Busy checkpoints

THE city’s checkpoints saw around 2 million travelers crossing the border over the three-day holiday that ended yesterday. Huanggang and Futian checkpoints handled about 40 percent of the total border-crossing travelers.

ICIF sub-venues

THE 13th International Cultural Industries Fair will be held from May 11 to 15 at the main venue, Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, and 68 sub-venues across the city, the organizers said. A total of 300 culture related activities, such as exhibitions, forums, auctions, contests and promotions, will be held.

New exhibition center

THE soft soil treatment of the city’s new convention and exhibition center at the greater airport area will be completed in June. Covering 1.48 million square meters, the Phase I project costs 86.7 billion yuan (US$12.58 billion). The first phase is expected to be completed in September 2018.

5m ridership

THE ridership of Shenzhen Metro hit a new record of 5.06 million Friday, the day before the May Day holiday, the Metro operator said yesterday.

The newly opened Lines 7, 9 and 11 handled 20 percent of the riders. Line 1 handled 1.21 million riders, ranking first among the eight lines.

Friday’s Metro ridership ranked fourth among mainland cities on the same day, following Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Ex-chairman jailed

SI XIANMIN, former chairman of China Southern Airlines, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in jail by Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court for taking bribes totaling 8 million yuan (US$1.16 million).

Si was fined 1 million yuan and his illicit income was confiscated.

Raw amber

WENJINDU Customs seized 131 kilograms of raw amber from an inbound container truck that was declared empty Friday.

Customs officers found eight bags of yellowish “stones” hidden in a box under the passenger seat when the truck entered Shenzhen at Wenjindu Checkpoint.

The case has been handed over to the anti-smuggling department for investigation.