Dong Zhen/ Shanghai Daily news

Special security channels come into operation today at Shanghai's 161 Metro stations to allow passengers' luggage to be inspected, Shanghai Daily reported.

People with medium to large bags will have to go to special inspection points before entering Metro stations. Otherwise, they will be stopped by police officers or Metro workers inside the station and have to open their luggage for checks.

The new measures are in accordance with public safety rules, the city's Metro police said yesterday.

From today there will be nearly 260 luggage checkpoints on the Metro network. Busy stations and transfer hubs such as the People's Square and Xinzhuang stations have been prepared with three or more such inspection areas around their passenger entrances.