The subways need to be operational in order to count them as a plus for the city. Some people tell me line 1 will be open by the end of this year, but most don't believe this.

allset2travel: From what I could tell, the old terminal has been completely shuttered (e.g. the lights were out when I flew out on Wednesday night).

That would be nice. It looks like by 2030 Nanning will have 8 subway lines. I would say that's really ambitious. Well I guess we are talking about Chinese cities..

If we were talking about Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, or Guangzhou, that time frame would be judged as pathetic (i.e. all systems are much larger and the key lines were erected in 5 year spans). But, Nanning is a different. My friends in Nanning explain to me that: 1) the government is the largest employer; 2) many, if not most, government employees and their pals stand to benefit by drawing out the project as long as possible. Coming from Boston, I can appreciate this concept because the "big dig" was a similar windfall project for the local area (funded by Uncle Sam).

Beijing Metro took 39 years from opening the first line (Line 1, in 1969) to opening 8th line (Airport Express, in 2008).

Sure, but it's more useful to focus on 2001 to 2008 (when they got serious).

So you mean the project is intentionally delayed?

The goal of completing everything in 5 years, single plan, sounds completely stupid. Complete all by 2020 and then what? What becomes of the workers in 2020...2030? Do the suburbs of Nanning stop developing in 2020?

It would make sense to keep building past 2020. And past 2030, too. But there are years to decide what lines specifically are needed, depending on how the opened lines work, where popular suburbs develop et cetera...

Also: Nanning is not a populous city. 6 million people - over 22 000 square km area. 2,4 millions... on over 5000 square km of 5 districts.

So where are the lines needed?

You can't say it's intentionally delayed. The official time table is 20 years, and they are sticking to it.

Regardless of what the official data suggests, there are A LOT of people in Nanning.

Just back from a 4 weeks stay in Nanning and there´s busline 7 going from Nanning Dong to downtown (last stop is the old train station).

You need about 1h, last bus leaves at midnight for downtown and vice versa.

Line 7 ends at Suzhou Lu, just close to the old train station.

First bus starts at 7.00 am.

Many thanks for your inspirational PM. We're actually bringing our entire Nanning crew to Shanghai next week (which spares us of the need to go down there, and is good for them...they will get to meet our clients).

Your observation about the lack of an expat job market (apart from teaching English) is spot on. Foreigners in Nanning teach English, are retired, or work for German companies. (Of course this is generalization, but it's pretty spot on.)

One thing that changed from last year visit is that you can cross the street at a crossing easily as the busses and taxi stop now for pedestrians.

They installed cameras everywhere and you´ll get a fine if you don´t stop.

Works fine, the problem´s just the millions ebikes.
They don´t care about that and never stop.

But the situation is more safety now as before.

Will be in Nanning from dec 20 for 2 weeks.

If someone is in town too just let me know to meet for a beer. ;)

A high speed railway has been opened between Nanning and Baise.
Between Nanning and Baise, 3 D trains run daily. Trip time 1:45 or 1:48. Ticket price second class 82 yuan 5 jiao, first class 132 yuan.
8 slow trains daily. Trip time 2:47 to 4:00. Ticket price hard seat 37 yuan 5 jiao, hard sleeper 91 yuan 5 jiao, soft sleeper 131 yuan 5 jiao.

Nanning Metro
 

Nanning Metro is currently planned to open on 28th June, 2016.
Stations are:

1. Nanhu
2. Jinhu Square
3. Exhibition Centre
4. Wanxiang City
5. ASEAN Business District
6. Fengling
7. Langdong Terminal
8. Baihualing
9. Fuziling
10. Nanning East Railway Station

Are these places of any use?

This route is going along Min Zu Da Dao.
This avenue is one of the main streets in Nanning, connecting downtown with the east part of the city like Lang Dong Bus Terminal and the new HSR station Nanning Dong.
Nanhu is a well known park in Nanning.
If they finish the part Nanhu - downtown then you have a faster connection to nn dong and Lang Dong (where the buses to Hanoi start from).
At the moment you need nearly 1 hour to come to downtown from nn dong by bus (alternate people use the train from nn dong to the old train station, just a 10 min. ride).

In december/january Min Zu Da Dao was a totally mess and it didn´t look they´ll open the subway in the next 100 years. :D

Yes. That's a good start