Overview
Nanjing Metro is the rapid transit system serving the urban and suburban districts of Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, China. It is operated and maintained by the Nanjing Metro Group Company, and it has grown into one of the larger metro networks in mainland China since its first line opened in 2005.
For a visitor, the system is clean, cheap, safe and fast, and it covers most of the central city while linking both main railway stations and the airport. Signage, ticket machines and train announcements are in both Chinese and English, so you can navigate it without speaking Mandarin.
Riding end to end is straightforward. Plan your route with a mapping app such as Amap, Baidu Maps or Apple Maps, all of which have English versions. Enter the station, pass through the security check, then buy a ticket or scan your phone at the fare gate. Keep your ticket or QR code for the exit gate, since you scan on the way out as well as on the way in. Trains generally run from about 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, with some lines starting around 5:30–6:00 AM and closing around 11:00 PM; Line 1 and Line 3 run slightly later, with Line 1 closing around 11:30 PM. The system is not 24-hour. Expect crowding during the morning peak of roughly 7:30–9:00 AM and the evening peak of roughly 5:30–7:00 PM.
The network
Nanjing's public transport is built around the metro, supplemented by suburban rail lines, buses, cross-river ferries and taxis. The metro alone has 16 lines and 272 stations on 658.1 km (408.9 mi) of track, and future expansion plans call for 30 lines within the next few years, with several more awaiting approval.
Sources describe the line count slightly differently depending on when they were written, so treat the exact number as a moving target. One recent guide lists 13 lines in service: urban Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10, plus suburban/intercity lines S1, S3, S6, S7, S8 and S9. The metro is complemented by a network of city buses, which your Jinlingtong card can be used on (though not all suburban buses), and by frequent ferries across the Yangtze, in particular from Zhongshan Wharf near Nanjing West Railway Station to Pukou.
Urban metro lines
- Line 1 — runs mainly north–south, from Maigaoqiao in the north to China Pharmaceutical University (CPU) in the south, via Nanjing Railway Station and Nanjing South Railway Station. It serves Hongshan Zoo, Xuanwumen, Gulou, Xinjiekou, Zhonghuamen and Nanjing Medical University. Services run every 3 minutes. Interchanges include Line 2 at Xinjiekou, Line 10 at Andemen, and S1 at Nanjing South Railway Station.
- Line 2 — runs east–west from Yuzui in the west (Olympic New Town area) along Hanzhong Lu and Zhongshan Donglu to Jingtian Road in the east, near the Purple Mountain scenic area. It serves Olympic Stadium East, Mochou Lake, Hanzhongmen, Xinjiekou, Daxinggong, Minggugong (Ming Imperial Palace), Muxuyuan and Xianlin. Trains run every 6 to 8 minutes, with interchanges to Line 1 at Xinjiekou and Line 10 at Yuantong.
- Line 3 — runs roughly parallel to Line 1 on a north–south axis, from Linchang to East Mozhou Road via Nanjing Railway Station, Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) and Nanjing South Railway Station. It intersects 11 other lines at 12 stations, including interchanges with Line 1 at both railway stations and with Line 2 at Daxinggong.
- Line 4 — runs east–west, from Longjiang to Xianlinhu via Gulou, Jimingsi, Jiuhuashan and Jiangwangmiao.
- Line 5 — runs from Wenjing Road to Jiyin Avenue, passing Confucius Temple, Sanshan Street, Shanghai Road and Nanjing West Railway Station.
- Line 7 — runs from Xishanqiao to Xianxin Road, passing Mochou Lake, Qingliang Mountain, Caochangmen, Fujian Road, Wutang Square and Mufushan.
- Line 10 — runs from Andemen through the Olympic New Town area around the Olympic Sports Centre, crossing the Yangtze River west to Yushan Road in the Pukou area. It serves Nanjing Tech University, Jiangxinzhou, Olympic Sports Center and Yuantong, with interchanges to Line 2 at Yuantong and Line 1 at Andemen.
Suburban and intercity lines
- S1 (Airport Line, also known as the Ninggao Line) — runs from Nanjing South Railway Station to Lukou International Airport and on to Airport New City Jiangning, with 9 stations over about 37.3 km. Trains run every 10 minutes, and the trip to the airport takes about half an hour. There is an interchange to Line 1 at Nanjing South Railway Station.
- S3 (Ninghe Line) — runs from Nanjing South Railway Station west to Gaojiachong via Youfangqiao, Tianbao, Shiqihe and Qiaolinxincheng, crossing the Yangtze on a bridge and linking Nanjing with He County in Anhui.
- S6 — runs from Maqun to Jurong via Qilinmen, Nanjing Ape-man Caves, Tangshan and Huangmei.
- S7 (Ningli Line) — runs south–north in the southern suburbs from Konggang Xincheng Jiangning to Wuxiangshan, via the Lukou and Lishui areas.
- S8 (Jiangning Line) — an intercity line running from Changjiang Daqiao North to Jinniu Lake via Taifeng Road, Gaoxin Development Zone, Dachang, Luhe Development Zone and Xiongzhou.
- S9 (Ninggao Line) — a 52 km, 6-station line from Xiangyulunan to Gaochun via Tongshan, Shiqiu, Mingjue and Tuanjiewei; it is the southward extension of S1.
Tickets & fares
Metro fares are distance-based, and the following prices are approximate and subject to change. A single journey costs CNY 2 for the first 10 km, CNY 3 for 10–16 km, CNY 4 for 16–22 km, CNY 5 for 22–30 km, CNY 6 for 30–38 km, CNY 7 for 38–48 km, CNY 8 for 48–58 km and CNY 9 for 58–70 km; beyond 70 km you add roughly CNY 1 per additional 14 km. In practice, whole-journey fares are commonly around CNY 6 on Line 1, CNY 6 on Line 2, CNY 7 on Line 3, CNY 4 on Line 10, CNY 4 on S1, CNY 6 on S3 and CNY 7 on S8. Children under 1.3 m (4 ft) ride free on all lines. In US dollar terms, short trips of 3–6 km work out to roughly $0.30–$0.60, medium trips of 10–20 km to roughly $0.60–$1.00, and long cross-city trips to roughly $1.00–$1.40; downtown to the airport on S1 is about $1.20–$1.40.
You have several ways to pay:
- Single-ride tickets — buy these from ticket vending machines at your boarding station by selecting your destination station on the touch screen and choosing the number of tickets; the amount due is displayed. Machines accept cash (banknotes and coins, with change dispensed automatically) and QR code payment via the UnionPay app and Alipay. Tickets are also sold at staffed counters.
- Jinlingtong card (also known as IC-tong) — a rechargeable transport card valid on all metro lines and some buses, with discounts for seniors and students. Cards are available from any subway station, most bus termini and any branch of Huaxia Bank (look for an information window displaying the letters "IC"). The card costs ¥75, which includes a ¥25 refundable deposit and ¥50 of credit, and can be topped up at those same locations. It also works on cross-river ferries, taxis (though drivers are often reluctant to accept it and may claim the scanner is broken) and in some Suguo convenience stores.
- Mobile QR payment — generate a QR code in Alipay (go to Transport and select Nanjing) or WeChat Pay, then scan it at the entry and exit gates; the fare is charged automatically. Foreign Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards can be linked in Alipay. Other accepted apps include the official Nanjing Metro app (Transport QR code), the UnionPay app (Travel – Nanjing) and the Suning Finance app (Payment Code/Transport Code – Nanjing).
- Digital transport card — available via Apple Wallet, with an extra card fee and a required initial top-up.
- Unlimited ride passes — 1-day and 3-day unlimited ride passes are sold at some stations and are available to foreigners.
Fares are charged per journey rather than by zone, so the distance you travel determines what you pay. If you are staying more than a few days, a Jinlingtong card is worth buying.
From the airport
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) lies about 35 km (22 mi) from the city centre and has connections to most Chinese cities plus a few international flights from Japan, South Korea, South East Asia, Los Angeles, Finland and Germany; there is also an evening flight every day from Shanghai Pudong International Airport for international connections.
Your public-transport options into town are:
- Metro S1 (Airport Line) — connects the airport with Nanjing South Railway Station in about half an hour for ¥6. Trains run every 10 minutes. Be prepared for a rather long walk between Lines 1 and S1 at the South Station interchange.
- Express buses — two express-bus routes run from the airport to downtown Nanjing, one terminating at the North Railway Station and one at the South Railway Station, where they connect with the subway and local city buses. Services run at 30-minute intervals, take more than an hour to reach the North Railway Station, and cost ¥20 one way, purchasable from the kiosk outside the arrivals hall.
- Taxi — a taxi to the downtown area takes about the same time as the metro but costs around ¥100.
If you are flying into Shanghai instead, the fastest onward option is usually a high-speed G train from Shanghai Hongqiao station, which takes 75 minutes and costs ¥139.50 in second class. A slower bus runs four times a day from both Shanghai airports, starting at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, stopping at Hongqiao Airport and continuing to Nanjing Zhongyangmen; it costs ¥136 from Shanghai and takes about five hours.
Etiquette & customs
Nanjing's metro is orderly and easy to use, but a few local habits will help you fit in.
- Security checks — you must pass through a security check before the fare gates. Hold water bottles in your hand so they can be inspected.
- Queuing — queue for the security check and at the platform doors rather than crowding forward; let passengers off the train before you board.
- Escalators — stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking past.
- Priority seating — seats marked for the elderly, pregnant passengers, parents with small children and people with disabilities should be given up when needed.
- Quiet — keep phone calls and music volume low, and use headphones rather than speakers.
- Eating and drinking — eating and drinking on the trains is discouraged; finish snacks before you board.
- Rush hour — the morning peak of roughly 7:30–9:00 AM and the evening peak of roughly 5:30–7:00 PM are crowded, so allow extra time and keep bags in front of you.
- Scanning — if you are using a QR code, remember to scan on entry and again on exit, or you may be charged incorrectly.
Official links
The Nanjing Metro helpline is +86 25 51899999.
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) — subway / metro
- 车票 (chēpiào) — ticket
- 线路 (xiànlù) — line
- 入口 (rùkǒu) — entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit
- 换乘 (huànchéng) — transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéngpiào) — single fare / single-ride ticket
- 一日票 (yīrìpiào) — day pass
Buy a Jinlingtong card on your first day if you plan to ride more than a few times, and keep a little cash on hand for the rare machine or taxi that will not take your phone.