Taipei is opening a new stretch of its busiest metro line and giving away free rides for a month — good news for commuters in the city's southeast.

• The Red Line now runs past Xiangshan to a new station at Guangci/Fengtian Temple, adding a short hop under Xinyi Road.
• Trips starting or ending at the new station are free from Aug. 30 to Sept. 28; the rest of the network still charges normal fares.
• The extension took nearly a decade to build and links the Xiangshan and Hushan neighborhoods to the rest of the metro.
• Opening festivities include prize draws, giveaways and Saturday concerts at the station through mid-September.

Outlook: Expect heavy crowds at the new station during the free month, with normal fares kicking in from late September.