You can’t imagine a modern megapolis without a developed high-speed underground transport system. In the 20th century not only largest European and American, but also Asian countries introduced their own metro, subway or underground. Asian metro will enchant you with its size and technical perfection.

Tokyo subway is the third most extensive subway in the world, with only London and New York ahead of it. The first line was opened in 1927 and was only 2,2 km long then. Now there are 13 lines, and the colourful but complex metro diagram can frighten even the most experienced metro travelers.

Tokyo’s “underground” has several peculiar features that make it different from the European one. First, it never belonged to state and probably this is one of the reasons why it grew so rapidly. Secondly, there is a lot to see there: passages that bring you from one line to another are filled with shops, restaurants and snackbars. You will be impressed with Shibuya metro station, where trains stop on the fourth floor of a huge trade centre. Another “metro attraction” is the new 40,7 km Oedo line that unites Tokyo’s 23 districts! Tokyo metro is not only very beautiful, but also very convenient. For instance, the diagram marks the numbers of cars which you should use when you want to change the line. Names of the stations are announced in Japanese and English and each car is equipped with an electronic indicator panel.

The Shanghai Metro is one of the youngest in the world: the first line was opened here only in 1995. This line grew rapidly and nowadays is about 107,8 km long. But the city’s plans are even more extensive. During the next 5 years there will be 8 new metro lines built – that is about 300 km of railway. Each station is two-leveled (the first floor is occupied with cash desks, shops and tourniquets and the platform is downstairs) and has several exits. Cars are equipped with liquid-crystalline panels demonstrating videos. But mind that you can easily catch cold there, as the temperature is no higher than 15 degrees centigrade.

Seoul Metro is also rather young: it was founded in 1970 and the first line appeared in 1974. Nowadays there are 8 lines there. Without a metro the huge Seoul would probably be paralyzed because about 4 million passengers use it daily. Stations are decorated in an elaborate way: there are fountains, aquariums, lots of posters and photos of local stars. Moreover, it is well equipped with elevators, panels and TV showing advertisement and videos.

The deepest underground in the world was built in Pyongyang, the capital of the Northern Korea. Its about 150 meters deep and decorated in a pompous way: there are majolica, mosaics and gilt that fully answer to the purpose of communist ideology. Moreover, each car is adorned with portraits of political leaders. At the same time, there is no advertisement there. You will like the escalator illumination system: lights are built straight into their “body”.

As for Hong Kong, it can boast of the first fully automatized metro. Trains have no operators; their work is done by computers. This metro is very technocratic: you are surrounded with chromium-plated surfaces, smooth walls, mirrors, plasma screens… Not only designers but also psychologists work on this atmosphere: for instance, this year there were special “happiness indicators” installed on central stations. Judging by the results of their survey, specialists can decide whether their metro system needs further improvement or not.