People store luggage at a metro station in Hangzhou. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Hangzhou Metro's trial self-service luggage storage system has been well received since its launch a month ago, with stations near West Lake and transport hubs often fully booked by midday.

On Oct 1, the service expanded to 39 stations, offering 398 lockers across 42 locations, especially near tourist spots, transport hubs, and high-traffic areas.

Passengers can store luggage in lockers located inside the paid areas of the stations by scanning a QR code with WeChat or Alipay. The first 30 minutes are free, while after 31 minutes, small lockers cost 2 yuan ($0.29) per hour, medium lockers 4 yuan per hour, and large lockers 5 yuan per hour, with prices capped at 12, 24, and 30 yuan per 24 hours, respectively.

The lockers are available during station operating hours. Passengers must retrieve their items before 10:30 pm.