A subway staff member stands in front of a subway line 2 train. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Subway line 2 in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, started initial operation at 9 am on Dec 27.

Spanning 20.85 kilometers, the subway line has 17 stations with Hepingqiao and Wenfeng stations being the transfer points for subway line 1 and is capable of accommodating up to 2,132 passengers.

The newly-launched line operates at a highest speed of 80 kilometers per hour and its first and last trains start from Xingfu and Xianfeng stations at 6 am and 10 pm respectively.

Route map of subway lines 1 (in red) and 2 in Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The starting fare for subway line 2 is 2 yuan ($0.28) with the highest being 5 yuan and the maximum price for transferring along the route is 7 yuan.

Themed on Yangtze finless porpoises playing in the water, carriages of subway line 2 highlight classic patterns of blue calico, a national intangible cultural heritage in Nantong. The pull handle rings are shaped as a Yangtze finless porpoise. USB charging sockets and wireless charging facilities are also available for passengers.

On the same day, free shuttle buses between Chang'an Station of the subway line and Nantong Railway Station were also launched to bring convenience to local residents and tourists.