Shanghai Subway Guide: Map, Tickets & Schedule

The Shanghai subway is usually the easiest way for foreign travelers to move around the city. It connects Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport, major railway stations, the Bund area, Lujiazui, Yu Garden, People’s Square, Xintiandi, Shanghai Disneyland and many hotel districts. For short city rides, it is cheap, fast and often more predictable than traffic. But Shanghai’s metro network is huge, and a wrong transfer can easily cost 30–40 minutes, especially with luggage, children or a tight flight schedule.

This guide explains the Shanghai metro map, ticket options, station tips, airport and railway routes, and the best metro lines for sightseeing.

Shanghai Metro Map: How to Read It Fast

Shanghai has one of the world’s largest urban rail systems. For visitors, the Shanghai metro map is easier to understand if you focus on three “travel zones” instead of trying to memorize every line.

Downtown sightseeing core: People’s Square, East Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, Lujiazui, Jing’an Temple, Xintiandi, South Shaanxi Road and West Nanjing Road. This is where most first-time travelers spend their first 1–2 days.

Airport and railway corridors: Line 2 is the classic east-west airport line, connecting Hongqiao Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, downtown Shanghai and Pudong Airport. The newer Airport Link Line is useful for faster airport-to-airport movement between Hongqiao and Pudong.

Outer experience lines: Line 11 is useful for Shanghai Disneyland, Line 16 for Lingang and Dishui Lake, Line 17 for Zhujiajiao, and Line 9 for Songjiang and Qibao. These are useful, but they are not quick city-center rides. Always check your return time.

A local planning rule: when a route involves more than two transfers, luggage, or a child under 8, a private car often becomes more comfortable than saving a small ticket cost. This is exactly where FoyoChinaTrip’s custom China tours can combine metro-friendly sightseeing with private transfers where they actually make sense.

Shanghai Lines, Tickets & Key Stations

Shanghai uses a distance-based fare system. Metro fares generally start from 3 yuan for short trips, while longer routes cost more based on distance. One-day and three-day metro passes are also available, but they usually do not include the Maglev.

For ordinary city trips, Shanghai subway tickets are usually around 3–8 yuan. Airport or far-suburb rides may cost more. The Airport Link Line has its own fare structure, and the Maglev between Longyang Road and Pudong Airport also uses a separate ticket.

Line	Main Route	Typical First / Last Train	Fare	Key Transfer Stations	Useful Sightseeing Stops
Line 1	Xinzhuang – Fujin Road	Around 5:00–23:30	Distance-based	People’s Square, Xujiahui, Shanghai Railway Station	People’s Square, Shanghai Museum area, Xujiahui
Line 2	Panxiang Road / Hongqiao area – Pudong Airport T1&2	Around 5:30–22:30+	Distance-based	People’s Square, East Nanjing Road, Lujiazui, Longyang Road, Hongqiao Railway Station	The Bund via East Nanjing Road, Lujiazui, Century Park, Pudong Airport
Line 3	Shanghai South Railway Station – North Jiangyang Road	Around 5:20–23:00	Distance-based	Zhongshan Park, Shanghai Railway Station, Hongkou Football Stadium	Hongkou area, Shanghai South Railway Station
Line 4	Inner circular line	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Century Avenue, Shanghai Railway Station, Zhongshan Park, Yishan Road	Nanpu Bridge, Pudong Avenue, stadium areas
Line 5	Xinzhuang – Fengxian Xincheng / Minhang branches	Around 5:30–22:30	Distance-based	Xinzhuang, Dongchuan Road	Minhang, Fengxian local areas
Line 6	Gangcheng Road – Oriental Sports Center	Around 5:30–22:30	Distance-based	Century Avenue, Jufeng Road, Lancun Road	Pudong local districts, Oriental Sports Center
Line 7	Huamu Road – Meilan Lake	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Jing’an Temple, Longyang Road, Changshou Road	Jing’an Temple, Longyang Road, Huamu Road
Line 8	Shiguang Road – Shendu Highway	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	People’s Square, Laoximen, China Art Museum	People’s Square, China Art Museum, Expo area
Line 9	Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station – Caolu	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Xujiahui, Century Avenue, Jiashan Road	Qibao Ancient Town, Tianzifang via Dapuqiao, Songjiang
Line 10	Jilong Road – Hongqiao Railway Station / Hangzhong Road	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	East Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, Xintiandi, Hongqiao Railway Station	Yu Garden, Xintiandi, Hongqiao Airport T1/T2
Line 11	Disney Resort – North Jiading / Huaqiao	Around 5:30–22:30	Distance-based	Xujiahui, Jiangsu Road, Disney Resort	Shanghai Disneyland, Xujiahui
Line 12	Qixin Road – Jinhai Road	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	South Shaanxi Road, West Nanjing Road, Tiantong Road	Former French Concession, North Bund, shopping areas
Line 13	Jinyun Road – Zhangjiang Road	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	West Nanjing Road, Xintiandi, Natural History Museum	Shanghai Natural History Museum, Xintiandi, World Expo Museum
Line 14	Fengbang – Guiqiao Road	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Jing’an Temple, Yu Garden, Lujiazui	Shanghai Tower and Lujiazui, Yu Garden
Line 15	Gucun Park – Zizhu Hi-tech Park	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Shanghai South Railway Station, Loushanguan Road	Gucun Park, South Railway Station
Line 16	Longyang Road – Dishui Lake	Around 5:30–22:30	Distance-based	Longyang Road, Luoshan Road	Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Lingang, Dishui Lake
Line 17	Hongqiao Railway Station – Xicen	Around 6:00–22:30	Distance-based	Hongqiao Railway Station	Zhujiajiao, Qingpu, Oriental Land
Line 18	Kangwen Road – Hangtou	Around 5:30–23:00	Distance-based	Longyang Road, Changyi Road, Jiangpu Park	Fudan University area, Longyang Road
Airport Link Line	Hongqiao Airport T2 – Pudong Airport T1&2	First around 5:45–6:00; last around 22:00–22:15	Separate fare	Hongqiao Airport T2, Zhongchun Road, Jinghong Road, Pudong Airport	Airport transfer, Shanghai International Resort
Pujiang Line	Shendu Highway – Huizhen Road	Around 5:30–22:30	Distance-based	Shendu Highway	Pujiang local area
Maglev	Longyang Road – Pudong Airport T1&2	Daytime service, check same-day timetable	Separate Maglev fare	Longyang Road, Pudong Airport	Fast airport ride, futuristic train experience

Timetables vary by direction, station and date. For early flights, late arrivals, Disney evenings or long-distance train departures, check the first and last train from your exact Shanghai metro station before committing to the route.

How to Reach Shanghai’s Main Attractions

For the Bund, use East Nanjing Road Station on Line 2 or Line 10. From there, it is a straightforward walk to the riverside. In summer, weekends and holidays, this area becomes packed after sunset. For families or seniors, we usually suggest arriving before sunset, taking photos before the crowd peaks, then leaving after the first wave.

For Yu Garden and the Old City, use Yu Garden Station on Line 10 or Line 14. The metro is convenient, but the last 500 meters can feel crowded because tourist groups, snack streets and local shoppers all meet in the same area. A good route is Yu Garden first, then walk or drive toward the Bund. This works well in our Shanghai Classic Highlights Day Tour.

For Lujiazui, take Line 2 or Line 14 to Lujiazui Station. This is the best stop for the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower and the riverside skyline. For travelers interested in modern China, the Shanghai skyline guide is useful before deciding whether to choose Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower or a river-view route.

For Xintiandi and the Former French Concession, use Xintiandi Station on Line 10 or Line 13, or South Shaanxi Road Station on Line 1, Line 10 or Line 12. This area is more walkable and better for slow travel, coffee, boutique streets and lifestyle photography. For a softer city day, our Shanghai Arts & Lifestyle Day Tour fits better than a rushed checklist.

For Shanghai Disneyland, take Line 11 to Disney Resort Station. The metro is budget-friendly, but after fireworks, the return crowd can be intense. With young children, strollers or a hotel outside Pudong, private transfer is often worth it. Our Shanghai Disneyland One-Day Family Tour can include ticket support, route planning and comfortable return transport.

Airports and Railway Stations by Metro

Shanghai has two major airports: Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. For more practical transfer advice, useful travel guide for you: Shanghai Airports Guide: Pudong & Hongqiao.

Pudong Airport: Line 2 reaches Pudong Airport T1&2, but the ride from downtown can be long. The Maglev from Longyang Road is faster, while the Airport Link Line is now a strong choice for airport-to-airport or resort-area movement.

Hongqiao Airport: Terminal 2 connects with Line 2, Line 10 and the Airport Link Line. Terminal 1 is on Line 10. Hongqiao is convenient for travelers staying near People’s Square, Jing’an, Xintiandi or the Former French Concession.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: This is the main high-speed rail hub for Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Beijing and many other cities. It connects with Line 2, Line 10 and Line 17.

Shanghai Railway Station: Use Line 1, Line 3 or Line 4. This station is closer to downtown but less useful for some high-speed routes.

Shanghai South Railway Station: Use Line 1, Line 3 or Line 15. It is helpful for selected regional train routes.

For a full station comparison, useful travel guide for you: Shanghai Railway Stations Guide.

Buying Tickets and Booking Tips

Foreign travelers can buy single tickets at vending machines or station counters. Many machines have English menus, but station names must still be selected correctly. In many stations, international bank cards and mobile payment options may also be available, but setup can vary depending on the traveler’s phone, card and payment app.

For most travelers, the easiest options are:

• Use Alipay or WeChat Pay with a transport QR code if already set up.
• Buy a single journey ticket when taking only one or two rides.
• Choose a one-day pass when doing multiple inner-city metro rides in one day.
• Choose a three-day pass when staying near a convenient metro line and sightseeing independently.

The most common mistake is not buying tickets, but choosing a hotel only because it looks “near a metro station.” A hotel can be 300 meters from a station and still be inconvenient if that line requires two transfers to reach every attraction. When we design Shanghai itineraries, we look at hotel location, daily route shape, crowd timing, restaurant location and luggage movement together. That is the difference between “technically possible” and actually comfortable.

Useful travel guide for you: How to Use Metro in China as a Foreign Traveler. It explains how to buy Shanghai subway tickets as a foreigner and how to avoid payment problems at the gate.

Recommended Shanghai Tours

The metro is excellent for independent travelers, but Shanghai is not only a transport puzzle. The real value is in building a day that flows well: morning garden before crowds, local lunch at the right time, skyline view when visibility is good, and a night route that does not leave you stranded after the last train.

Recommended Shanghai routes:

• Shanghai Classic Highlights Day Tour — best for first-time visitors who want Yu Garden, the Bund, Lujiazui and local food in one efficient day.
• Shanghai Disneyland One-Day Family Tour — best for families who want ticket help, pacing advice and smoother return transport.
• Shanghai Arts & Lifestyle Day Tour — best for travelers who prefer neighborhoods, cafés, creative areas and slower city texture.
• First Time in China: Beijing–Shanghai Route — best for travelers combining Shanghai with China’s classic historical cities.

More tour packages including Shanghai: Shanghai tours.

For travelers with limited time, elderly parents, children, business meetings or late-night flights, FoyoChinaTrip can arrange a tailored route, private car, English-speaking guide, airport pickup, train station transfer and ticket support. Start with custom China tours or simply contact us with your dates, hotel and must-see places.

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