(Yicai) Dec. 19 -- Shenzhen has followed other Chinese cities by starting a personal advertising business in its metro to increase operating revenue.

The Shenzhen Metro launched the personal advertising service at the beginning of this month. Advertisement spots are available on eight lines, with prices starting at CNY499 (USD68.40).

The Shenzhen Newspaper Metro Media will continue to be committed to providing more diversified and more convenient personal advertising services for the public, according to a relevant person in charge of the metro advertising company.

Metros are expensive for construction and operation, a person from a metro system in southern China told Yicai. Launching personal advertising businesses is one way to increase revenue, the person added.

Personal advertising in metros can also meet the personalized needs of many young people and further enrich urban public culture, Ding Changfa, associate professor at Xiamen University's economics department, said to Yicai. It is conducive to enhancing the sense of belonging to the city, showing its soft power and attractiveness to young people, Ding added.

Guangzhou, Hefei, Beijing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, and other Chinese cities had previously started personal advertising businesses in their metros.

In January, the Guangzhou Metro launched an advertising mini-program where users can select their favorite station and time and upload an ad for a price of between CNY380 and CNY999. The ad, which can include birthday wishes, confessions of love, and other messages or be used to hunt for jobs and go on blind dates, will be displayed only after a review.

Editor: Martin Kadiev