Delicious sandwiches of tuna, chicken, steak and crab, as well as crisp vegetable and fruit salads, will make your mouth water at a new Subway franchise store which opened Tuesday at Taizi Square in Shekou in Nanshan District.

Many people crowded the 30-square-meter eatery that evening, eager to taste the sandwiches.

Laurent C. Basse, vice president of Shenzhen Subway Restaurant Development Co. Ltd., which has another Subway franchise near the Wal-Mart supermarket in Shekou, delivered a brief speech at the opening ceremony.

He said Subway not only provided customers with quick service, it also took customer health into serious consideration. "Subway only serves non-fried and low-fat food, which is good for your health," he said.

The store opens from 9 am to 1 am the next day, and extends to 2 am at weekends. As well as sandwiches and salads, the store also serves tasty cookies, vegetable soups, tea and soft drinks.

"Subway sandwiches are very fresh, nutritious and convenient, and their prices are quite reasonable," a young lady surnamed Fan said. "I think Subway will attract many young people," she said. This year is Subway's 39th year of operations. Based in the United States, it is the world's largest sandwich chain with more than 21,000 restaurants in 75 countries.

Many other Subway franchises have opened in other major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai. About 30 Subway stores were operating in Beijing, sources said.

(Shenzhen Daily June 18, 2004)