to capture this rare marvel of rail transit over the sea. Jimei Xuecun Station is particularly unique, incorporating the distinctive swallowtail eaves of JiaGeng architectural style into its hall design, where tradition and modernity blend perfectly.

Station designs reflect the city's character. Elements of Southern Fujian's red-brick ancient houses (Minnan Hongzhuan Cuo) are cleverly incorporated into pillars and decorations. Soft light spills onto clean floors, and signs are clear and intuitive. As a train approaches, a gentle breeze arrives first, followed by the smooth stopping of the carriage; the platform screen doors align precisely with the train doors—everything is orderly.

The station announcements are delivered gently in three languages: Mandarin, Minnan dialect (Hokkien), and English. The soft, melodic Minnan dialect, in particular, seems to transport passengers into the old streets and alleys of Xiamen. "Next stop, Zhenhai Road," accompanied by a "ding-dong" tone, the doors open, and another journey begins.

The metro has altered the daily landscape of life for Xiamen residents. At seven in the morning, office workers clutch their coffee and hurry aboard; on weekend afternoons, students head to the seaside in groups; as evening lights illuminate the city, elderly residents take the metro to shop on Zhongshan Road. Inside the metro, you see young people looking at their phones, elderly folks chatting in Minnan dialect, and tourists excitedly looking around while dragging their luggage.

This underground giant serpent has not only alleviated traffic pressure but also reshaped the urban spatial structure. Once remote suburbs have revitalized due to the metro, with commercial developments springing up like mushrooms along the lines. The metro acts like a link, tightly connecting Xiamen's tradition and modernity, the island and the outer areas, the city and the sea.

As night falls, warm light spills from the metro station entrances, and the trains continue to shuttle tirelessly. They carry the dreams of this coastal city, weaving the daily lives of Xiamen's people between the underground and the surface, connecting the city's past and future.

The Xiamen Metro is not merely a means of transportation; it is the flowing lifeblood of the city, a testament to the blend of modernity and tradition, an underground passageway for Egret Island (Xiamen) marching towards the future.