A landmark milestone for regional connectivity in eastern China was reached Tuesday, as construction crews finished full track-laying for Shanghai Metro Line 22, the city’s first ever rail transit project that crosses the Yangtze River. The completion marks a critical leap forward in advancing the long-term integrated development strategy for the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most economically dynamic urban clusters.
Also widely referred to as the Chongming Line, this new transit link is set to drastically shrink travel times between Chongming Island and central Shanghai, expand regional accessibility, and unlock fresh growth potential across the entire delta region. Chongming Island, China’s third-largest island, is a geographic formation created entirely by sediment carried and deposited by the Yangtze River over thousands of years, and has long faced connectivity gaps with mainland Shanghai that have limited its economic and social development.
Stretching 42 kilometers from Jinji Road Station in Pudong New Area to Yu’an Station at the northern end of Chongming Island, the new line is designed to handle operating speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Its route crosses the Yangtze River twice, passing through mid-route Changxing Island, and includes eight stations along its full alignment. Once the line enters full commercial operation, it is expected to reshape regional mobility patterns, support balanced economic development across Shanghai’s riverine regions, and strengthen interconnectedness between major cities across the Yangtze River Delta, supporting coordinated growth in trade, tourism, and industry.