Public transportation in Shanghai has taken a family-friendly approach by providing free or discounted rides for children. This guide covers bus, metro, train, airplane, coach, and ferry services.

Bus

Each adult passenger is allowed to bring up to two children under 1.3 meters in height for free. For any additional children, a full ticket is required. Preschool children unaccompanied by an adult are not permitted to board.

Metro

Each adult passenger may bring a maximum of two children under 1.3 meters in height onto the metro for free. Any additional child under 1.3 meters requires a full-price ticket.

Train

Each passenger can bring one child under 6 years old onto the train for free, provided that the child does not occupy a separate seat.

If a separate seat is required, child discount ticket must be purchased. Age is calculated based on the travel date.

For more than one child under 6, each additional child requires a child discount ticket, priced at half the full fare.

Children aged 6 up to the day they turn 14 qualify for half-price tickets; passengers aged 14 and above pay full adult fares.

For free-fare children, passengers must declare this to the railway operator at the time of booking and present the child's valid identification document used during the ticket purchase when boarding.

Airplane

Fares for children vary by airline. Below are examples:

China Eastern Airlines

Children aged 2 to 12: Child ticket at half the adult fare for the corresponding cabin class, with a separate seat.

Infants aged 14 days to 2 years: Infant ticket at 10 percent of the adult fare, without a separate seat. If a seat is required, a child ticket must be purchased.

More than two infants: Child ticket required for each additional infant, with a seat provided.

Note: The above rules apply to domestic flights only. For international flights, please call the China Eastern Airlines service hotline for more information.

Air China

Children aged 2 to 12 on the travel date: child ticket at half the accompanying adult's fare, with a separate seat.

Infants under 2: 10 percent of the accompanying adult's fare, without a separate seat. If a seat is required, a child ticket must be purchased.

Coach

Each passenger is allowed to bring one child under 6 years old or under 1.2 meters in height for free, provided the child does not occupy a separate seat.

If a separate seat is required, or if there is more than one child, the additional child is charged at half the standard fare, with a seat provided.

Children aged 6 to 14 or between 1.2 and 1.5 meters tall qualify for a half-price ticket and a seat.

Ferry

Each adult passenger may bring up to two children under 6 years old or less than 1.3 meters in height for free. For groups of children 1.3 meters and under crossing the river, one standard fare is charged for every three children collectively. 

Preschool children unaccompanied by an adult are not permitted to board.

Updated Aug 10, 2026

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport, Ministry of Transport, 12306 China Railway, Shanghai Metro, China Eastern Airlines, Air China