Shanghai Metro Guide: Fares, Tickets, and How to Ride (2026)

The Shanghai metro is the fastest and cheapest way to move around the city. It is also much easier for foreign visitors than its size suggests: station names are in Chinese and English, ticket machines have an English option, and most signage is easy to follow.

The main things to plan around are fares and payment, the last train, and the size of some interchanges. This guide covers those without pretending the system is simpler than it is.

The short version

• Fares start at 3 yuan for up to 6 km, then 1 yuan for each additional 10 km.
• A one-day pass costs 18 yuan; a three-day pass costs 45 yuan. They are valid for 24 or 72 hours from first entry and exclude the Maglev and newer suburban railway lines.
• You can tap an eligible contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, or UnionPay card at the gates. Your card must support small, password-free payments.
• Alipay or WeChat Pay can generate a metro QR code through the official Shanghai Metro service or the Metro Daduhui app.
• The metro is not 24 hours. Most lines run from roughly 05:30 until 22:30–23:00, with the last train depending on the line and station. Check the last-train board before a late dinner or airport run.

Buying a ticket

There are now several ways to pay, and they are not equally convenient for a short visit.

Single-journey ticket

Buy one from a vending machine at your starting station. The fare is calculated by distance, and the ticket is valid only on the day of purchase. Keep an IC ticket until you exit, because the gate collects it at the end. A paper QR ticket is scanned at both ends instead.

A single ticket does not cover an out-of-station transfer. If you leave the paid area and re-enter, you need a new ticket or to tap again. This matters at stations where you might pop out for coffee or switch to the Airport Link Line.

Contactless bank card

If your physical card supports it, this is the simplest option. Tap the card at the gate on entry and exit. The official system accepts UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, and some other contactless cards, but your bank must allow small contactless payments without a PIN or signature. If the gate rejects your card, do not keep tapping; use the staffed service centre.

Alipay or WeChat

Open the Shanghai Metro service in Alipay or WeChat, or download the official Metro Daduhui app, and generate a QR code. Scan it at the entry and exit gates. This is convenient if you already use either app for payments. Mastercard and Diners Club holders can also use the “International Cards” option in the Metro Daduhui app’s WeChat Pay channel, according to the Shanghai government.

Both apps need data. If your phone is your ticket, carry a backup payment method and keep the phone charged.

One-day, three-day, and combination passes

The 18-yuan one-day pass and 45-yuan three-day pass give unlimited rides on the standard metro network. They exclude the Maglev and suburban railway lines opened in or after 2024, and the Airport Link Line is priced separately. The three-day pass can be bought at a metro station ticket booth.

If you plan to ride the Maglev as well, a Maglev and Metro pass costs 55 yuan for one metro day plus a single Maglev ride, or 85 yuan with a round-trip Maglev ride. For most visitors, a contactless card or QR code is simpler unless you are making many trips.

Passes are hard to beat only if you ride four or more times a day. A single ride is often 3–5 yuan, so do the arithmetic before buying a three-day pass.

Entering a station

1. Put your bag through the security scanner. Every station has one. Keep your phone, passport, and wallet in a pocket or bag you can pick up quickly; you will pass through a metal detector or be scanned at busy stations.
2. Tap, scan, or insert your ticket at the gate. Wait for the gate to open fully and pass through one person at a time.
3. Follow the line colour and platform signs. Transfers can involve a long walk; the signs show both the line number and the direction of travel.
4. Exit using the same card or QR code you used to enter. If you used a single ticket, scan or insert it at the exit.

Do not follow someone through a gate. If your ticket fails, step aside and use the service centre or machine rather than trying another gate repeatedly.

The lines visitors use most

Line 2 is the workhorse. It connects Pudong Airport with Lujiazui, Nanjing Road East, People’s Square, Jing’an Temple, and Hongqiao Airport. It is also the most crowded line at rush hour.

Line 10 is the cultural route. It serves Hongqiao Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport, Jiaotong University, Shanghai Library, Xintiandi, Yu Garden, and Nanjing Road East.

Line 1 runs north-south through People’s Square, Xintiandi, and Shanghai South Railway Station. Line 8 passes People’s Square and the old town. Line 13 connects Xintiandi with the riverside and other central neighbourhoods. Line 11 reaches Shanghai Disneyland, and Line 17 runs west to Zhujiajiao.

Useful station shortcuts:

• People’s Square: Lines 1, 2, and 8; Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, and the city centre.
• Nanjing Road East: Lines 2 and 10; walk east toward the Bund.
• Lujiazui: Line 2; the skyline and riverside promenade.
• Yu Garden (Yuyuan): Line 10; the old town and garden.
• Xintiandi: Lines 10 and 13; the French Concession–style neighbourhood.
• Jing’an Temple: Lines 2 and 7; the temple and Jing’an commercial area.
• Shanghai Railway Station: Lines 1, 3, and 4.
• Hongqiao Railway Station: Lines 2, 10, and 17.
• Pudong Airport: Metro Line 2 and the separate Airport Link Line.
• Hongqiao Airport: Line 10 at T1; Lines 2 and 10 at T2.

Airport connections

The regular metro reaches both airports, but the Airport Link Line is a separate service with its own fare. It links Pudong and Hongqiao in about 40 minutes, with fares from 4 yuan to 26 yuan for the full journey. Trains run roughly 06:00–22:00 every 15 minutes, and the timetable can change.

Metro Line 2 reaches Pudong Airport and costs about 7 yuan to People’s Square, but takes around an hour. It is not a 24-hour service. If your flight lands late, check the time before choosing it, and plan a taxi or late-night bus as backup. At Hongqiao, Line 10 serves T1, while T2 has Lines 2 and 10.

The Maglev connects Pudong Airport with Longyang Road, where you transfer to the metro. It is fast and fun, but it does not go downtown; the metro transfer and final ride still take time, especially with luggage.

Rush hour, luggage, and etiquette

Rush hour is roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:00 on weekdays. Lines 1, 2, 8, and 11 are among the busiest. If you have luggage, avoid these windows when you can, and use the lifts instead of escalators where available.

Practical etiquette:

• Let passengers get off before you board.
• Stand to the right on escalators and leave the left side clear for people walking.
• Keep bags in front of you in crowded carriages.
• Offer seats to elderly passengers, pregnant women, and people travelling with young children.
• Avoid eating on trains and keep drinks sealed.
• Do not hold the closing doors; wait for the next train.

Platform screen doors are standard, and stations are generally clean and safe. Pickpocketing is not common, but keep your phone and wallet secure in crowds, and do not leave a bag unattended.

Station facilities and accessibility

Many stations have lifts, toilets, and small convenience stores, but older stations are inconsistent. Lift access may require a longer walk than the stairs or escalator. If you use a wheelchair or travel with a stroller, check the station layout or ask staff for the accessible route. Station staff can also help with ticket problems.

Toilets are common but not universal, and paper is not guaranteed. Carry tissues. Some larger interchanges have food and shops inside, which makes them useful for a quick meal between sights.

Problems and late nights

• Card rejected: try a different card or use the service centre. Metro station service centres have card terminals that accept international bank cards for ticket purchases.
• QR code not working: check that you have data and that the code is refreshed. Use a single ticket as backup.
• Missed the last train: use the official taxi queue or a ride-hailing app. Do not accept a driver who approaches you inside the station. Metro stations are not good places to wait overnight.
• Lost something: contact the station service centre immediately and note the line, direction, and time. Staff can check with the station where you exited.
• Feeling unwell: step off at the next station and ask staff for help. Stations have first-aid support, and the emergency number is 120 for an ambulance and 110 for police.

The metro will not show you the whole city, but it will get you close to almost everything a visitor wants to see. Learn your two or three main stations, keep the Chinese names on your phone, and the system becomes much less intimidating.

Sources and updates

Fares, passes, and accepted payment methods are checked against the Shanghai government’s metro guide and the Airport Link operator information listed below. Prices and last-train times can change, so confirm before relying on a late connection.