Overview
The Shanghai Metro is a rapid transit system serving Shanghai and nearby areas. With 19 lines, 506 stations, and 808 kilometres of track, it is the world's second-longest metro system by route length and carries the highest annual ridership globally. In 2024, the system recorded 13.39 million rides on a single day, and it accounts for 73% of all public transport trips in the city.
To ride the metro as a visitor, you will need a ticket or travel pass. You can purchase a single-journey ticket at the station, use a mobile payment app (such as WeChat Pay or Alipay scanned at the turnstile), tap a contactless payment card, or buy a multi-day pass. Once you have payment sorted, enter through a ticket gate, follow signs to your platform, board your train, and exit at your destination station. Transfers between lines are seamless within the paid zone.
The network
The Shanghai Metro consists of 19 lines identified by number (Lines 1–18 and the Pujiang Line). The system also connects to wider rail services including the Maglev train, suburban rail lines, and bus and ferry networks.
Metro lines
- Line 1 – North–south line linking the northern districts to downtown and south to Minhang
- Line 2 – East–west line connecting Pudong International Airport in the east, through downtown and People's Square, to Hongqiao International Airport in the west
- Line 3 – Also known as the Pearl Line (珍珠线); opened in 2001
- Line 4 – Became a circular line in 2007
- Line 5 – Main line through the southern suburb of Minhang; planned extensions to Hongqiao Airport and Fengxian
- Lines 6–18 – Additional metro lines serving various parts of the city and surrounding areas
- Pujiang Line – Suburban rapid transit line
Line 11 was extended into Kunshan in Jiangsu Province in October 2013, making Shanghai Metro the first rapid transit system in China to provide cross-provincial service.
Maglev and Airport Link
The Maglev (magnetic levitation) train connects Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road station in Pudong. As of December 2023, it operates at a maximum speed of 300 km/h. Single tickets cost approximately 60 yuan (or 50 yuan if you have an airline ticket for that day or use a Shanghai Public Transportation Card). Return tickets (valid within one week) cost approximately 100 yuan. The Maglev terminates at Longyang Road, where you can connect to metro Lines 2, 7, 16, and 18. Longyang Road station also has a Maglev train museum.
Beginning in 2025, an Airport Link Line will connect Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station in approximately 40 minutes. This line passes south of the city centre and is primarily useful for connections between the two airports or onward travel via high-speed rail or plane at Hongqiao.
Suburban rail and other transit
Shanghai's broader rail transit network includes suburban railway lines that link the metro system to outer areas. The system also connects to bus networks throughout the city and ferry services. Line 17, which opened in December 2017, connects Hongqiao Railway Station to Zhujiajiao.
Tickets & fares
Single-journey tickets
Single-journey tickets use a distance-based fare system starting at 3 yuan for trips up to 6 kilometres, plus 1 yuan per additional 10 kilometres. Fares are calculated on the shortest route when multiple transfer options exist. Typical downtown trips cost 3 to 6 yuan. Single-journey tickets are available as plastic IC cards (collected at your exit) or paper QR codes (kept as a souvenir) from station vending machines and are valid only on the day of purchase.
Travel passes
Multi-day passes offer unlimited travel on the metro network (excluding the Maglev and some suburban lines opened in 2024 and later):
- One-Day Pass – 18 yuan; unlimited rides for 24 hours from first use
- Three-Day Pass – 45 yuan; unlimited rides for 72 hours from first use
- Maglev & Metro Packages – Single-trip package (55 yuan) includes unlimited 24-hour metro use plus one economy-class Maglev trip; round-trip package (85 yuan) includes unlimited 24-hour metro use plus round-trip economy Maglev tickets valid within one week
- Shanghai Pass Three-Day – Marketed to visitors holding 240-hour visa-free transit permits; includes unlimited public transport plus discounted or included access to attractions and shopping
Passes are purchased at metro station ticket counters and are non-returnable; you may keep them as souvenirs.
Reusable cards and digital payment
The Shanghai Public Transportation Card is a physical reusable card costing 100 yuan (20 yuan deposit plus 80 yuan credit). It works on metro, buses, ferries, and some taxis, and can be purchased and reloaded at metro stations, bus stations, designated banks, and FamilyMart stores. The card offers a 1-yuan discount on your second journey within 2 hours if you use both bus and metro (or other combinations of these services); this discount is repeatable. Additionally, if your monthly spending on the card exceeds 70 yuan, you receive a 10% discount on the remainder of that calendar month's journeys. The card can be refunded at designated outlets, though a 5% service charge applies to refund balances exceeding 10 yuan. The China T-Union Card is an upgraded version usable in over 300 cities nationwide and follows the same purchase and refund process in Shanghai.
Digital payment is widely recommended and fastest. You can scan a QR code at turnstiles using WeChat Pay or Alipay, or use the Shanghai Metro Daduhui app (which can be linked to Mastercard or Diners Club). Alternative digital options include the Suishenxing/SH MaaS app and Suishenma Code/Shanghai City Transport Code (accessible via the 12306 platform), both supporting Alipay, WeChat, and other payment methods. You can also tap a contactless payment card at gates using UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, or e-CNY hardware wallets.
All fares and prices listed here are approximate and subject to change; refer to official sources for current rates.
From the airport
From Pudong International Airport
Pudong International Airport (40 km southeast of the city) is served directly by metro Line 2, which connects the airport to downtown areas including People's Square and Hongqiao Airport to the west. Service operates from 05:35 to 22:50; trains heading to and from Pudong have limited hours during some periods. A typical fare from Pudong Airport to central locations such as East Nanjing Road is approximately 7 yuan.
The Maglev train offers a faster but more expensive option. Single Maglev tickets are approximately 60 yuan (or 50 yuan with an airline ticket or Shanghai Public Transportation Card); it terminates at Longyang Road station in Pudong, where you can connect to metro Lines 2, 7, 16, and 18. Longyang Road is still some distance from the city centre, so you may need to take a connecting metro journey to reach your final destination.
From 2025, the new Airport Link Line will connect Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station in approximately 40 minutes. This line passes south of the city centre and is primarily useful if you are continuing onward via Hongqiao.
Six airport bus lines and shuttle buses to nearby cities (such as Suzhou and Hangzhou) also serve the airport. If you have heavy luggage, a taxi will cost approximately 200–500 yuan to downtown.
From Hongqiao Airport
Hongqiao Airport (west of downtown, much closer than Pudong) serves mainly domestic flights and some East Asian city shuttles. It has two terminals.
Terminal 2 is served directly by metro Line 2, which connects to People's Square and downtown and eventually to Pudong Airport. Line 10 also serves both terminals and offers an alternative route through central Shanghai. Trains operate from 05:35 to 22:50. A typical fare from Hongqiao Railway Station to East Nanjing Road is approximately 5 yuan. You can transfer between the two terminals using the free airport shuttle bus (allowing up to 45 minutes for waiting and travel), metro Line 10 (3 yuan ticket), or free shuttle included with some tickets.
After metro hours (22:50 to morning), a night bus (虹桥机场T2夜宵巴士) runs from Terminal 2 every 10–30 minutes to Jing'an Temple, People's Square, and Lujiazui, operating from 22:30 until 45 minutes after the last inbound flight arrives. The fare is 10 yuan (to Jing'an Temple or People's Square) or 16 yuan (to Lujiazui). Tickets are purchased inside the bus shortly before departure from Door 1 of the Arrivals level.
Several public bus lines connect Hongqiao Airport to downtown locations (such as No. 806 to Lupu Bridge, and No. 807 and No. 1207 serving the Shanghai Zoo area). A taxi to downtown can complete the 12 km journey in 20 minutes on good traffic days, but allow an extra 30 minutes for the taxi queue, especially if arriving after 19:00.
Etiquette & customs
Shanghai Metro passengers follow several local customs and etiquette norms:
- Queuing – Passengers queue at platform lines waiting for doors to open and board in an orderly fashion
- Standing on escalators – Stand on the right side of escalators to allow others to walk past on the left (or follow the direction observed by locals at each station, as custom may vary)
- Priority seating – Reserved seats for elderly passengers, pregnant women, and people with disabilities are clearly marked; vacate these seats if you are occupying one and such a passenger boards
- Eating and drinking – Food and drinks are not permitted on the metro; this rule is enforced
- Quiet behaviour – The metro is a quiet space; speak softly and avoid loud conversations or phone calls
- Rush hour – During peak hours (typically 7–9 am and 5–7 pm on weekdays), trains are extremely crowded; be prepared for tight conditions and allow extra time for boarding and alighting
Official links
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) – Metro/subway
- 车票 (chēpiào) – Ticket
- 线 (xiàn) – Line
- 入口 (rùkǒu) – Entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) – Exit
- 换乘 (huàn chéng) – Transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéng piào) – Single fare/single-journey ticket
- 一日票 (yī rì piào) – Day pass
Download a map of the Shanghai Metro before your trip or pick up a free printed map at either airport, as these resources will help you navigate the system confidently and identify which line and direction you need to travel.