Explore Shanghai's public transport system
Shanghai is renowned for its robust and diverse transportation network that caters to millions of commuters every day.
Whether navigating the bustling streets of the city by bus, hopping on the ultra-fast Maglev train, or cruising along the Huangpu River by ferry, Shanghai's transportation system offers an efficient, sustainable, and increasingly smart way to get around.
Metro
Shanghai Metro is the backbone of the city's public transport system, connecting all major districts with over 800 kilometers of track across 20 lines.
Serving millions of passengers daily, the metro is not only efficient but also affordable, offering a fast way to traverse the city, from its downtown areas to suburban areas.
There are two types of rail transit: downtown metro lines and suburban railway lines.
For downtown metro lines, ticket fares are distance-based and start at 3 yuan (about 40 cents) for trips under 6 km, with an additional 1 yuan per 10 km.
For suburban railway lines, such as the Airport Link Line, fares are based on speed and start at 4 yuan. Trains with a designed speed of more than 160 km/h charge 0.45 yuan per km, while those slower than 160 km/h charge 0.37 yuan per km.
Passengers can use the Shanghai Metro Daduhui app to take the metro, buy single-trip tickets from vending machines, or use the Shanghai Public Transportation Card. One can also swipe international bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) to buy tickets.