PHASE III of Metro Line 8, the first Metro line to Dapeng New Area, has passed its acceptance inspection and is scheduled to open before the end of the year, Shenzhen Metro Group said Wednesday.

The 3.69-km section begins at Xiaomeisha Station in Yantian District (Line 8, Phase II) and terminates at Xichong Station in Dapeng New Area. It includes a station and depot in Xichong and will mainly serve commuters traveling between Dapeng and Yantian, Luohu, and Futian.

Shenzhen Metro Group said the extension will play an important role in developing Dapeng into a world-class coastal eco-tourism destination and establishing it as a “global marine center city.”

The extension is also expected to ease road congestion to Dapeng — especially during holidays and peak tourism seasons — and accelerate economic development in eastern Shenzhen.

During construction of the Xichong Depot, century-old trees were preserved and Xichong Memorial Park was created.

Elements of an original Hakka village — such as stone slabs, tiles, and railings from residential buildings — were incorporated into the project, helping to preserve and showcase Hakka cultural heritage. (Han Ximin)