At 116 Meters Deep, The Hongyancun Metro In China Requires Descending Eight Escalators Or A Dizzying Elevator. The Pressure Change Is So Intense That Your Ears Pop Like On A Flight!
40 Floors Below The Surface To Take A Subway? In The Mountainous City Of Chongqing, In Central China, This Is A Reality. The Hongyancun Station, Opened In 2022, Is The Deepest In The World, Reaching An Impressive 116 Meters Deep. The Experience Is So Unique That Passengers Report Feeling Their Ears Pop, As If They Were On An Airplane. Let’s Explore This Underground Marvel That Redefines The Limits Of Engineering.
Where Is The Deepest Subway Station In The World?
The Hongyancun Station Is Located In The Yuzhong District Of Chongqing, An Area Known For Its Steep Hills And Mountainous Landscapes. This Challenging Geography Was The Main Reason For The Construction Of Such A Deep Station. Unlike Flat Areas Where Subway Stations Can Be Built Closer To The Surface, Chongqing Required Engineers To Be Creative, Resulting In A Design That Looks Like A True Journey To The Center Of The Earth.
Why Is The Depth So Impressive?

To Understand The Grandeur Of The Hongyancun Station, Just Compare It To Other Stations. The Hampstead Tube Station In London Is 58 Meters Deep, While Washington Park In Portland, United States, Reaches 79 Meters. Even The Famous Arsenalna Station In Ukraine, At 105 Meters, Does Not Surpass The Depth Of Hongyancun.
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The Descent Creates A Unique Sensation For Passengers: Popping Ears Due To The Pressure Change. This Phenomenon, Common In Airplanes, Happens More Intensely For Those Who Choose To Descend Quickly By Elevator, While The Escalators Offer A Smoother Transition To Reach The Subway.
What Is It Like To Descend To The Hongyancun Station?
Reaching The Hongyancun Platform Is An Adventure In Itself. There Are Eight Escalators That Take Almost A Minute To Cover The 116 Meters Depth. For Those Opting For The Elevator, The Experience Is Even More Intense, With The Sensation Of Literally Plummeting Underground.
Interestingly, The Workers Who Participated In The Construction Of The Station Faced A Daily “Climb” Of 38 Minutes To Return To The Surface, Which Was Compared To Climbing A Mountain. Today, Passengers Can Relax While The Escalators Do The Heavy Lifting, But Not Without A Touch Of Excitement.
Technology And Modernity At 116 Meters Depth
Despite Its Depth, The Hongyancun Station Is Not Dark Or Humid, As Many Might Imagine. Opened Recently In January 2022, The Station Stands Out For Its Futuristic Design And Comfort. This Strongly Contrasts With Older Subway Systems, Such As London’s, Which Began Operating In 1863 With Steam Locomotives.
The Station Is An Example Of How Modern Engineering Can Transform Even The Most Complex Challenges Into Functional Masterpieces.
The Record Depth Of Hongyancun Quickly Attracted Tourists From All Over The World. Many Visit The Subway Station Not Only To Use It But To Document The Experience Of Descending The Equivalent Of 40 Floors Underground. The Combination Of Mountainous Landscapes With Cutting-Edge Engineering Makes This Station A Unique Destination.

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