A woman was charged an additional 15 yuan for ‘excess time’ when she exited the station after spending nearly five hours reading at a book corner in the fare-paid zone of Guangzhou Metro's Panyu Square station. The subway operator explained that the riding time limit is 270 minutes, as a means to ensure a quick transit. The incident sparked public debate over whether such rules are consistent with efforts to create a cultural atmosphere.
According to reports, the reading corner is part of the Guangzhou Public Library's 'Guangdong Reading Room,' which has over 8,000 books. Although the facility is widely promoted as a cultural landmark, its location in the fare-paid area causes automatic time tracking for passengers, leading to an additional charge for those who exceed the allowed limit.
MTR in Hong Kong also limits riding time to 150 minutes, with a maximum additional fee of HKD66. This serves as a reminder for frequent travelers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to manage their time carefully. In contrast, Beijing and Shanghai's metro systems are more lenient, charging only the minimum ticket price of 3 yuan for over-time.