Photo: screenshot
In Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, an ancient Chinese city famed for its canal and silk, one of the busiest subway stations is becoming a surprising destination, not just for train passengers, but for lunch crowds and even those who are seeking match-making.
Inside Guangji Nanlu Station, which connects two major metro lines, China's first subway-based community canteen has opened to the public. According to the Yangtse Evening Post, with a total area of over 1,300 square meters, the canteen can seat around 280 people at the same time. It serves an average of 2,500 people per day and offers more than 60 dishes, catering to the needs of office workers, elderly residents, tourists, and everyday commuters.
"It is an innovative exploration of the subway's function and profit model. Meanwhile, the canteen provides convenience and healthy choices to residents nearby, especially benefiting the seniors and professionals who cannot or are too busy to cook for themselves," Zhang Yi, CEO of the iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times.
What makes it unique isn't just its location. Diners choose from a wide variety of affordable and nutritious options. The canteen operates with the concept of "spending 15 yuan ($2.07) to fill your stomach and 25 yuan to eat well."
The canteen carefully selects high-quality ingredients to ensure meals are fresh, flavorful, healthy, and safe. A digital screen provides real-time views of the kitchen and continuously displays both wholesale ingredient prices and the canteen's subsidized retail prices, Qian Wenzhen, director of food and beverage at Suzhou Metro, told the Yangtse Evening Post.
The canteen has six food stations, offering a wide variety of dishes while ensuring nutritional balance. The People's Daily reported on Wednesday, the opening of the canteen drove a 20 percent rise in passenger traffic at the station.
"Such efforts deserve to be encouraged. It is a novel integration of tourism into a subway and calls for authorities' to further think about the better utilization of public facilities," said Zhang.
Moreover, the seating area is divided into a "quick-eat zone" and a "social island." Whether someone is in a rush or wants to sit and chat with friends over a meal, there's a suitable space. The canteen is also designed with ramps to accommodate wheelchair users. The seating takes into account the needs of elderly diners, with soft cushions provided for added comfort.
The canteen uses a smart checkout system. Once the tray is placed on the scanner, each dish and its price are automatically identified, with no need for manual input. Opening hours run from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm, aligning with local residents' habits when it comes to breakfast or even late-night snacks. All these thoughtful details have won people's hearts.
In Suzhou, metro stations are no longer just transit hubs. Besides community canteens, they also house cafés, bookstores and luggage lockers providing convenient storage for travelers from outside the city.
At Zhuhuiqiao Station, a section of the platform has been transformed into a matchmaking corner. Modeled after a famous matchmaking park in the city, the space allows commuters to browse dating profiles, speak with matchmakers, and possibly meet a future partner - all on their way to or from work.
Suzhou's example shows how rethinking public spaces can make a difference. By turning subway stations into warm, welcoming places, infrastructure is not just efficient, but also enriching.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn
