Marine engineer Ma He leaves home in the north of Beijing at five every Monday morning. He works more than 150 kilometers away, in Tianjin. The car journey to Beijing South Station takes an hour and a half. The train ride, from Beijing to the outskirts of Tianjin, takes only an hour. The train MA HE catches is full of intercity commuters like him. A SPECIAL commuter-card lets them skip the long line. And into their SPECIALLY designated carriages. This is the busiest day of the week. It will be again on Friday when all head back home.

MA HE INTERCITY COMMUTER "I used to spend two hours in traffic every day, now it's just a few hours on Monday and Friday. That time saved is my own, and it's a lot of time."

Ma used to work in Beijing's Silicon Valley, Zhongguancun. Now, as he moves on to the marine-engineering start-up, Sublue. He is also moving into the new Zhongguancun.

MA HE INTERCITY COMMUTER "This is like what Zhongguancun started out like, so much hope for things to come, and a lot of incentives."

The newly-set-up development zone offers perks like rent rebates and housing, and promises of quality facilities. Ma says he may eventually move his whole family here. Right now though, he must live away from his family four days a week.

MA HE INTERCITY COMMUTER "We're in the first year of preparing for an IPO. We all have shares in the company, so the better shape it's in, the better for us."

This company has developed some of the country's most popular under-water robots. Ma says he's working hard to help make sure the start-up is successful, and that he can keep this new type of commuter life on track. Sun Ye, CGTN, Beijing to Tianjin.