Shanghai Metro is the backbone: 21 lines and more than 900 km (city figure), with the Maglev and the newer suburban lines such as the Airport Link Line on separate fares. Line 2 is the key east-west line for visitors: Hongqiao Railway Station and Hongqiao Airport T2 - Jing'an Temple - People's Square - East Nanjing Road (the Bund) - Lujiazui - Longyang Road (Maglev) - Pudong Airport. Line 10 runs from Hongqiao Airport through the former French Concession (Shanghai Library, South Shaanxi Road, Xintiandi) to Laoximen, Yuyuan Garden and East Nanjing Road; Line 1 runs under Huaihai Road to Xujiahui; Line 11 goes to Xujiahui, the West Bund (Longhua, Yunjin Road) and Disneyland; Line 17 goes from Hongqiao to Zhujiajiao; Line 9 to Qibao. Buses fill the gaps, Huangpu River ferries cross between the Bund and Lujiazui for CNY 2, and taxis are cheap by international standards and mostly booked through apps. Every metro station has airport-style security screening of bags.
Paying: Tap a foreign contactless bank card at the gate (Tap to Ride), or use a transport QR code (Metro Daduhui app, Alipay or WeChat), or the Shanghai Public Transportation Card
How to buy
Tap to Ride: eligible contactless UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards (and phone wallets meeting the financial IC card standard) can be tapped directly on metro gates; Shanghai Metro extended this from the Maglev to the whole network, suburban lines included, on 28 June 2025. Small-amount password-free (contactless) payment must be enabled on the card and it needs enough balance or credit: the gate places a pre-authorisation at entry, and if it fails you must settle at the station service centre to exit. Type-B chips and cards without ODA are not supported. QR codes: the Shanghai Metro Daduhui app (by Shanghai Shentong Metro Group) and the Shanghai Metro service inside Alipay or WeChat give a QR code scanned at entry and exit (ride first, pay after); Mastercard and Diners Club holders can use the International Cards option in Daduhui's WeChat Pay channel. The Suishenxing (SH MaaS) app gives one code for metro, buses and ferries and also takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club and JCB. Single tickets: ticket machines, or the card terminal at the service centre of every station (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, JCB and UnionPay). A single ticket is valid on the day of purchase only. Shanghai Public Transportation Card: stored-value card, also loadable on a phone or watch; SmartShanghai reports it can be added to Apple Wallet with Express Transit. One-day pass CNY 18 and three-day pass CNY 45 at station ticket booths (not valid on the Maglev or suburban lines opened in or after 2024).
Fares
From the city government's transport pages (2025): metro fares are distance-based, CNY 3 for up to 6 km plus CNY 1 per further 10 km, calculated on the shortest route. Suburban lines opened in or after 2024 have their own fares: the Airport Link Line starts at CNY 4 and costs CNY 26 end to end. Line 2 from Pudong Airport to People's Square costs about CNY 7. Passes: one-day CNY 18 (24 hours from first entry), three-day CNY 45 (72 hours); Maglev and Metro Pass CNY 55 (one-day metro pass + single Maglev ride) or CNY 85 (+ return Maglev ride). Discounts with the same transport card or QR code: CNY 1 off a metro entry within 120 minutes of a bus ride, and 10 percent off once you have spent more than CNY 70 on the metro in a calendar month. Regular downtown buses CNY 2. Huangpu River ferry CNY 2 per pedestrian. Shanghai Pass (a prepaid multipurpose card for metro, buses, taxis and ferries) and a three-day Shanghai Pass ticket for travellers on the 240-hour visa-free transit (unlimited public transport for three days plus selected attractions) are also sold.
Lines and services
- MetroShanghai Metro (21 lines)
More than 900 km across 21 lines (city government figure); China Daily (June 2025) gave 517 stations and said the metro carries over 77 percent of Shanghai's public transport trips. Almost all stations have platform screen doors, every station has lifts, and bags are X-rayed at every entrance (Wikipedia). Fares from CNY 3. Changes between some lines with the same station name involve long walks (for example the Line 2, 12 and 13 platforms at West Nanjing Road are separate stations a few minutes apart). Check first and last trains for your station in the Metro Daduhui app: they vary by line and station.
- MetroLine 2 (green): Hongqiao - People's Square - the Bund - Lujiazui - Pudong Airport
Stations in order for visitors: Hongqiao Railway Station - Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 - ... - Jiangsu Road (Line 11) - Jing'an Temple (Lines 7, 14) - West Nanjing Road - People's Square (Lines 1, 8) - East Nanjing Road (Line 10, walk to the Bund) - Lujiazui (Line 14) - Century Avenue (Lines 4, 6, 9) - Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (for the Shanghai Museum East) - Longyang Road (Maglev, Lines 7, 16, 18) - ... - Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2. Pudong Airport to People's Square takes about one hour.
- MetroLine 10 (lilac): Hongqiao Airport - former French Concession - Yuyuan Garden - East Nanjing Road
Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 - Hongqiao Road - Shanghai Library - South Shaanxi Road (Lines 1, 12) - Xintiandi (Line 13) - Laoximen (Line 8) - Yuyuan Garden (Line 14) - East Nanjing Road (Line 2) and on north to Hongkou and Yangpu. The most useful line for the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession and the Old City.
- MetroLine 1 (red), Line 9 (light blue), Line 11 (maroon), Line 14 and Line 17
Line 1: Shanghai Railway Station - People's Square - South Shaanxi Road - Changshu Road - Hengshan Road - Xujiahui, under Huaihai Road. Line 9: Xujiahui - Xiaonanmen (Old City) - Century Avenue in one direction, Qibao and Songjiang in the other. Line 11: Jiangsu Road - Xujiahui - Longhua - Yunjin Road and Longyao Road (West Bund) - Disney Resort (terminus). Line 14: Jing'an Temple - Yuyuan Garden - Lujiazui, a direct link between the Old City and Pudong. Line 17: Hongqiao Railway Station - National Exhibition and Convention Center - Zhujiajiao - Oriental Land.
- TrainAirport Link Line (suburban railway, opened 27 Dec 2024)
About 59 km, seven stations: Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 (Lines 2, 10, 17) - Zhongchun Road (Line 9) - Jinghong Road (Line 15) - South Sanlin - East Kangqiao - Shanghai International Resort - Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 (Line 2, Maglev). Trains run at around 160 km/h and link the two airports in about 40 minutes. Fare CNY 4 to CNY 26 end to end; pays with the usual transport cards and QR codes and at ticket machines. Four-car and eight-car trains alternate: check the platform-door markings. Luggage racks on board. SmartShanghai notes the Shanghai International Resort stop is not a convenient way to Disneyland (bus plus about 1 km walk).
- TrainShanghai Maglev (Longyang Road - Pudong Airport)
The world's first commercial high-speed maglev: 30 km in about 8 minutes at up to 300 km/h (capped since May 2021). Single ticket CNY 50 economy, CNY 100 VIP, valid on the day of purchase; return CNY 80 economy, CNY 160 VIP, valid 7 days; 20 percent off one single ticket with a same-day air ticket; CNY 40 with a Shanghai Public Transportation Card. Also payable with the Metro Daduhui and Suishenxing QR codes and UnionPay cards; foreign contactless cards were piloted at the Maglev gates before the 2025 metro-wide rollout. Children up to 1.3 m ride free with an adult. At Longyang Road change to Lines 2, 7, 16 or 18.
- BusCity buses
Regular downtown routes cost CNY 2; downtown special routes start at CNY 2 and rise in CNY 1 steps; suburban routes start at CNY 1. Pay with the Shanghai Public Transportation Card or a transport QR code (Alipay, WeChat, Suishenxing); Wikivoyage notes that foreign bank cards are not accepted on buses. A metro ride within 120 minutes of a bus ride on the same card or code is CNY 1 cheaper.
- FerryHuangpu River ferries
Commuter ferries cross the Huangpu between Puxi and Pudong. For the Bund use East Jinling Road pier (the most convenient for visitors), East Fuxing Road or Gongping Road. CNY 2 per pedestrian, CNY 2.8 with a bicycle or e-bike. Wikivoyage says boats from East Jinling Road to the Lujiazui side run about every 10 minutes and take just over 5 minutes: the cheapest skyline view on the river.
- TaxiTaxis (Dazhong, Qiangsheng and others)
Downtown tariff (Shanghai Development and Reform Commission via the city government, Sep 2025): start CNY 16 for the first 3 km in electric vehicles (CNY 14 in standard cars), then CNY 2.7 per km; 50 percent more per km beyond 15 km; 30 percent night surcharge on the whole fare for trips starting between 23:00 and 05:00; low-speed waiting charged as 1.5 km of distance fare per 4 minutes; holiday surcharge CNY 10 per trip at Spring Festival and CNY 5 at National Day and Labour Day. Taxis in the suburban districts (Pudong, Minhang, Qingpu and others) have district-set fares. All taxis take cash and the Shanghai Public Transportation Card; 2,000 Dazhong cabs take UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB and American Express cards. Qiangsheng has an English booking hotline, 62580. Drivers may not stop within 50 m of an intersection, so hail away from corners. Ask for the receipt: it shows the cab number, distance and waiting time.
- Ride-hailingDiDi and other ride-hailing apps
Most people book rides on apps: DiDi, Xiangdao and Gaode (Amap) are the main platforms. DiDi works in English inside the English version of Alipay (as a mini program), where it lists options such as taxi or express; it charges the card or balance linked to Alipay. Have the destination in Chinese characters ready, as many drivers speak no English.
- BikeShared bikes (Hellobike, Meituan, Qingju)
Dockless shared bikes from Hellobike, Meituan and Qingju are everywhere; unlock by scanning the QR code on the bike from the operator's app or mini program (Alipay lists shared bicycles under its Transport services). Wikivoyage says a ride costs about CNY 1-2 and setup can require a deposit. Many downtown streets have bike lanes; park in the marked bays.
Common trips
Pudong Airport (PVG)People's Square60 min
Metro Line 2 direct from Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 station (about CNY 7)
- Maglev to Longyang Road (8 min, CNY 50), then Line 2 seven stops to People's Square
- Taxi from the official rank, about CNY 180
Pudong Airport (PVG)Lujiazui / the Bund35 min
Maglev to Longyang Road, then Line 2 five stops to Lujiazui or six to East Nanjing Road
- Metro Line 2 direct, no change (cheaper, slower)
Pudong Airport (PVG)Hongqiao Airport / Hongqiao Railway Station45 min
Airport Link Line to Hongqiao Airport T2 (CNY 26), then Line 2 or 10 one stop, or walk 10-15 minutes indoors, to Hongqiao Railway Station
- Metro Line 2 end to end (about two hours, per Wikivoyage)
Hongqiao Railway StationPeople's Square30 min
Metro Line 2 east, 10 stops
- Line 10 from Hongqiao Railway Station to East Nanjing Road (Bund) or Yuyuan Garden
Hongqiao Airport T2Xintiandi / former French Concession30 min
Metro Line 10: Shanghai Library, South Shaanxi Road, Xintiandi
- Taxi, CNY 100-150 to the centre
People's SquareLujiazui6 min
Metro Line 2 east, 2 stops
- Walk Nanjing Road East to the Bund, then the Jinling Road ferry (CNY 2)
The BundLujiazui15 min
Huangpu ferry from East Jinling Road pier, CNY 2, just over 5 minutes on the water
- Metro Line 2, East Nanjing Road to Lujiazui, 1 stop
The Bund (East Nanjing Road)Yu Garden5 min
Metro Line 10, East Nanjing Road to Yuyuan Garden, 1 stop
- Walk south along the Bund and into the Old City
- Taxi
People's SquareFormer French Concession (South Shaanxi Road, Hengshan Road)10 min
Metro Line 1 towards Xinzhuang: South Shaanxi Road 2 stops, Changshu Road 3, Hengshan Road 4
- Line 10 from East Nanjing Road or Yuyuan Garden to Shanghai Library (for Wukang Road)
Jing'an TempleYu Garden9 min
Metro Line 14, 3 stops to Yuyuan Garden
- Line 2 to East Nanjing Road, then Line 10 one stop
Yu GardenLujiazui4 min
Metro Line 14, Yuyuan Garden to Lujiazui, 1 stop under the river
- Walk to the Bund and take the East Jinling Road ferry (CNY 2)
Jing'an TempleFormer French Concession (Changshu Road)3 min
Metro Line 7, 1 stop to Changshu Road
- Taxi
XujiahuiWest Bund (Longhua, Yunjin Road)8 min
Metro Line 11 towards Disney Resort: Longhua 2 stops, Yunjin Road 3
- Taxi along the river
People's SquareWest Bund25 min
Metro Line 1 to Xujiahui (5 stops), then Line 11 to Yunjin Road (3 stops)
- Line 12 from South Shaanxi Road to Longhua
People's SquareShanghai Disneyland50 min
Line 2 east to Longyang Road (7 stops), Line 16 to Luoshan Road (2 stops), Line 11 to Disney Resort (3 stops)
- Line 2 west to Jiangsu Road, then Line 11 all the way to Disney Resort (16 stops, no further change)
- Taxi
Hongqiao Railway StationZhujiajiao water town35 min
Metro Line 17 from Hongqiao Railway Station to Zhujiajiao, 11 stops
- From downtown, Line 2 or 10 to Hongqiao Railway Station first, then Line 17
People's SquareQibao old town35 min
Line 1 to Xujiahui (5 stops), then Line 9 towards Songjiang to Qibao (6 stops)
- Line 9 direct from Xiaonanmen (Old City) to Qibao, 12 stops
People's SquareShanghai Museum East (Pudong)15 min
Metro Line 2 east to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Exit 8
- Line 4 to Xiangcheng Road (Exit 2) or Line 6 to Pudian Road (Exit 1)
To and from the airport
PVG (Shanghai Pudong International Airport)
- Train · 8 minMaglev single CNY 50 economy (CNY 40 with a same-day air ticket discount or Shanghai Public Transportation Card), return CNY 80; Maglev and Metro Pass CNY 55 / CNY 85.
Maglev to Longyang Road (8 minutes), then Line 2 to Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road or People's Square (Line 7 for Jing'an Temple). Runs 07:02-21:42 from the airport station.
- Metro · 60 minAbout CNY 7 to People's Square; tap a foreign contactless card at the gate or use a QR code.
Line 2 from Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 station runs straight through Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People's Square to Jing'an Temple and Hongqiao. Regular last train 22:30; in summer 2025 extra late trains ran on Fridays and Sundays.
- Train · 40 minCNY 26 end to end
Airport Link Line to Hongqiao Airport T2, for Hongqiao Railway Station (high-speed trains) or Hongqiao flights.
- Taxi · 50 minAbout CNY 180 to People's Square (city government guide, 2023); Pudong taxis use district-set fares.
Only use the official taxi rank: Terminal 1 outside Arrival Gate 12, Terminal 2 outside Arrival Gate 25. Ignore drivers who approach you inside the hall; FCDO advises against unmarked or unmetered cars.
SHA (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport)
- Metro · 30 minDistance-based metro fare from CNY 3
Terminal 2 has Lines 2 and 10 (and the Airport Link Line); Terminal 1 has Line 10. Line 2 runs to Jing'an Temple, People's Square and East Nanjing Road; Line 10 to the former French Concession, Xintiandi and Yuyuan Garden. Hongqiao Railway Station is one stop from T2.
- Taxi · 30 minCNY 100-150 to the city centre depending on traffic (city government guide, 2023)
Official ranks outside Gate 1 on the T1 arrivals floor and Gate 4 on the T2 arrivals floor. The airport is about 13 km from the centre.
- Train · 40 minCNY 26
Airport Link Line from T2 to Pudong Airport.
Good to know
- Enable contactless (small-amount password-free) payment on your card before you travel and you can tap it straight on any metro gate; the gate holds a pre-authorisation, so the card needs available credit.
- Buses do not take foreign bank cards: set up the Shanghai transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat, or the Suishenxing app, which also covers ferries.
- Bags go through an X-ray machine at every metro entrance; allow an extra minute or two at rush hour.
- For the Bund-to-Lujiazui crossing, the CNY 2 ferry from East Jinling Road pier beats the metro for views.
- Line 2 is the airport line at both ends, but the Maglev plus Line 2 saves time from Pudong. The Maglev stops at about 21:40, the regular Line 2 last train from Pudong leaves at 22:30.
- Take taxis only from the marked ranks at airports and stations, insist on the meter and ask for the receipt with the cab number (FCDO).
- Have every destination written in Chinese characters: many taxi drivers speak no English (Wikivoyage).
- Taxis cannot stop within 50 m of an intersection: walk a little way from the corner before you hail.
- The one-day (CNY 18) and three-day (CNY 45) metro passes do not cover the Maglev or the Airport Link Line; the Maglev and Metro Pass (CNY 55 / 85) does cover the Maglev.
- At stations where several lines share a name (West Nanjing Road for Lines 2, 12 and 13) the change is a long walk or even outside the gates.
Useful apps
- Amap / Gaode Ditu (高德地图): the main local map and route app, with metro, bus and taxi options and fares; has an English version (Wikivoyage). Gaode also runs ride-hailing.
- Apple Maps: works in mainland China and uses Amap's data (Wikivoyage). Google Maps does not work in China and Google services are blocked (FCDO).
- Shanghai Metro Daduhui (Metro大都会): Shanghai Metro's QR-code ticket app; pays via Alipay, WeChat Pay or, for Mastercard and Diners Club, an International Cards channel.
- Suishenxing (SH MaaS, 随申行): one QR code for metro, buses and ferries; sells 1-, 3- and 7-day passes; links Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club and JCB cards; English version.
- Alipay: link a foreign card, pay by QR code, use the Shanghai transport code, book DiDi in English and find shared bikes under Transport.
- WeChat (Weixin Pay): messaging used by everyone, payment with linked foreign cards, transport code mini program (search 乘车码).
- DiDi: ride-hailing, usable in English as a mini program inside Alipay.
- Trip.com: international booking app; the Shanghai Museum on People's Square tells overseas visitors to book through it.
- NIA 12367: the immigration app, also used for the online arrival card.