Last verified: 13 Sept 2026

Shanghai Metro: Tickets, Fares, Airport and Stations

You don’t need a ticket for the Shanghai Metro: tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard on the gate, ride, and pay from 3 CNY (≈ $0.44) when you exit. This page collects everything specific to Shanghai – fares, day passes, getting in from the airport, the railway stations and the right station for the main sights. How the security check, gates and transfers work in general is shown in our interactive China metro guide.

The Shanghai Metro at a glance

Network
21 lines, 906 km
523 stations, incl. maglev and Airport Link Line. As of Dec 2025.
Fare
from 3 CNY
≈ $0.44 for the first 6 km, then by distance.
Payment
Tap your credit card
UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB – straight at the gate.
Day pass
18 CNY
≈ $2.66, unlimited for 24 hours. 3-day ticket: 45 CNY.

How do I pay for the Shanghai Metro?

There are four ways. For most visitors a credit card is the easiest; the day pass pays off if you ride a lot.

Credit card at the gate

At all metro gates marked “Tap to Ride”: UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB. Enter and exit with the same card; you’re charged by distance. Everyone needs their own card.

QR code in Alipay, WeChat or Metro大都会

In Alipay or WeChat, choose Shanghai under “Transport” or 乘车码 and activate the code once. The Shanghai Metro’s official app is Metro大都会 (Metro Daduhui); it also works with a QR code and Alipay or WeChat Pay.

Single-journey ticket from the machine

English interface: tap the destination or fare, pay, take your ticket. Many machines only take QR payment – with cash, go to the counter (客服中心).

Day pass at the counter

1-day ticket 18 CNY (≈ $2.66), 3-day ticket 45 CNY (≈ $6.65), each from your first entry. With the maglev: Maglev + Metro (one-way maglev) 55 CNY, Maglev + Metro (maglev round trip) 85 CNY.

Metro gates in Shanghai with the Tap to Ride sticker and the logos of e-CNY, UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, with green arrows below — “Tap to Ride”: this is where you tap your credit card. On the right, the wide gate for luggage.

Screen of a ticket machine at Jiao Tong University station in Shanghai, English interface with network map, fare buttons from 3 to 21 yuan and the note QR code only — Jiao Tong University station, August 2026: English interface, fare buttons – and “QR code only”.

Green top-up machine for Shanghai transport cards with touchscreen, bank card slot and a tray for the transport card — Top-up machine for transport and tourist cards (充值) – it doesn’t sell tickets.

How much does a Shanghai metro ride cost?

The fare depends on distance and is worked out when you exit. Changing lines costs nothing extra as long as you stay behind the gates. Credit card, QR code and single-journey ticket all use the same fare.

Distance	Fare	≈ US$
up to 6 km	3 CNY	$0.44
6–16 km	4 CNY	$0.59
16–26 km	5 CNY	$0.74
over 26 km	+1 CNY per 10 km	–

The maglev and the Airport Link Line have their own fares.

By metro from the airport into the city: Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)

Shanghai Pudong AirportPVG浦东国际机场

Metro Line 2 2号线
Terminus at the airport. The line runs via Longyang Road, Lujiazui, Nanjing East Road (the Bund), People's Square and Jing'an Temple right across the city centre – cheap, but the slowest option.
regular metro fare by distance
Maglev 磁浮
8 minutes to Longyang Road, where you change to the metro. It only stops at these two stations.
50 CNY (≈ $7.39) – 40 CNY with a same-day flight ticket or a Shanghai transport card; round trip 80 CNY (valid 7 days).
Hours: from Longyang Road 6:45–21:40, from the airport 7:02–21:42
Airport Link Line 机场联络线
Connects Pudong with Hongqiao railway station in about 40 minutes – handy if you're switching between a flight and a high-speed train.
4–26 CNY (≈ $0.59–$3.84) – by distance

Shanghai Hongqiao AirportSHA虹桥国际机场

Metro Lines 2 and 10 2号线 / 10号线
Terminal 2 has its own station on Lines 2 and 10, Terminal 1 on Line 10. Both run straight into the city centre.
regular metro fare by distance

Railway stations in Shanghai with a metro connection

All major railway stations have their own metro station. Between train and metro you go through a second security check – allow a few minutes for it.

Shanghai Hongqiao 虹桥火车站
Metro station Hongqiao Railway Station
21017Airport Link
Shanghai Railway Station 上海火车站
Metro station Shanghai Railway Station
134
Shanghai South 上海南站
Metro station Shanghai South Railway Station
1315

Which metro station in Shanghai for which sight?

The main sights in Shanghai with the nearest station. You’ll find the right exit on the exit map inside the station: it lists the streets and sights each exit leads to – look for the Chinese name from the table.

Sight	Station	Line	Tip
The Bund (waterfront)外滩	Station:Nanjing East Road南京东路	Line:210	At the eastern end of the Nanjing Road pedestrian street, a few minutes on foot.
Yu Garden and Old Town豫园	Station:Yuyuan Garden豫园	Line:1014	The station is right by the old-town quarter around the garden.
Lujiazui (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower)陆家嘴 / 东方明珠	Station:Lujiazui陆家嘴	Line:214	The skyline towers are within walking distance.
People's Square and Shanghai Museum人民广场 / 上海博物馆	Station:People's Square人民广场	Line:128	One of the biggest interchanges – read the signs carefully, the walks are long.
Jing'an Temple静安寺	Station:Jing'an Temple静安寺	Line:2714	The temple is right by the station.
Xintiandi新天地	Station:Xintiandi新天地	Line:1013	Restaurant and nightlife quarter in restored shikumen houses.
Tianzifang田子坊	Station:Dapuqiao打浦桥	Line:9	A warren of lanes with shops and cafés, a few minutes from the station.
Wukang Road (former French Concession)武康路	Station:Jiaotong University or Shanghai Library交通大学 / 上海图书馆	Line:1011	Jiaotong University is on Lines 10 and 11, Shanghai Library on Line 10.
Shanghai Disney Resort上海迪士尼度假区	Station:Disney Resort迪士尼	Line:11	Terminus of the Disney branch of Line 11.
Zhujiajiao water town朱家角	Station:Zhujiajiao朱家角	Line:17	On the edge of the city; Line 17 starts at Hongqiao railway station.

We deliberately don’t give exit numbers: they change when stations are rebuilt, and even Chinese sources contradict each other. In Shanghai, exits are signed with numbers (1, 2, 3 …).

How to find the right exit

Shanghai stations have many exits, signed with numbers (1, 2, 3 …). Every station displays two maps: the station map (站层图) with all exits and a list of which exit leads to which street, and the area map (街区图) with sights and bus stops. Look there for the Chinese name of your destination from the table above.

Station map of Jiao Tong University station in Shanghai with exits 1 to 7, the Line 10 and 11 platforms, lifts and toilets, with a table below listing which exit leads to which street — Jiao Tong University station map: exits 1 to 7, with the streets for each exit below.

Area map of Hanzhong Road station in Shanghai for Lines 1, 12 and 13 with numbered exits on the street map and a list of bus routes by exit — Hanzhong Road area map: exits as numbers on the street map, bus routes below.

Area map of Xujiahui station in Shanghai for Lines 1, 9 and 11 with around 20 numbered exits on the street map and a long list of bus routes — Xujiahui (Lines 1, 9, 11): big interchanges have around 20 exits.

Getting around on the Shanghai Metro

Station names, signs and announcements are bilingual. On the platform, a line map shows the current station in red and the direction of travel with an arrow; direction is always shown as the terminal station. On the train, there’s a line map above every door. At rush hour (roughly 7–9:30 am and 5–7:30 pm), the central lines are very crowded.

Line map of Shanghai Metro Line 10 on the platform wall at South Shaanxi Road station, the current station marked in red, an arrow on the left pointing towards Hongqiao and coloured transfer symbols above the stations — Line 10 at South Shaanxi Road: current station in red, the arrow on the left shows the direction of travel.

Line map of Shanghai Metro Line 13 above the door of a metro train, pink line with all stations and transfer notes — On a Line 13 train: line map above the door.

Schematic network map of the Shanghai Metro on a station wall with all lines in their colours — Schematic network map – in every station next to the gates.

Video service terminal at Jiao Tong University station in Shanghai with a camera on top and the large 人工服务 button to connect to a staff member — Help: video terminal with the 人工服务 button for a staff member (Chinese only).

The security check at the entrance is routine in Shanghai: bags on the X-ray belt, walk through, carry on. If the gate won’t open when you exit, the staff at the gates or the service centre (客服中心) will help. The complete process as a clickable walkthrough is on our China metro guide.

Security check in a Shanghai metro station: X-ray machine with conveyor belt and grey plastic trays, with a barrier in front — Security check right behind the entrance.

Sources

Shanghai Municipal Government: Travel Your Way – Metro (fares, Tap to Ride, day passes, Airport Link Line)
Xinhua: Shanghai rail transit passes 900 km (12/2025)
The Paper: maglev fares of 50 and 40 CNY (04/2024)
Shanghai Bendibao: maglev timetable
Lines, stations and transfers: official network and line maps in the stations (our own photos, Aug 2026).
Photos: our own, taken in Shanghai (25–29 Aug 2026) and Beijing (10 Sep 2026).

US-dollar amounts are rounded guide values at 1 US$ = 6.77 CNY.

FAQ

Can I pay for the Shanghai Metro with a credit card?

Yes. At gates marked “Tap to Ride”, you hold your contactless card on the reader without buying a ticket first. UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB are accepted. Tap the same card again when you exit, and the fare is charged by distance.

How much does a Shanghai Metro ride cost?

From 3 CNY (≈ $0.44) for the first 6 km. Up to 16 km 4 CNY, Up to 26 km 5 CNY, then 1 CNY more per 10 km. Changing lines costs nothing extra. The maglev and the Airport Link Line have their own fares.

Is the Shanghai Metro day pass worth it?

The 1-day ticket costs 18 CNY (≈ $2.66), the 3-day ticket 45 CNY (≈ $6.65). At 3 to 5 CNY per ride, the 1-day ticket pays off from about four or five rides a day. You buy it at the counter in the station; the maglev is not included.

How do I get from Pudong Airport to the city by metro?

The cheapest way is Metro Line 2, which starts at the airport and runs right across the city centre. The maglev is faster: 8 minutes to Longyang Road, where you change to the metro. It only stops at these two stations. It costs 50 CNY (≈ $7.39); 40 CNY with a same-day flight ticket or a Shanghai transport card; round trip 80 CNY (valid 7 days). The Airport Link Line goes to Hongqiao railway station.

Do I need cash for the Shanghai Metro?

No. A credit card, Alipay or WeChat Pay is enough. At Jiao Tong University station in August 2026, the ticket machine even said “QR code only” – cash didn’t work there. With cash, you buy your ticket at the counter.

How do I get to Shanghai Disneyland by metro?

Take Line 11 to Disney Resort station (迪士尼). Terminus of the Disney branch of Line 11.