The logo - and indeed the entire system - is distinctly reminiscent of Hong Kong's MTR.

Ticket machines are touch-screen, with wording in English and Mandarin.

The opening screen shows a system map: touch your destination station (which has the fare on it) and you will be told the fare and asked how many tickets you want. The default is one. Touch the 1 and start putting in money - 5 or 10 remnimbi notes or coins.

Any change and the ticket come out into a slot below the screen: they are held in a kind of cage which you have to tilt with your fingers to collect them.

The ticket is a green plastic coin (there are also smart cards like Hong Kong's Octopus) which you touch on a target on the barrier to open it. Generally the signage is in English and Mandarin.

One difference from Hong Kong is the number of staircases: there is less assistance with changes of level in Shenzhen.

On the platforms there are platform screen doors. Over these is a route map (with station names in English and Mandarin: those which trains from this platform serve are highlighted). There is also an arrow and the name of the destination of the line.

The train from Luo Hu at 17:30 wasn't very crowded - certainly less so than the Jubilee Line in London would have been at that time of day!

Trains are similar to those in Hong Kong, with seats under the windows.

On-train information is good, with next station in English and Mandarin on LED screens and announced. The LED screens also carry safety messages. There is a route map (of the entire planned route, not just the open part) above the doors. Stations the train has passed are in red: those it is going to call at are in green and as you approach one, it is illuminated in yellow. Periodically there is a green wave of lights along the line in the direction of travel. At interchange stations, the stations which are served by the interchange are also illuminated.

There is an illuminated 'Doors open this side' arrow. A television screen has advertising and the time.

There is advertising on the handles down the centre of the car which you use for strap-hanging.

At your destination, go up to the ticket barriers and put your ticket in a slot: the barriers open and you pass through.

There are staff in evidence by the barriers and on the platforms.

Impressive and user-friendly.