According to China News Service, Harbin Metro put its “Book Carriage Metro, Reading Icy City” commemorative ticket on sale on 31 October. The themed multi-ride ticket is part of a citywide public reading campaign, and the publisher reports that 100,000 copies have been issued.
Price, rides and validity
- Each ticket costs 80 yuan.
- The holder can take 30 trips, and these rides are not counted by distance.
- The ticket can be used until 31 December 2028.
Where to buy
Sales started at the same time at 15 stations on Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3. The source does not list the individual stations, nor say whether the tickets will be sold elsewhere or restocked after the initial issue.
Design
The ticket features a three-dimensional bookshelf, paper books and book-inspired patterns. These are combined with elements of Harbin and a silhouette of a metro train. China News Service describes the overall look as fresh and artistic, and says it moves away from the standard design of traditional transit cards.
Part of a reading initiative
The ticket supports the “Book Carriage Metro, Reading Icy City” series of public reading events. According to the report, the aim is to use the metro, which carries large numbers of people across the city, to bring library resources and reading activities into everyday travel. The idea is to create a mobile reading space where people can read at any time and in any place.
Other commemorative tickets
According to China News Service, Harbin Metro has regularly released themed commemorative tickets in recent years. Earlier designs have focused on ice and snow, flowers, city scenery, folk culture and other cultural themes. The report says some of these tickets have become popular with local commuters and with visitors from other cities as souvenirs.