The Shanghai Subway (Metro) is a modern, efficient, and cheap way to travel around Shanghai. Language is no barrier as you’ll find all the signage in Chinese and English along with many staff being able to speak English and happy to help.
Shanghai Subway (Metro) Map
click for larger image
Buying Tickets
For subway tickets you can simply purchase tickets via touchscreen ticket machines (Chinese and English) at the station, fares range from 2 to 9 RMB. The machines accept 1 RMB coins and notes 5, 10 and 20 RMB.
Rather than buying single journey tickets, visitors who wish to use the metro several times will find it more convenient to buy either a Single Day Pass, Three Day Pass, or Maglev & Metro Pass. You can buy these at any subway station.
One-Day Pass is available at all stations in Shanghai Subway. The fare for One-Day Pass is 18 RMB. The day ticket holder is entitled to unlimited transportation times in all metro lines (maglev lines excepted) during the operating time within 24 hours after swiping it at the entrance gate for the first time.
Three-Day Pass is available at all stations in Shanghai Subway. The fare for Three-Day Pass is 45 RMB. The three-day Pass holder is entitled to unlimited transportation times in all metro lines (maglev lines excepted) during the operating time within 72 hours after swiping it at the entrance gate for the first time.
Maglev & Metro Pass ticket holder is eligible for one way or round-trip tickets on the Shanghai Maglev and unlimited transportation on all metro lines within 24 hours after swiping the ticket at the entrance gate for the first time. 55 RMB/one-way ticket and 85 RMB/round-trip ticket.
The Metro Journey process
If you have never used a metro before it may seem intimidating, but don’t worry it’s fairly straightforward.
Step 1. Enter the metro station and look for the ticket booth or ticket vending machine.
Step 2. purchase a ticket and take note of which line you need to travel on, and in which direction.
Step 3. Choose the right entry for the line and direction you are going. For example, if you are at Peoples Square Station and wish to go to Pudong, you would need to take Line 2 in the direction of Pudong Airport which is the terminus station on the line.
Step 4. Swipe your ticket at the turnstile and enter the ticketed area and head to your trains platform based on line number and direction of travel.
Step 5. Board the train, and listen, or watch, for announcements of your stations. It pays to the know the station before your stop so that after that station you can move towards the doors and prepare to get off.
Step 6. Depart the train and use your ticket to depart through the turnstiles. Be careful to choose the right metro station exit for your destination which could save a lot of walking.
Useful APPS for navigating the Shanghai Subway (Metro)
As you surely know, Google services are mostly blocked in China, but if you have a VPN service you can use Google Maps to easily plan routes.
Google Maps – Play Store – iTunes
Alternatives to using Google include:
Explore Shanghai – Play Store – iTunes
Metro APP (official APP) – Android/Apple
Official Subway Website
At the Shanghai Subway website which has English service, you can find maps, journey planner, tour itinerary ideas, and station information including maps and accessibility info.
Visit: http://service.shmetro.com/en/
Shanghai Subway Lines and Stations
As a general rule most of the stations open at 6:30 am and close and 11:00 pm.
Line 1 Xinzhuang ↔ Fujin Rd | Color: Red
Xinzhuang – Waihuan Road – Lianhua Road – Jinjiang Park – Shanghai South Railway Station – Caobao Road – Shanghai Indoor Stadium – Xujiahui – Hengshan Road – Changshu Road – South Shaanxi Road – South Huangpi Road – People’s Square – Xinzha Road – Hanzhong Road – Shanghai Railway Station – North Zhongshan Road – Yanchang Road – Shanghai Circus World – Wenshui Road – Penpu Xincun – Gongkang Road – Tonghe Xincun – Hulan Road – Gongfu Xincun – Bao’an Highway – West Youyi Road – Fujin Road
Line 2 East Xujing ↔ Guanglan Rd. ↔ Pudong Airport | Color: Green
East Xujing – Hongqiao Railway Station – Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 – Songhong Road – Beixinjing – Weining Road – Loushanguan Road – Zhongshan Park – Jiangsu Road – Jing’an Temple – West Nanjing Road – People’s Square – East Nanjing Road – Lujiazui – Dongchang Road – Century Avenue – Shanghai Science and Technology Museum – Century Park – Longyang Road – Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park – Jinke Road – Guanglan Road – Tangzhen – Middle Chuangxin Road – East Huaxia Road – Chuansha – Lingkong Road – Yuandong Avenue – Haitiansan Road – Pudong International Airport
Line 3 South Railway Station ↔ North Jiangyang Rd | Color: Yellow
Shanghai South Railway Station – Shilong Road – Longcao Road – Caoxi Road – Yishan Road – Hongqiao Road – West Yan’an Road – Zhongshan Park – Jinshajiang Road – Caoyang Road – Zhenping Road – Zhongtan Road – Shanghai Railway Station – Baoshan Road – Dongbaoxing Road – Hongkou Football Stadium – Chifeng Road – Dabaishu – Jiangwan Town – West Yingao Road – South Changjiang Road – Songfa Road – Zhanghuabang – Songbin Road – Shuichan Road – Baoyang Road – Youyi Road – Tieli Road – North Jiangyang Road
Line 4 Yishan Rd. ↔ Century Avenue ↔ Shanghai Railway Station ↔ Zhongshan Park | Color: Dark Purple
Yishan Road – Hongqiao Road – West Yan’an Road – Zhongshan Park – Jinshajiang Road – Caoyang Road – Zhenping Road – Zhongtan Road – Shanghai Railway Station – Baoshan Road – Hailun Road – Linping Road – Dalian Road – Yangshupu Road – Pudong Avenue – Century Avenue – Pudian Road – Lancun Road – Tangqiao – Nanpu Bridge – South Xizang Road – Luban Road – Damuqiao Road – Dong’an Road – Shanghai Stadium – Shanghai Indoor Stadium – Yishan Road
Line 5 Xinzhuang ↔ Minhang Development Zone | Color: Light Purple
Xinzhuang – Chunshen Road – Yindu Road – Zhuanqiao – Beiqiao – Jianchuan Road – Dongchuan Road – Jinping Road – Huaning Road – Wenjing Road – Minhang Development Zone
Line 6 Gangcheng Rd. ↔ Oriental Sports Center | Color: Pinkish Red
Gangcheng Road – North Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone – Hangjin Road – South Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone – Zhouhai Road – Wuzhou Avenue – Dongjing Road – Jufeng Road – Wulian Road – Boxing Road – Jinqiao Road – Yunshan Road – Deping Road – Beiyangjing Road – Minsheng Road – Yuanshen Stadium – Century Avenue – Pudian Road – Lancun Road – Shanghai Children’s Medical Center – Linyi Xincun – West Gaoke Road – Dongming Road – Gaoqing Road – West Huaxia Road – Shangnan Road – South Lingyan Road – Oriental Sports Center
Line 7 Huamu Rd. ↔ Meilan Lake | Color: Orange
Huamu Road – Longyang Road – Fanghua Road – Jinxiu Road – South Yanggao Road – West Gaoke Road – Yuntai Road – Yaohua Road – Changqing Road – Houtan – Chuanchang Road – Dong’an Road – Zhaojiabang Road – Changshu Road – Jing’an Temple – Changping Road – Changshou Road – Zhenping Road – Langao Road – Xincun Road – Dahuasan Road – Xingzhi Road – Dachang Town – Changzhong Road – Shangda Road – Nanchen Road – Shanghai University – Gucun Park – Liuhang – Panguang Road – Luonan Xincun – Meilan Lake
Line 8 Shiguang Rd. ↔ Shendu Highway | Color: Steel Blue
Shiguang Road – Nenjiang Road – Xiangyin Road – Huangxing Park – Middle Yanji Road – Huangxing Road – Jiangpu Road – Anshan Xincun – Siping Road – Quyang Road – Hongkou Football Stadium – North Xizang Road – Zhongxing Road – Qufu Road – People’s Square – Dashijie – Laoximen – Lujiabang Road – South Xizang Road – Yaohua Road – Chengshan Road – Yangsi – Oriental Sports Center – Lingzhao Xincun – Luheng Road – Pujiang Town – Jiangyue Road – Lianhang Road – Aerospace Museum
Line 9 Caolu ↔ Songjiang South Railway Station | Color: Sky Blue
Songjiang Xincheng – Songjiang University Town – Dongjing – Sheshan – Sijing – Jiuting – Zhongchun Road – Qibao – Xingzhong Road – Hechuan Road – Caohejing Hi-Tech Park – Guilin Road – Yishan Road – Xujiahui – Zhaojiabang Road – Jiashan Road – Dapuqiao – Madang Road – Lujiabang Road – Xiaonanmen – Shangcheng Road – Century Avenue – Middle Yanggao Road
Line 10 Xinjiangwancheng ↔ Hangzhong Rd., Zoo ↔ Hongqiao Railway Station | Color: Light Purple
Xinjiangwancheng – East Yingao Road – Sanmen Road – Jiangwan Stadium – Wujiaochang – Guoquan Road – Tongji University – Siping Road – Youdian Xincun – Hailun Road – North Sichuan Road – Tiantong Road – East Nanjing Road – Yuyuan Garden – Laoximen – Xintiandi – South Shaanxi Road – Shanghai Library – Jiaotong University – Hongqiao Road – Songyuan Road – Yili Road – Shuicheng Road – Longxi Road – Longbai Xincun – Ziteng Road – Hangzhong Road
Line 11 Disneyland Park ↔ North Jiading/Huaqiao | Color: Dark Red
Jiangsu Road – Longde Road – Caoyang Road – Fengqiao Road – Zhenru – Shanghai West Railway Station – Liziyuan – Qilianshan Road – Wuwei Road – Taopu Xincun – Nanxiang – Malu – Jiading Xincheng – Baiyin Road – West Jiading – North Jiading – Shanghai Circuit – East Changji Road – Shanghai Automobile City – Anting
Line 12 Jinhai Rd. ↔ Qixin Rd | Color: Dark Green
Jinhai Rd. – Shenjiang Rd. – Jinjing Rd. – North Yanggao Rd. – Jufeng Rd. – Donglu Rd. – Fuxing Island – Aiguo Rd. – Longchang Rd. – Ningguo Rd. – Pujiang Park – Dalian Rd. – Tilanqiao – International Cruise Terminal – Tiantong Rd. – Qufu Rd. – Hanzhong Rd. – West Nanjing Rd. – South Shaanxi Rd. – Jiashan Rd. – Damuqiao Rd. – Middle Longhua Rd. – Longhua – Longcao Rd. – Caobao Rd. – Guilin Park – Hongcao Rd. – Hongmei Rd. – Donglan Rd. – Gudai Rd. – Hongxin Rd. – Qixin Rd.
Line 13 Jinyun Rd. ↔ Shibo Avenue | Color: Pink
Jinyun Rd. – West Jinshajiang Rd. – Fengzhuang – South Qilianshan Rd. – Zhenbei Rd. – Daduhe Rd. – Jinshajiang Rd. – Longde Rd. – Wuning Rd. – Changshou Rd. – Jiangning Rd. – Hanzhong Rd. – Natural History Museum – West Nanjing Rd. – Middle Huaihai Rd. – Xintiandi – Madang Rd. – World Expo Museum – Shibo Avenue
Line 16 Longyang Rd. ↔ Dishui Lake | Color: Aqua
Longyang Rd. – Huaxia Middle Rd. – Luoshan Rd. – East Zhoupu – Heshahangcheng – East Hangtou – Xinchang – Wild Animal Park – Huinan – Shuyuan – Lingang Avenue – Dishui Lake
Line 17 Hongqiao Railway Station – Oriental Land | Color: dark orange
Stations: Hongqiao Railway Station – Zhuguang Road – Panlong Road – Xuying Road – Xujingbeicheng – Middle Jiasong Road – Zhaoxiang – Huijin Road – Qingpu New City – Caoying Road – Dianshanhu Avenue – Zhujiajiao – Oriental Land
Pujiang Line: Shendu Highway – Huizhen Road | Color: gray
Stations: Shendu Highway – Sanlu Highway – Minrui Road – Puhang Road – Dongcheng 1st Road – Huizhen Road
Maglev
Longyang Road – Pudong International Airport
Travel Tips
Just one word of caution, many people from outside China can be overwhelmed by the volume of people which is particularly noticeable at peak times (morning and late afternoon work rush). It can take some adjusting to, so be prepared for it, or, avoid peak travel times.
Luggage – The items carried by the passengers shall not affect the travelling of others, and may not be more than 23 kg in weight, not more than 0.2 cubic meters in volume, or not more than 1.7 meters in length.