Overview
The Changsha Metro (officially 长沙轨道交通; chángshā guǐdào jiāotōng, usually called 长沙地铁; chángshā dìtiě) is the rapid transit system serving Changsha and Xiangtan in Hunan province. It opened on 29 April 2014 with Line 2, making Changsha the 18th city in mainland China to open a rapid transit system. As of mid-2024 the network runs six metro lines plus a maglev line, with Line 7 under construction and a planned opening in 2027.
Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Station entrances are marked with blue "地铁" signs and numbered entrances such as "Entrance 1/2". Display boards above the stairs show the train destination and the next arrival, typically in 2–5 minutes. On board, next-station screens and announcements are given in English as well as Chinese, and in-train maps use blinking indicators for the upcoming stop. Exit signs are marked "Exit", and maps near the exits show nearby attractions. Signage throughout — entrances, exits, ticket machines and onboard displays — is bilingual, so you can navigate without reading Chinese.
Trains run from 06:30 to 23:00 daily, with schedules varying slightly by line and station; Line 6 is timed to match late airport flights. Hours may be extended or temporarily suspended on major holidays and events. Most major sights are reachable within about 30 minutes by metro. Peak hours are roughly 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00.
The network
The urban rail network combines metro lines, a maglev line, an intercity railway, buses and ferries. Individual lines are colour-coded on system maps.
- Line 1 (red) — north–south. Opened 28 June 2016; a 9.9 km extension opened in 2024, giving a total length of 33.43 km with 25 stations (3 elevated, 22 underground). It serves Kaifu Temple, Huangxing Square, Wuyi Square and the Provincial Museum. A North Extension Phase I opened on 28 June 2024, adding 9.88 km and 5 stations along Furong North Road.
- Line 2 (light blue) — east–west. Opened 29 April 2014 and extended in December 2015; 26.6 km with 23 stations, entirely underground. It links the West Bus Station (Wangchengpo), Changsha Railway Station and Changsha South Railway Station, and has a stop at Juzizhou (Orange Island).
- Line 3 (yellow-green) — southwest to northeast. Opened 28 June 2020; 53.69 km with 33 stations, running between Xiangtan North railway station and Guangsheng. A southern extension opened on 28 June 2023. It connects with the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Railway West Ring Line, cutting the Changsha–Xiangtan commute to about 20 minutes.
- Line 4 (purple) — northwest to southeast. Opened 26 May 2019; 33.5 km with 25 stations, running between Guanziling and Dujiaping. It connects Yuelu Mountain, the Han Dynasty Tomb Relics Park and several universities.
- Line 5 (yellow) — north–south trunk in the eastern urban area. Opened 28 June 2020; 22.5 km with 18 stations, between Maozhutang and Shuiduhe. It serves Juzizhou, Mawangdui, Wanjiali Square and Torch Village.
- Line 6 (dark blue) — east–west, and the first line to serve the airport. Opened 28 June 2022; at 48.1 km with 34 stations it is the longest line, running between Xiejiaqiao and Huanghua Airport T1 and T2. It also serves Martyrs' Park, the Longping Rice Museum and Lugu Park.
- Changsha Maglev — a medium-low speed maglev line opened 6 May 2016, running from Changsha South Railway Station via Langli Station to Huanghua International Airport. It is about 18.5 km long, takes roughly 19.5 minutes end to end, reaches a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and runs every 11 minutes 40 seconds.
- Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Railway — connects Changsha with the nearby cities of Zhuzhou and Xiangtan; its West Ring project creates a seamless transfer with Metro Line 3.
- City buses — serve the city and suburbs with ordinary and air-conditioned vehicles. Useful routes include No. 108 (Railway Station–Laodong Square), No. 110 (Railway Station–Hunan Agricultural University via Mawangdui), No. 113 (Railway Station–163 Hospital via Martyr Park, Hunan Provincial Museum and the Zoo) and No. 114 (Railway Station–Huanghua Airport).
- Tourist buses — three routes. No. 1 runs east–west between the Main Railway Station, Wuyi Square, Hunan Normal University, Mount Yuelu Scenic Area and Kejiao Xincun; No. 2 runs north–south between Lijun Community, Wuyi Square, Jiayi Former Residence, Juzi Zhou Bridge, the Ferry Terminal, Kaifu Temple and Hua Xia; No. 3 is a circle route linking the Railway Station, Tianxin Pavilion, the Museum of Bamboo and Wooden Slips and Martyr Park (South Gate).
- Ferries — a ferry terminal appears on the tourist bus No. 2 route, and a Xiangjiang River cruise can be reached from Xiangjiang Middle Road station on Line 2.
Tickets & fares
Fares are distance-based. The starting fare is ¥2 for up to 6 km inclusive; beyond 6 km the unit price decreases as distance increases. As a guide, journeys of 6–16 km cost around ¥3–4, 16–26 km around ¥5–6, and 26 km or more around ¥7–8 — a trip from Wuyi Square to Huanghua Airport on Line 6 is roughly ¥8. All prices are approximate and subject to change.
You have several ways to pay:
- QR code — the system supports Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, the Changsha Metro app and several other apps. You scan a QR code when entering the fare gate at your origin station and again when exiting at your destination, and the fare is deducted automatically. In Alipay, go to "Transport", search "Changsha Metro", link a bank card and generate the QR code.
- Transport card — China T-union (TU) cards are accepted; swipe on the fare gate at entry and again at exit. The Xiaoxiang Card (潇湘一卡通) integrates bus, metro and maglev payment and works in 330+ cities in China. It comes in real-name and non-real-name versions, and non-real-name cards are available to foreigners. It gives a 10% discount on metro and maglev and 30% off Changsha buses, and is worth getting for stays over two days. It is available as a physical card or digitally via NFC in Alipay, WeChat or smartphone wallets.
- Single-trip ticket — buy one from the ticket machines in metro stations using cash (¥1, 5, 10 and 20 notes) or Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay. The machines have an English interface; select your destination and number of tickets, take the plastic ticket and scan it at the gate.
Useful apps include "Changsha Metro (长沙地铁)", which has an English option and shows last-train times, "XiangxingYikatong (湘行一卡通)" and "My Changsha (我的长沙)".
Free rides are available through green channels beside the gate machines or service centres at every station, on presentation of valid ID, for: seniors aged 65 and over; children under 14 (student card swipe, or green channel with age proof such as ID, household register or birth certificate); disabled persons; disabled military personnel; active-service military; veterans; fire-rescue personnel; families of martyrs, of military personnel who died on duty, and of those who died of disease; holders of the Changsha "Talent Green Card" and its supplement; and "Changsha Master Craftsman" designees.
From the airport
Huanghua International Airport (CSX, 长沙黄花国际机场) is the major airport for visitors to Changsha. Several public-transport options connect it to the city:
- Metro Line 6 — the first metro line to serve the airport, running directly between Huanghua Airport T1 and T2 and the downtown. The journey takes roughly one hour and costs about ¥8. Allow two hours before your flight for the return trip.
- Maglev — the medium-low speed maglev connects the airport with Changsha South Railway Station via Langli Station. The single journey takes under 20 minutes (about 19.5 minutes), trains run every 11 minutes 40 seconds, and the fare is CNY 10–20 based on metered distance. From Changsha South Railway Station you can continue into the city centre by subway.
- Airport buses — operate from 06:00 to 22:00 between the airport and downtown Changsha and cost ¥16.5. They arrive at and leave from the CAAC Aviation Hotel on Wuyi Dadao (五一大道), a block west of the central train station. Shuttle buses also run to the South Railway Station and the South Bus Station.
- Taxi — taxis wait outside the arrivals area. A drive on the expressway to the city centre takes about 45 minutes.
Etiquette & customs
Changsha's metro is busy and orderly, and a few local habits will help you fit in:
- Queuing — queue at the platform and let passengers off before boarding. Expect to be "sandwiched between locals" on crowded buses and trains, especially at peak times.
- Escalators — stand on one side and leave the other side clear for people walking past.
- Priority and quiet seating — give up priority seats to the elderly, children, pregnant passengers and those with disabilities. Keep noise down and avoid loud phone calls.
- Eating and drinking — avoid eating or drinking on trains; it is not the custom and can be messy on a crowded carriage.
- Rush hour — peak hours are roughly 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00. Travel outside these windows if you can, and keep bags close to your body in packed carriages.
- Security — stations have CCTV and staff, and luggage is permitted, though bulky items may face extra security checks.
Accessibility is improving: Line 5 is being developed as an "all-age-friendly" demonstration line, and stations with pink signage are all-age-friendly. These stations offer barrier-free intelligent service machines with braille buttons and accessible maps beside the entrance lifts, service counters at standard and lowered heights, courtesy waiting rooms, wheelchair ramps, and mother-and-baby rooms with wet tissues and warm water. An escort service is available — call 0731-86850000 or book via the "Changsha Metro" app, and staff will assist you from the entrance through boarding and hand you over at your destination. Walk-in assistance is also available.
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-trip ticket
- 一日票 (yīrìpiào) — day pass
Before you travel, download the "Changsha Metro" app or set up the Alipay metro QR code so you can scan straight through the fare gates without queueing at a ticket machine.