If you're worried about transportation costs, don't fret. Shanghai offers free or discounted travel for children, making it easier for families to access essential services and enjoy recreational activities.

Public bus

Shanghai's public buses will offer free rides to as many as two children less than 1.3 meters tall traveling with an adult. If there are more than two children, you will need to purchase a ticket for the third one.

Preschool children are not advised to travel unaccompanied.

Metro

Similarly, Shanghai Metro also offers free rides to as many as two children less than 1.3 meters tall traveling with an adult. If there are more than two children, you will, too, need to purchase a ticket for the third one.

Preschool children are not advised to travel unaccompanied.

Train

1. Children aged between 6 and 14 are eligible for the child-rate fare when traveling with a paying adult. Children aged 14 and above are required to pay the full fare.

2. One child under 6 may travel free when accompanied by a paying adult but shall not occupy a seat.

If you wish to reserve a seat for your child, you will need to purchase a child-rate ticket.

If you are traveling with two or more children under 6, then only one child will be entitled to travel for free and the other will qualify for a child-rate ticket.

Note: When purchasing a child-rate ticket, a valid proof of identification for the child is required. The identification document should also be carried when traveling on the train.

Flight

Fares for children vary across airlines, and there is no official standard. Below are some examples of fares that airlines may charge for children.

China Eastern Airlines

1. Children are charged half of the normal fare applicable to the accompanying adult passenger.

2. Infants are charged 10 percent of the normal fare applicable to the accompanying adult passenger and shall not occupy a separate seat.

China Southern Airlines

1. Children aged between 2 and 12 on the day of their flight are charged half of the normal fare applicable to the accompanying adult passenger and can occupy a separate seat.

2. Children under 2 on the day of their flight are charged 10 percent of the normal fare applicable to the accompanying adult passenger and shall not occupy a separate seat. To have a seat for your child, you will need to purchase a child-rate ticket.

Note: Infants, children under 5, and children aged 5 and above without applying for unaccompanied children service must be accompanied by an adult passenger aged 18 and above with full capacity of civil conduct and the ability to take care of them.

Coach

One child under 6 or less than 1.2 meters tall travel free when accompanied by each paying adult and shall not occupy a seat.

If you wish to reserve a seat for your child, you will need to purchase a child-rate ticket.

If you are traveling with more than one child under 6, you will need to purchase a child-rate ticket for the second one.

Children aged between 6 and 14 or with a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters will need to purchase child-rate tickets.

Child-rate tickets come with seat reservations and get 50 percent off standard fares.

Note: The number of children purchasing child-rate tickets shall not exceed 10 percent of the total seats of the coach. For example, in a 50-seat passenger coach, up to five children can be accommodated and benefit from a 50 percent discount.

Ferry

Up to two children under 6 or less than 1.3 meters tall travel free with each adult.

If a group of children, each less than 1.3 meters tall, are travelling together on the ferry, a ticket at the full fare must be purchased for every three children.

Preschool children must travel accompanied by an adult.