We’re pleased to announce Explore Beijing 1.5 for iPhone – the best Beijing Subway app for iPhone just got better!

One of the great new features in version 1.5 is “Find my nearest”. When you’re exploring the capital, and want to find the nearest subway station, just tap the “Nearest” tab. Using your iPhone’s GPS (or wifi signals on the iPod touch) we’ll provide a list of nearest stations, as well as approximate distances and directions:

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The Shanghai Metro continues to expand… today sees the opening of an additional stretch of Line 2. The previous terminal station, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park will reopen as a new underground station twice the size of the previous, overcrowded station. The two new stations are located at Jinke Road and Guanglan Road.

There’s a full service to the new stations, with trains departing Guanglan Road between 5:49 and 22:27. Guanglan Road will be the interchange station for direct metro trains to Pudong International Airport: this remaining stretch of Line 2 is expected to open before the Shanghai World Expo begins in May.

We’ve just updated ExploreShanghai online with the new stations! An update for our iPhone app is currently being reviewed by Apple and will be released soon.

We’re pleased to announce Explore Shanghai 1.5 for iPhone – the best Shanghai Metro app for iPhone just got better!

• NEW! “Find my nearest” - using your iPhone’s GPS you can now see a list of the closest metro stations to your current location.
• FIXED! Solved bug causing map to freeze when zooming/panning
• NEW! Line numbers. Handy labels to show you the name of each line at a glance.
• NEW! Tab bar to switch between features
• UPDATED! Updated first/last train times for Metro Line 7 and Metro Line 9
• UPDATED! Metro Line 2 east extension

Explore Shanghai 1.5 is a FREE update for existing users. Not downloaded yet? It’s available on the iTunes App Store.

Screenshot: find my nearest

Screenshot: Line numbers

Expect updates to our other apps for Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong shortly!

As we previously reported, Line 7 and Line 9 have extended opening hours starting today! So, if you’re lucky enough not to be working this weekend, here are a few places you could explore using the new metro lines:

1. Visit the canal town of Qibao (Line 9)
2. Go shopping along Line 7 – see this Cityweekend article for more details!
3. Buy some souvenirs or eat al fresco at Tianzifang at Taikang Lu, close to Dapuqiao (Line 9)
4. Wander the streets of the Old Town near Xiaonanmen (Line 9)
5. Grab some sportswear at Decathlon at Longyang Road (Line 2 and 7)

We’ve just pushed out an update to ExploreShanghai online with the new times for first/last trains. Just click on any station for details. An update to our iPhone app will follow in the next week.

Finally! Shanghai Metro Line 7 and Line 9 have been running on very limited operating hours since opening at the start of the year. Now the Shanghai Metro Company has announced that from February 20th the operation times will be extended to cover the morning and evening peak times.

Line 7: The first trains will depart Huamu Road at 5:30 and Shanghai University at 5:32, the last trains depart at 21:30 and 21:32, arriving at the final station at around 22:30.

Line 9: The first trains will depart Songjiang Xincheng at 06:00 and Century Avenue at 05:33, the last trains depart at 21:15 and 21:26, arriving at the final station at around 22:30.

We’ll have updates for ExploreShanghai online as soon as the new timetables start!

The Shanghai Metro company have announced that Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park station will be closed between 14th February and 23rd February. A free replacement bus service will be available from Longyang Road station.

This is to prepare for the opening of the eastern extension of Line 2.

On 24th February the new stretch from Longyang Road to Guanglan Road station will open for trial operation (read: limited opening hours). The new stations on this stretch are:

• Longyang Road
• Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park
• Jinke Road
• Guanglan Road

The remaining stretch to Pudong International Airport will not open until a later date, the stations on this stretch will be:

• Tangzhen
• Middle Chuangxin Road
• East Huaxia Road
• Chuansha
• Lingkong Road
• Yuandong Avenue
• Haitiansan Road
• Pudong International Airport

Passengers will need to change at Guanglan Road to board trains to the airport. Expect an update to Explore Shanghai online and on iPhone soon!

Our really big sale ends on Sunday at midnight. It’s your last chance to pick up a copy of Explore Beijing or Explore Guangzhou for free. Already thousands of people have downloaded our apps, helping propel Explore Beijing to the top 4 Travel apps in China! Help us reach number 1 by Sunday! Download our apps!

这是ExploreMetro真正的大放送！至2月7日晚12点，你可以完全免费地从iTunes应用程序商店获得一份北京地铁地图或广州地铁地图！

特性:

• 地铁沿线的各个站点。绝对最新延伸线路，如北京地铁四号线。未来线路免费更新。
• 计划线路：轻轻点击一个站点，放置一面小旗。然后点击第二个站点，再放置一面小旗，便可得到时刻及价格细目。
• 脱机工作：无需连接网络，一切皆有可能。搜索站点，计划行进路线。
• 双语：所有内容均有英文和中文两种语言可供选择。

你只需为我们做的是：如果你喜欢这些应用程序，请你在iTunes应用程序商店为我们留下一个五星评级。

It’s ExploreMetro’s Really Big Sale! From midnight tonight until midnight on February 7th you can grab a copy of Explore Beijing or Explore Guangzhou from the iTunes App Store absolutely free!

Here’s what you’re getting:

• Fully up-to-date – Every station on every line. Fully up to date with the latest extensions.
• Plan routes – Tap on a station to place a flag. Then tap a second station to place a second flag, and get instant time and price details.
• Works offline – Everything works without an Internet connection. Search stations and plan routes on the go.
• Bilingual - Everything’s available in English and Chinese. Show a station name to a taxi driver or listen to a station pronouciation in Chinese.

All we ask is that if you like the apps, you leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes App Store
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We’re proud to announce the launch of the fourth ExploreMetro iPhone app – the Explore Hong Kong MTR map. We took all the best features from our Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou maps and made them even better!

So, you’ve got route planning for all journeys on the MTR network with times and prices, offline access, station names in English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, and free updates for life!

We think Explore Hong Kong is the best Hong Kong MTR app for iPhone and iPod touch. The app is fully up to date with the latest information, including new stations at LOHAS Park and Austin which opened in late 2009.

Explore Hong Kong is available on the iTunes App Store today priced at just $0.99. Want to try it out for free? Follow us on Twitter or become our fan on Facebook where we’ll be handing out some free promo codes!

Read on for some sample screenshots: Read the rest of this entry »