Shanghai Metro Guide for English Speakers — 2026
Shanghai has the largest metro network on the planet — bigger than Tokyo's, bigger than New York's, and growing. For a tourist, that's a feature, not a problem: every station you'll need is on the system, the trains run from 05:30 to 23:30, and the entire interface (stations, kiosks, signage, on-board displays) is bilingual Chinese-English by default.
There are still a few quirks. Below is the practical playbook — which lines to know, how to pay without a Chinese bank account, and the four stations that will get you to 90% of tourist destinations.
The four lines that matter for tourists
Out of 20 lines, you'll mainly use four. Memorize their colors and you'll never look at a map again.
- Line 1 (red): runs north–south through the city center. Stops at People's Square (transfer hub), Xintiandi, and Xujiahui.
- Line 2 (light green): runs east–west between the two airports — Pudong PVG to Hongqiao SHA — passing East Nanjing Road (for the Bund), Lujiazui (for the Pearl Tower), Jing'an Temple, and People's Square.
- Line 10 (purple): the tourist line. Connects Yu Garden, East Nanjing Road, Xintiandi, and Hongqiao SHA in a single ride.
- Line 14 (deep purple): newest line; smart shortcut for Putuo + Pudong New Area. Useful if you're staying near Wukang Mansion.
It's the intersection of Lines 1, 2, and 8 — the most useful transfer station in the city. If you get lost on the metro, just aim for People's Square and start over.
How to pay — three ways, ranked
All three options work in 2026. Pick one and stick with it.
| Alipay Transit QR | Metro Card (Public Transit Card) | Single-ride paper ticket | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 3 min (one-time) | 5 min at any station | 30 sec per ride |
| Where to get | Inside Alipay app | Any station kiosk | Station kiosks |
| Refundable | N/A (link to card) | Yes, 20 RMB deposit refundable | N/A |
| Saves money? | No discount | 10% off after 15 rides/month | Standard fare |
| Foreign card? | Yes via Tour Pass | Cash or Alipay top-up | Cash or Alipay top-up |
| Best for | Solo traveler with phone | Family with multiple cards | 1–2 rides total |
Fares and peak hours
Fares are distance-based: 3 RMB for ≤ 6 km, then +1 RMB per ~10 km. The longest tourist trip you'll take (Pudong PVG → Hongqiao SHA, 60+ km) costs 8 RMB. That's about $1.10 USD.
Peak hours: 07:00–09:30 weekdays (rush in toward the center) and 17:00–19:30 (rush out). Avoid Line 1's Xujiahui–People's Square segment during morning peak — it's the most crowded segment in the entire network.
Riding etiquette and English signage
- Stand on the right of escalators, walk on the left.
- Let people exit the train before boarding. The platform staff will physically block boarders if a train is over capacity.
- All on-board announcements are in Mandarin first, then English. Listen for "The next station is …" in English.
- Station maps near every entrance show Pinyin + Chinese + English for every nearby stop. Photo them with your phone before descending.
- Free Wi-Fi ("i-Shanghai") works at most underground stations but is patchy on moving trains. Don't rely on it for navigation.
Airport runs — the timings worth knowing
Pudong PVG ↔ city center via Line 2: 70 minutes, 8 RMB. Pudong ↔ Longyang Road via Maglev: 8 minutes, 50 RMB (a tourist experience in itself — the train hits 300 km/h on the way in).
Hongqiao SHA ↔ city center via Line 2 or 10: 35 minutes, 4–5 RMB. Hongqiao is the closer airport for tourists who can choose; if you're booking flights, prefer it over Pudong when prices match.
Security check — every station, every time
Bag scanners are at every station entrance. Backpacks go through; you may need to take a swig of water from your bottle (liquids over 100 ml require a check). Phone, wallet, camera stay on you.
Don't bring: knives over 6 cm, butane lighters, flammable aerosols, large fireworks. Standard tourist items (laptop, drone in its case, camera) are fine. The whole process takes 15 seconds.
Last train and night transit
Most lines stop running by 22:30; Lines 1, 2, 9, 10 run until 23:30. After that, taxis and Didi (China's Uber, also accessible via Alipay's mini-program) are your only options. A taxi from the Bund to a Pudong hotel typically costs 60–80 RMB at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shanghai Metro safe at night?
Can I bring luggage on the metro from the airport?
Does the Maglev train at Pudong make sense?
What if I take the wrong train?
Can I use a NYC MetroCard or Octopus card here?
How do I plan a route in English?
Is the metro accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?
Verified POIs, vlog routes, AI chat — built for foreign visitors.