Detour exchange

    METRO Line 5 morning riders who want to change to Line 2 at Huangbeiling interchange station need to go upstairs to the station hall, instead of going directly to Line 2 trains on the same platform, according to a measure that will take effect soon.

    The Shenzhen Metro Group Operation Headquarters said Wednesday that the move is to relieve congestion during rush hours. During rush hours, around 17,000 commuters transfer between the two lines on the platform per hour.

    Smuggling fugitive

    A FUGITIVE wanted for his alleged involvement in gold smuggling was caught through a joint effort by Hong Kong and Shenzhen customs.

    The suspect, surnamed Chen, was a member of a ring that had smuggled 2.49 billion yuan (US$363 million) worth of gold and evaded 139 million yuan in tax. The ring was busted in 2015 by Shenzhen Customs, but Chen went on the run to Hong Kong.

    Chen was caught Jan. 9 in Hong Kong and was transferred into the custody of Shenzhen Customs on Jan. 13.

    He was the first fugitive to be caught under the Fox Hunt action by Chinese customs.

    CPI rises

    SHENZHEN’S consumer price index (CPI), a primary gauge of inflation, increased by 2.8 percent year on year in January, the Shenzhen survey office of the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday.

    The figure is the highest in 10 months.

    Food prices rose by 1.1 percent compared to a year ago, while non-food prices rose by 3.2 percent, the survey office said. The price of consumer goods increased by 2.6 percent and service prices were up by 3.2 percent.

    Cruise to offer service

    VOYAGER of the Seas, a cruise ship under the Royal Caribbean International, will set sail from Shenzhen Cruise Homeport on June 25, offering itineraries to Hong Kong, Okinawa in Japan, and Hue and Danang in Vietnam.

    The 138,000-ton, 3,840-guest Voyager of the Seas became the world’s largest cruise ship when it began service in November 1999. Innovations on this and other Voyager-class ships, including enhanced staterooms, expanded dining options and exceptional recreational facilities, have added up to more space for every guest.

    Temperatures to rise

    TEMPERATURES in Shenzhen will gradually rise in the coming three days and reach a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said Thursday.

    Visibility will decrease in the coming days, due to light fog and smog. Residents have been reminded to take extra care while driving.

    Ex-chairman jailed

    FORMER chairman of Zhenye Group, Li Yongming, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 2 million yuan (US$291,400) for taking bribes totaling 12.58 million yuan, HK$100,000 (US$12,890) and US$40,000 in exchange for granting projects while he served as manager of Shenzhen Property Development Co. and chairman of Zhenye Group.

    Poisonous rooms

    A BEAUTY parlor in Songgang, Bao’an District, has been shut down for using flammable and poisonous polyurethane materials to decorate its sauna rooms. Polyurethane could give off thick and poisonous smoke if lit on fire.

    The owner was fined 10,000 yuan.

    Car plate auction

    CAR plates were auctioned at an average price of 38,063 yuan in the first round of the year’s auctions held Jan. 25, the lowest price in the past 10 months.

    The city’s car plate quota administration offered 3,334 plates including 2,934 for individual bidders.