Journey To ChinaLast updated
Build the route from four details
Shanghai Metro reaches both airports, the main railway stations and most areas visitors use. Start with four details: origin, destination, interchange and exit. In a large station, the walk to another platform or the right side of the street can take longer than expected.
The map provides network orientation. Shanghai Metro's current passenger information confirms lines and services operating on the travel date.
Paying and entering
For most visitors, the quickest routine is a Shanghai transit QR code already set up in Alipay or WeChat. Open the transport section, select Shanghai Metro, complete any required identity or payment setup and scan the dedicated gate reader. Use the same account to enter and exit.
For a first ride without a configured wallet, buy a single-journey ticket from a machine or service centre. Select the destination station, pay with one of the methods shown, keep the ticket through the journey and insert it at the exit gate. Station staff can assist with the English interface and route confirmation.
Supported contactless international bank cards, Shanghai Public Transportation Cards, Metro Daduhui and SH MaaS offer additional choices. A physical bank card and its phone-wallet version can be treated as different payment media, so one card or device should complete both taps. The service centre can resolve a failed gate or incomplete fare record.
Interchanges, security and exits
Metro entrances normally include a security check. Interchanges such as People's Square (人民广场), Century Avenue (世纪大道), Longyang Road (龙阳路), South Shaanxi Road (陕西南路), Xujiahui (徐家汇) and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station can involve a long walk. A small interchange symbol on the map can represent several corridors, stairs and escalators.
Before arriving, check the exit number and the road, shopping centre or landmark beside it. Stations for the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road, Jing'an Temple and Lujiazui have exits facing several different streets. Lifts and accessible paths can provide a more comfortable route with luggage.
Useful lines and hubs
- Line 2: Pudong Airport, Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road, People's Square, Jing'an Temple, Hongqiao Airport T2 and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
- Line 10: Hongqiao Airport T1 and T2, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, Xintiandi and Yuyuan Garden.
- Line 1: Shanghai Railway Station, People's Square, Xujiahui and Shanghai South Railway Station.
- Line 4: a central loop with Shanghai Railway Station and Century Avenue among its interchanges.
- Line 9: Songjiang, Xujiahui, Dapuqiao and parts of Pudong, with a connection to Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station.
- Line 11: Shanghai Disney Resort, western Xujiahui and northwestern Shanghai.
- Airport Link Line: Hongqiao Airport T2, Pudong Airport and suburban interchange stations, operating as a separate suburban railway.
When catching a flight or train
For a flight or train, include the walk to the station, metro security, interchanges and the distance inside the airport or railway terminal. Current first and last train times are especially useful for early departures, late arrivals and holiday journeys.
