As the subway system in Guangzhou, China, grows for the 2010 Asian Games, this public transport progress has been paralleled by the growth of the free Guangzhou Metro Daily, China Daily reported Monday.

The free metro daily paper has seen advertising revenue increase by 30 percent during the first half of this year, and according to editor-in-chief Jiao Xiangyang, the newspaper expects even further growth during the second half of 2009 as the Asian Games approach.

The newspaper also experienced a 90 percent growth in advertising earnings in year-to-year comparisons, despite global economic woes and the effect of the Wenchuan earthquake on advertising.

The tabloid format paper, published five days a week by Guangzhou Daily Press Group and Guangzhou Metro Corp, has a circulation of more than 200,000. The paper can be found at all the city's metro stations, top office buildings, high-end restaurants and hotels and shuttle bus stations that serve expensive property owners.

The paper was close to breaking even in 2008 with a registered capital of 30 million yuan and editor Jiao believes the newspaper "should be able to make some profit this year."

As the city prepares for the Asian Games in November 2010, Jiao believes the newspaper will benefit from both infrastructural expansion and increased advertising.

The metro service is expected to increase its daily service from its current 1 million passengers per day to 3.5 million, with the addition of 84 km and an extra line next year.