All about Shanghai Metro & Shanghai Subway: Maps, Lines, Stations, Hours, Tickets...

Shanghai Metro is also called Shanghai Subway, Shanghai MTR (Mass Transit Railway), Shanghai Tube or Shanghai Underground, which is a urban rail transport system serving different districts of Shanghai. In China, Shanghai is the third city opening metro and its first metro line started operation in 1993. So far, Shanghai’s running metro mileage reaches to 831 km, the top one in China and the longest city rapid transit system in the world.

How Many Metro Lines are there in Shanghai? At present, there are totally 20 metro lines working in Shanghai, including the Maglev Train. Each metro line is marked by different color. Most attractions and regions are well-linked by Shanghai Metro lines, thus, tourists and the local residents enjoy great convenience to transfer among major attractions and get around Shanghai. Air travelers can even try Shanghai Maglev Train with a max speed of 431 km/h between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Longyang Road.

Check our updated and most useful information of Shanghai Metro, including Shanghai Metro lines, maps, stations, operating hours, car & ticket, price ... to experience an efficient local transport during your Shanghai tour.

3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour (at Leisure Pace)

Itinerary: Shanghai
Highlights: The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai World Financial Center, Tianzifang

Shanghai Metro Map - Shanghai Subway System

Click to enlarge Shanghai Metro Map Updated in February, 2024

Detailed Shanghai Metro Lines and Stations

Here is a summary table of all 20 Shanghai Metro lines, schedules and nearby attractions. You can read on to find the suitable route to visit attractions and transfer from airport, railway station to downtown area.

Note:The charts above are updated in February, 2024 and for your reference only. The departing and closing times vary in weekdays and weekends. You can contact us to check detailed Shanghai Metro operating hours and stations, etc.

Get to Shanghai’s Major Attractions and Traffic Hubs by Metro

Shanghai Metro Card - Shanghai Metro Ticket Types, Fares & Use Tips

1.Shanghai Metro Ticket Types

Altogether, there are 7 types of Shanghai Metro tickets, and they are Shanghai Metro QR Code, Single Journey Ticket, One-Day Pass, Three-Day Pass, Commemorative Ticket, Maglev & Metro Pass and Public Transportation Card. (QR Code Ticket and Maglev & Metro Pass can take both Maglev Train and Shanghai Metro while other tickets can only used for the subway).

Single Journey Ticket: You can buy it according to your starting and terminal stations. It is valid only for single trip on the same day. The paper card will be recycled after exiting.

One-Day Pass: It can be used for taking multiple ride of different metro lines within the 24 hours after the first time you check in the station. (Price: 18 RMB.)

Three-Day Pass: The pass enables many times rides within the 72 hours after your first use. (Price: 45 RMB.)

Commemorative Ticket: It is usually released for special themes and events, only valid during appointed period.

Public Transportation Card: Normally used by the locals and people reside in Shanghai for taking city bus and metro.

Shanghai Metro QR Code: Download Shanghai Metro APP first, and then scan to enter and get out of the station. Payment is done online.

Maglev & Metro Pass: One-way Ticket allows single-trip Maglev Train and one-day metro transfers. Round-trip Ticket has round-trip Maglev Train rides and unlimited metro ride within 24 hours. (Fare: One-way Ticket: 55 RMB, Round-trip Ticket: 85 RMB.)

2.How Much is the Metro in Shanghai? Shanghai Metro Fares

Shanghai Metro establishes a multistage ticket price and charges by the mileage. It takes 3 RMB between 0 ~ 6 km, 4 RMB from over 6 to 16 km and costs 1 RMB for every exceeded 16 km.

3.How to Buy a Metro Card in Shanghai?

Three ways available: download the Shanghai Metro APP (download link: http://service.shmetro.com/en/dtapp/index.htm); buy the ticket from the automatic ticket machine or from the service center at the metro station.

Warm Tips to Take Shanghai Metro

1.Steps to take the metro: get into the station → buy the ticket → pass security check → check ticket & get into the gate → take the escalator → wait for the train → take the metro - get off → ticket check & exit → get out of the station.

2.One adult can take metro with two children (no more than 1.3 m) and the qualified children passengers enjoy free ride. Extra ticket is needed if there are more than 2 children or children above the height.

3.Take care of the child especially while passing the turnstiles.

4. Barrier-free facilities, hot water, toilets, etc. are available in most Shanghai Metro stations;

5. Items or luggage you take shall be within the limited weight of 23 kg, volume of 0.2 m³, and length of 1.7 m;

6. Flammable, Explosive, poisonous articles are prohibited to take on the metro.

7. Bicycles, animals (except guide dog and police dog), etc. are not allowed to take on the metro.

8. Smoking, drinking, eating, etc. are not allowed in the metro.

How to Plan a Shanghai Tour

Best known as an international popular tourist destination, Shanghai perfectly preserves mixed culture of the western and eastern. The duration and theme of your Shanghai tour can be flexibly arranged based on your time and interests. Usually, tourists spend 2 days on sightseeing the most famous landmarks, including the Bund, Yu Garden, skyscrapers like Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Wukang Road, Shanghai Museum, etc. With one extra day, you can enjoy family fun in Disneyland Park or visit Zhujiajiao Water Town in the suburb. Don't miss the Shanghai Maglev Train, wonderful nightlife and Shanghai Cuisine.

✔ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour
✔ 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour
✔ 3 Days Shanghai Highlights & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour

Travel Shanghai with Hangzhou Suzhou, More Nearby Destinations

Convenient transportation makes it quite efficient and popular to make day trips from Shanghai to Hangzhou, Suzhou, and longer vacation in Huangshan Mountain, Nanjing, Mount Jiuhua and other places in surrounding areas. So you can visit West Lake and learn Chinese tea culture in Hangzhou, marvel at tasteful classical gardens and witness Chinese silk productive process. Splendid rocky mountains with exotic pine trees are highlights in Huangshan Mountain.

✔ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour
✔ 6 Splendid East China Tour by Bullet Train
✔ 5 Days Shanghai Huangshan Tour by High Speed Train

Travel Shanghai with Beijing, Xian & More China Destinations

Beijing Xian Shanghai are golden triangle cities often visited together for a week holiday. You can use 3 days to visit the Great Wall and major iconic spots like Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and leave 2 days for fulfilling your Terracotta Warriors tour in Xian. With more time, you can extend the trip from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Chengdu, Yunnan, Silk Road, Tibet and more phenomenal destinations to enrich your China discovery. (more top China tours from Shanghai >>)

✔ 6 Days Beijing Shanghai Tour by High Speed Train
✔ 8 Days Best of China Tour (Beijing/Xian/Shanghai)
✔ 7 Days Shanghai Suzhou Beijing Contrast Tour by High Speed Train

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Travel with China Discovery

As a leading travel agency in China which dedicates to offering high-quality China tours, China Discovery has helped thousands of travelers enjoy their trips to Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, etc., in China. Travel with us, you can enjoy worry-free tour services as well as well-organized itineraries, even our assistance of Chinese Visa application, convenient airport/train station pick-up & drop-off and transfer between all scenic spots, knowledgeable tour guide, safe & licensed private vehicle, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on. You are free to choose from our most popular Shanghai tour packages or contact us to design a memorable holiday in Shanghai, China.