Here is your guide to mastering Shanghai's Metro, and learn how to navigate maps, fares, stations, and schedules 👇 Essential information for effortless Shanghai subway travel.
Shanghai Metro Map 2025
The Shanghai Metro was first officially put into operation by the Metro Line 1 in 1993, becoming the third urban rail transit system to be opened on the Chinese mainland.
Among them, Line 11 can reach Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Therefore, Shanghai Metro is the first urban rail transit system in China to operate across provinces.
By November 30, 2024, Shanghai Metro has opened 20 lines, 510 stations and an operating mileage of 837 kilometers, competing with Beijing Metro for the title of the world's longest urban rail transit system in terms of total line length.
List of Shanghai Metro Lines & Stations
Shanghai Metro is the World’s largest network, which has 20 lines (including Maglev), and 800+ km of track.
- Hours: 5:30 AM – 11:30 PM (varies by line).
- Fares: ¥3–¥17 (distance-based).
- Payments: "Metro Daduhui" app, Alipay, WeChat Pay, or contactless cards.
- Best Apps: Metro Shanghai or Explore Shanghai (real-time navigation).
Shanghai Metro Top 5 Interchange Hubs
- Century Avenue (Lines 2, 4, 6, 9) → Pudong CBD access
- Longyang Road (Lines 2, 7, 16, 18 + Maglev) → Transfer to Maglev train
- Xujiahui (Lines 1, 9, 11) → Shopping/sights
- People’s Square (Lines 1, 2, 8) → City center
- Nanjing West Road (Lines 2, 12, 13) → Luxury shopping
Shanghai Metro 4 Key Lines
- Line 2:
- Route: Hongqiao Airport/Train Station ↔ Pudong Airport
- Must-Visit:
• Nanjing East Road (Exit for the Bund)
• Lujiazui (Oriental Pearl Tower)
• Jing’an Temple (historic temple)
- Line 10:
- Route: Hongqiao ↔ Xinjiangwancheng
- Must-Visit:
• Yuyuan Garden (classical gardens)
• Xintiandi (Shikumen architecture)
• Shanghai Zoo
- Line 11:
- Route: Jiading/Kunshan ↔ Disney Resort
- Key Stop: Disney Resort Station – gates to Shanghai Disneyland.
- Note: Check train direction (some go to Huaqiao/Kunshan, China!)
- Maglev Train:
- Route: Longyang Road ↔ Pudong Airport (7 mins, 430 km/h).
- Fare: ¥50 (¥40 with same-day flight ticket).
205704 booked
How to Use Shanghai Metro
Source from Wikipedia
Step 1 Ticketing Options
You can purchase one-way tickets at the automatic ticket vending machines with cash or by scanning a code. Please note that only some machines of the ticket vending machines have cash counters.
You can also purchase or recharge the Shanghai Public Transport Card at the automatic card vending machine. (For the regular version, a deposit of 20 yuan can be refunded, and any balance within 100 yuan can also be fully refunded.)
There are two types of card vending machines. One can only be used for recharging, while the other can sell and return cards as well as recharge. There is a sticker on the waist of the machine for instructions. Basically, there is a card available for sale and refund at every subway station. The payment methods supported include scanning codes from common payment apps and UnionPay physical cards.
Some machines also support cash. Card refunds can only be made to the balance of the green or blue payment APP or transferred to other transportation cards.
Note: If foreigners need to return their cards in cash, the transportation card company has set up manual service stations at Exit 5 of Line 1 of Shanghai Railway Station, T2 of Hongqiao Railway Station, South Exit of Hongqiao Railway Station Metro Station, Exit 2 of Line 2 of Longyang Road and other stations where they can handle the procedures.
Step 2 Security Check
The security check in Shanghai Metro is slightly more lenient than that in other cities. Just open your small bag and let the security inspector take a look. Restricted items can be referred to other cities or national railways.
Step 3 Entry
Single-trip tickets, daily tickets, physical or NFC transportation cards should be directly affixed to the sensing area above the turnstile for entry. Just align the ride code with the scanning window. For the Metro Metropolitan ride code, the Bluetooth function needs to be turned on. At some stations, the gates are piloted to remain open all the time. If you enter without having your ticket checked, the gates will close.
Step 4 Boarding Trains
There are trains running in different directions or with different destinations. Please pay attention. The announcements inside the carriages of the Shanghai Metro are relatively quiet, and some lines do not have very intuitive display screens in the carriages. It is essential not to miss your stop.
Step 5 Exiting & Transfers
Single-trip tickets for exiting the station are directly inserted into the ticket gate of the turnstile for collection. The operation method for other types of tickets and cards is the same as that for entering the station. At several virtual transfer stations (such as Terminal 2 of Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Railway Station, Nanjing West Road, etc.), non-one-way tickets can enjoy continuous charging and are not counted as exiting the station.
The single ride on the Shanghai Metro is limited to 4 hours. If you exceed this time limit, you will need to pay the minimum fare of 3 yuan. If you need to exit at the same station within 15 minutes after entering the station, you can go to the service desk to cancel your entry record and then exit manually. There is no charge.
Note: When using a public transportation card or UnionPay card to take the Maglev train normally, the one-way fare is 40 yuan. When buying a one-way ticket at the window, they will ask if you have an air ticket. If you say no, it will cost 50 yuan; if you say yes, it will cost 40 yuan.
Shanghai Metro Transfer Guide
🔁 Top 5 Transfer Hub Strategies
- People’s Square (Lines 1, 2, 8)
- Tactics: Follow color-coded corridor signs (yellow for Line 2, red for Line 1).
- Century Avenue (Lines 2, 4, 6, 9)
- Tactics: Use platform-level transfer (Line 2→Line 9: cross-platform; Line 4→Line 6: 1-min walk).
- Xujiahui (Lines 1, 9, 11)
- Tactics: Transfer between Lines 1/9 via underground mall (5-min walk).
- Longyang Road (Lines 2, 7, 16, 18 + Maglev)
- Maglev transfer: Exit metro, walk 50m to Maglev terminal. Show metro ticket for ¥10 discount (total ¥40).
- Nanjing West Road (Lines 2, 12, 13)
- Tactics: Lines 12/13 share same platform; Line 2 transfer via escalator (3 mins).
Shanghai Metro Transfer Guide
1. Search through map software
The simplest and most straightforward method is to make use of map software, such as Autonavi Maps and Baidu Maps. Just search for the destination you want to go on the map APP, and you can get a variety of transfer options. In addition to the transfer plan, you can also see the time required for the journey, which is convenient for reasonably planning the travel time.
2. Site Guidance
If you can't use the relevant map APP, you can check the track of the line at the subway station or inside the subway. All the stations where you can transfer have relevant signs. As long as you find the station where the line you need to transfer to is located, you can transfer easily.
3. Consult the staff or passengers
If you are still not sure, you can ask the subway station staff or other passengers. They are usually willing to offer help.
An example of transfer routes in Shanghai Metro-Transfer from Shanghai Metro Line 7 to Line 2
There are two stations where you can transfer from Shanghai Metro Line 7 to Line 2:
- Jing 'an Temple Station of the Subway: After taking Line 7 from Meilan Lake to Jing 'an Temple Station, follow the signs to transfer to Line 2. This is the only option for residents in the northern part of Baoshan to go to Hongqiao Railway Station.
- Longyang Road Station: Passengers traveling from the Pudong section of Line 7 to Pudong Airport can transfer to Line 2 at Longyang Road Station of the Metro, which can save the transfer time from Jing 'an Temple.
How to Pay for Shanghai Metro: Ticket, Metro Card & QR Code
Shanghai Metro | Single-Journey Ticket
- Where: Self-service machines (at every station)
- Payment: Cash (select machines) / Mobile Pay (Alipay/WeChat/UnionPay QR)
- Cost: ¥3–¥17 (distance-based)
- Best for: One-time riders or tourists avoiding apps
- Tip: Machines have English menus. Insert cash before selecting station.
Shanghai Metro | Shanghai Public Transportation Card
Physical Card
- Buy: ¥20 deposit + top-up (¥50–500) at service machines/counters
- Use: Tap card on gate sensor
- Refunds: Card + balance refunded at service centers (Shanghai Railway Stn, Hongqiao T2, etc.)
Virtual Card (NFC)
- Activate: In phone wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay/Huawei Pay)
- Name: "Shanghai T-Union" card
- Top-up: Via wallet app (min. ¥10)
- Key perk: Works nationwide in China (except Hohhot/Jinhua)
Shanghai Metro | QR Code Payments
Metro Daduhui App
- Setup: Real-name verification + Chinese bank card/app
- Use: Open app → Show QR at gate → Requires Bluetooth
- Perks: Route planning + electronic day passes
Alipay/WeChat
- Path:
- Alipay: Search "Metro QR" → Activate "Shanghai Public Transit Pass"
- WeChat: Mini Program Transit Code → Select Shanghai
- Use: Scan at gates (no Bluetooth needed)
Shanghai Metro | Unlimited Ride Passes
- 1-Day Pass: ¥18 (valid 24hrs from first entry)
- 3-Day Pass: ¥45 (72hrs)
- Buy: Service counters (all major stations) / Metro Daduhui app
- Exclusions: Maglev, Airport Link Line, Jinshan Railway
Shanghai Metro | Special Options
- SHANGHAI PASS: Upgraded prepaid card for tourists (English support, available at airports).
- Bank Cards: ❌ Not accepted (despite rumors; only SPTC/NFC/QR codes work).
- Foreign Cards: Visa/Mastercard not supported – use cash or mobile pay.
Shanghai Metro | Which payment to Choose?
User Type | Best Payment Method |
|---|---|
Short-stay tourist | Single tickets or 1-Day Pass |
Frequent traveler | NFC Virtual Card (SPTC) |
Tech-savvy visitor | Alipay/WeChat Transit Code |
Multi-city traveler | T-Union SPTC Card (physical/NFC) |
Key Notes
◼ Children: ≥1.3m height requires full-price ticket.
◼ Transfers: QR users in "virtual transfer stations" (e.g., Nanjing West Rd) must not exit gates for continuous billing.
◼ Maglev Combo: Buy round-trip Maglev + Metro Day Pass for ¥85 at Maglev stations (saves ¥13 vs separate).
Shanghai Metro Ticket Price
Base System: Distance-based pricing, starting at ¥3.
- ¥3: 0–6 km
- ¥4: 6–16 km (add ¥1 per 10 km after)
- Max fare: ¥17 (longest cross-city trips, e.g., Pudong Airport ↔ Hongqiao)
Example Routes & Fares:
Route | Distance | Fare |
Pudong Airport → East Nanjing Road | 30 km | ¥7 |
Hongqiao Airport → People's Square | 17 km | ¥5 |
Shanghai Railway Stn → Disney Resort | 35 km | ¥8 |
Xujiahui → Lujiazui | 8 km | ¥4 |
💳Shanghai Metro Payment Methods
- Single-Journey Ticket: Pay per ride (no discounts).
- SPTC Card:
- Same fares as single tickets
- Refundable ¥20 deposit
- QR Codes (Alipay/WeChat/Metro Daduhui): Same as SPTC fares.
- Unlimited Passes:
- 1-Day Pass: ¥18 (unlimited rides × 24 hours)
- 3-Day Pass: ¥45 (72 hours)
- Excludes Maglev, Airport Line, Jinshan Railway.
⚠️ Shanghai Metro Key Rules
- Time Limit: 4 hours max per journey. Exceed → ¥3 penalty at exit.
- Children:
- Free: Height < 1.3 meters (accompanied by adult)
- Full fare: Height ≥ 1.3 meters
- Transfers:
- Physical/Virtual SPTC/QR: Continuous billing for transfers (within 30 mins).
- Single tickets: Pay new fare for each line.
- Free Exit: Same-station exit within 15 mins (request reversal at service counter).
Shanghai Metro Smart Savings Tips
- For tourists: Buy a ¥18 Day Pass if taking ≥4 rides/day.
- For 2+ airport trips: Use Maglev Combo (Round-trip + 24hr Metro Pass = ¥85).
- QR Code users: Avoid exiting at virtual transfer stations (e.g., Nanjing West Rd) to save ¥3–5 per transfer.
Shanghai Metro Hours & Schedule
Line | First Train (Direction→Terminus) | Last Train (From Origin Station) | Peak Frequency (Weekdays) | Off-Peak Frequency (Nights/Weekends) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Line 2 | 5:28 AM (Xu Jing East → Pudong Airport) | 11:34 PM (Pudong Airport → Hongqiao) | 2–3 mins | 5–8 mins |
Line 1 | 5:30 AM (Fujin Road → Xinzhuang) | 11:30 PM (Shanghai South Railway → Fujin Road) | 3–4 mins | 6–10 mins |
Line 10 | 5:25 AM (Jilong Road → Xinjiangwancheng) | 11:55 PM (Xinjiangwancheng → Hongqiao) | 4–5 mins | 7–12 mins |
Line 11 | 5:36 AM (Disney → Huaqiao) | 11:51 PM (Jiading North → Disney) | 5–6 mins | 8–15 mins |
Maglev | 6:45 AM (Longyang Road → Pudong Airport) | 9:40 PM (Pudong Airport → Longyang Road) | 15–20 mins | 20–25 mins |
📅 Schedule Notes & Tips
- Weekends/Holidays:
- All lines start 15–30 mins later and end 20–45 mins earlier.
- Frequencies: 6–15 mins (daytime), 10–20 mins (after 8 PM).
- Airport Services:
- Pudong Airport (Line 2): Last train to city center at 11:34 PM.
- Hongqiao (Lines 2/10): Last train at 11:43 PM (Line 2), 11:55 PM (Line 10).
- Maglev: No service during heavy rain/typhoons.
- Key Deadlines:
- ⏰ Transfers: Board connecting trains before 11:00 PM (most hubs close transfers by 11:15 PM).
- 🚫 Entry Cutoff: Stations stop admitting passengers 5–10 mins before last train.
- Special Schedules:
- Line 16 (Longyang Road ↔ Dishui Lake): Limited service after 9:30 PM (20–30 min gaps).
- Disney Resort (Line 11): Extra trains after fireworks (check park closing days).
How to Get to Shanghai Attractions by Metro
1. People's Square Station (Lines 1, 2, 8)
Attractions:
- Shanghai Museum: China’s finest ancient art collection.
- Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street: Shopping mecca (exit toward Nanjing East Rd).
- Urban Planning Exhibition Center: See Shanghai’s futuristic city models.
How to Get There:
Exit Gate 1 for the museum; Gate 3 leads directly to Nanjing Road.
2. Lujiazui Station (Line 2)
Attractions:
- Oriental Pearl Tower (¥160): Iconic sphere with glass-floor observatories.
- Shanghai Tower (¥180): World’s 2nd-tallest building (exit toward Silver City Rd).
- Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (¥50): Quirky light-show ride to the Bund.
How to Get There:
Take Exit 3 for the Pearl Tower; follow signs to Shanghai Tower (5-min walk).
3. The Bund (Lines 2, 10)
Attractions:
- The Bund: Colonial-era waterfront (10-min walk from exit).
- Huangpu River Cruise (¥120): Board at Shiliupu Pier (15-min walk).
How to Get There:
Exit Gate 7 and walk straight toward the river.
4. Disney Resort Station (Line 11)
Attractions:
Shanghai Disneyland (¥475): Mickey in China!
How to Get There:
The station drops you at the park entrance—just follow the crowds!
5. Yuyuan Garden Station (Line 10)
Attractions:
- Yuyuan Garden (¥40): Ming-dynasty classical garden.
- Chenghuangmiao (Old Street): Souvenirs & soup dumplings.
How to Get There:
Take Exit 1, the garden is a 5-min signed walk.
Shanghai Hotel Recommodations
From now until stock last, you can enjoy up to 8% off hotel deals on Trip.com when you register as a member on desktop or app!
FAQs about Shanghai Metro
How do I pay for the metro in Shanghai?
When it comes to paying for your metro journey, the easiest and most popular payment method is using a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (also known as the Jiaotong Card). You can buy and recharge this card at any metro station, convenience store, or supermarket.Is Shanghai Metro 24 hours?
The subway is one of the best things about the city. You can get everywhere. Totally safe. Unfortunately it does not run 24 hours per day.What is the largest metro system in the world?
The Shanghai Metro is the largest metro system in the world, both by route length (808 km/502 miles) and by annual ridership (approximately 2.83 billion passenger trips). It has the longest route length compared to other metro systems. The Beijing Subway, while not the longest by route length, has the most stations, with 424.How much is the 3 day pass in Shanghai Metro?
The Shanghai Metro three-day pass costs 45 yuan. This pass allows unlimited rides on the metro, excluding the Maglev, for 72 hours from the first use. You can purchase the pass at ticket booths at any metro station.