Guangzhou Metro Trials Open Turnstiles for Smoother Commute

If you’ve ever been stuck waiting for those turnstiles to open one by one during rush hour, here’s some good news from Guangzhou Metro — starting July 26, a new always-open turnstile pilot kicked off at Huajing Road Station on Line 11, and it’s already shaking up your morning commute for the better.

So, what’s different?

Instead of the usual ‘wait for me to open, then close’ routine, these gates now stay open. Once you successfully tap your card or scan your QR code, a green arrow will signal a smooth entry.

Only an invalid scan or backtracking will trigger a red alert to shut the gate.

Default Open Gate: Guangzhou Metro Pilot/Image via Guangzhou Broadcasting Network

Given the scanning efficiency of the current system, you can be almost certain that you and your fellow travellers can stream through one after another, like a well-oiled subway conga line.

No more awkward pauses, nor gate slams.

On day one, the results were pretty impressive.

Thanks to clear signage and friendly staff helping passengers get used to the new flow, the station saw a whopping 50% jump in passenger flow, that’s 450 people passing through every 15 minutes via one single turnstile, up from 300.

Apparently, folks loved the speedier trip, and only a few had to be reminded not to sneak in without scanning.

Guangzhou isn’t the first to try this move.

Shanghai has been testing a similar system since April 2024 and has now rolled it out to over 123 stations across 19 lines.

It’s proof that these always-open gates aren’t just a flashy tech gimmick, but a game-changer in big-city transit.

What’s next?

While some commuters are already daydreaming about walking straight through with just a smile, potentially facilitated by facial recognition, for now, this pilot is a solid step toward smoother, faster metro rides.

So, if you find yourself at Huajing Road Station soon, scan your way through and enjoy the new rhythm.

Who knew a turnstile could make your day?

Source:ThatsGuangzhou