At the entrance to each station of the Shanghai subway, all passengers undergo a full security control. Everything is like in airports - luggage passes through the X-ray, and you yourself go through the frame. Such strict measures in all "undergrounds". We recommend not to be surprised, many more interesting things await you in this country, and even some aspects of the life of the Chinese.
One more important note. In the metro, on the platform, arrows indicate where passengers who are preparing to enter the car should stand. Do not stand directly in front of the door, behave civilly and do not disgrace your homeland.
What's the fare
In the Shanghai metro, the cost of a trip depends on the length of the path. If you are traveling up to 6 kilometers, then the ticket will cost 3 . If further, then for every next 10 kilometers you will have to pay another 1 yuan.
These rates apply to all lines except the 5th, where a trip up to 6 km costs 2 yuan. The entire 5th line has a length of 15 kilometers. What is causing this exception? So the city authorities stimulate the development of this area.
Children under 1.2 meters tall can use the Shanghai subway for free. Also, old people after 70 years old can drive here for free, but this is not relevant for tourists, since you need to have a Chinese social card.
What are the tickets
The simplest ticket is a one-time ticket. The easiest way to buy it is from a vending machine. You simply select the destination station and the number of tickets, and the machine itself calculates the cost and gives you tickets after payment. Remember that one-time tickets at the end of the journey need to be “feeded” to the turnstile. It's a pity, but it will not work to keep it for yourself.
A one-time ticket is valid only on the day of purchase. You can spend no more than 3 hours in the metro, after this time the turnstile will not let you back out.
The second type of ticket is the Shanghai Public Transportation Card. You put a certain amount of money on it, and the system itself withdraws it as you travel. It is much more convenient than buying a ticket every time. If you use this card for 70 yuan, you will receive a 10% discount on all subsequent trips. A trifle, but nice.
The transport card can only be bought at the box office. 20 yuan will have to be paid as a deposit. When you leave Shanghai, you can return it, receiving your 20 yuan and all the amount that you did not have time to spend. This card allows you to “go into the red” by 8 yuan.
Another type of ticket is single day (one-day) and three days (three-day). Pay 18 or 45 yuan and ride the Shanghai metro for one or three days without restrictions. For tourists, this type of ticket is the most convenient of all. These tickets can only be purchased at the box office.
Souvenir ticket. It is only sold at certain stations. We never saw him and can't say anything about him.
Maglev ticket. Recently appeared in 2013. You can ride it once and ride the metro for one day without restrictions. This ticket costs 55 yuan, which is very advantageous as one trip to Maglev costs 50 yuan.
Transitions
Very important information for tourists. There are two types of crossings in the Shanghai subway. The first ones are the usual ones, where you enter the tunnel between the stations and get to the right one, everything is like ours.
The second type of transition is called “virtual” or “transit”. There is no tunnel, and passengers need to exit the subway and re-enter. There are few such transitions, and they are specially marked on the maps, and if you look closely, you can easily find them.
Shanghai is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Asia. One of the attractions of the city is its subway. In this article, we will tell you everything about the Shanghai metro: we will give a map with a diagram, opening hours, talk about the fare, types of tickets and privileges.
Tim Adams/flickr.com
brief information
The Shanghai metro can rightly be called the epitome of modern elegance and engineering genius. Here, elements of Eastern culture are skillfully intertwined with the latest achievements of Western architecture. The stations of the Shanghai Metro are extraordinarily beautiful, and the trains that run between them resemble super-fast cars of the future.
Tim Adams/flickr.com
In a relatively short period of time (its history is 14 years old), the Shanghai metro managed to break into the ranks of the leaders in a number of indicators. So, this is the world's first subway in terms of length (548 km) and the fourth in terms of daily passenger traffic (8.5 million people).
Subway lines and stations
The Shanghai metro scheme is represented by 14 operating branches and 329 stations. Due to the popularity and convenience of this type of transport, the subway is developing at a rapid pace. According to the project, by 2020 the number of branches on the Shanghai metro map should be increased to 18, some of which will connect the most significant objects urban infrastructure.
The Shanghai metro map shows that the main number of stations is concentrated around the city center, which is considered the norm in the construction of the subway.
Stations of the Shanghai "subway" were built according to last word technology and architecture. They are distinguished by perfect cleanliness and great information content. Plasma panels show information about the arrival of the next two trains. The announcements themselves are made in two languages: Chinese and English.
Unfortunately, there are no announcements in Russian in the Shanghai metro yet. But no less important innovation was the introduction of a record that announces information about everyone located near the station.
Issue price
The fare depends on the distance. The first 6 kilometers of the journey will cost you 0.44 USD or 3 yuan. Fans of long trips will have to pay 0.15 USD or 1 yuan for every next 10 kilometers. Such a payment system is not universal: the fifth metro line has its own prices.
Marc van der Chijs/flickr.com
You can drive up to 6 kilometers along it for 2 yuan. This feature is explained by the fact that the authorities stimulate the development of the area through which this small branch passes. The Shanghai metro map does not deceive - its length is only 15 km.
Much to my surprise Russian tourist, benefits for travel in Shanghai are established on an anthropometric basis. So, children whose height does not exceed 1.2 meters have the right to a free trip. The authorities have not forgotten to take care of the elderly: pensioners over 70 are also entitled to free travel.
However, there are some bureaucratic nuances here. This privileged opportunity is given only by the Chinese social card, so this rule does not apply to tourists.
Ticket types
The following types of tickets are used in the Shanghai Metro:
- Disposable.
- Shanghai Transportation Card - Shahghai Public Transportation Card.
- Travel cards for tourists for 1-3 days.
- Maglev.
A one-time ticket can be bought from vending machines at any station. The passenger must enter the final destination of the trip, and the system will automatically calculate its cost. These tickets are valid only during the day. When leaving the station, the used ticket must be inserted into the turnstile. You can stay on the Shanghai subway for no more than 3 hours. Otherwise, the turnstile will not let you out.
The Shanghai transport card is an analogue of a plastic card. The passenger replenishes her account, which she spends on travel. When purchasing it, you must pay 3 USD as a security deposit. If the amount spent on trips exceeds $10, you will receive a 10% discount on all subsequent trips.
Passes for 1-3 days are the most advantageous. By purchasing a one-day or three-day pass for 3 or 7 USD, respectively, you can travel on the Shanghai subway without restrictions. This option is the most popular among tourists.
Maglev is a high-speed metro line. It links Pudong Airport and Luoyang Road Station. Trains here run at a speed of 300-430 km/h. Such a trip will cost $ 7.5 one way.
Video: how to use the Shanghai subway?
Schedule
Those who like to walk until late are interested in the question: how long does the local subway work? After all, life in the metropolis is in full swing, so a tourist can inadvertently lose track of time. So, the operating time of the Shanghai Metro starts at 6 am and ends at 11 pm.
On holidays, the metro can run until one in the morning. It should be remembered that each branch has its own opening hours. But in any case, it's not worth the risk - come to the station half an hour before the official closing.
Public transport Shanghai is a well-developed subway system, buses, trolleybuses, trams, electric trains, ferries, etc. Transfer to the Pudong airport is carried out on a very unusual type of transport - the Maglev magnetic plane. Especially for the guests of the metropolis, they run around the city tourist buses and operates a tunnel of attractions. Renting a bike or using the services of taxi companies is not difficult, but on the contrary, it can be difficult to rent a car.
Seems to figure it out transport system a multi-million dollar Shanghai is not an easy task. Everything is complicated by the national language: a complete lack of understanding of inscriptions in public transport and at stops, just like English, not all employees of the transport structure know and understand. This publication will help you get closer to understanding how public transport in Shanghai works, how to buy tickets and how not to get lost in the metropolis.
Tickets
Travel in Shanghai is available with both single trip tickets and travel cards for multiple trips/days/modes of transport.
Subway ride
Good for a short stay in the city single trip ticket . The transport pricing policy of Shanghai is as follows: the fare is calculated depending on the distance traveled. For those passengers who traveled from 0 to 6 kilometers, the ticket will cost 3¥. If the path exceeds 6 km, then this amount is additionally added for every 10 kilometers 1¥. The maximum fare will be 15¥.
There are exceptions to the general rule. Travel on Line 5 is cheaper by 1¥: fare is 2¥ for trips up to 6 km, and 3¥ for all trips over 6 km, regardless of distance. The fee is not valid for transfers from Line 5 to others. The fare from Xinzhuang Station to People's Square Station is 4¥.
A single trip ticket can be purchased from ticket machines (Chinese and English) or subway ticket offices. All tickets have an embedded chip. Buying a ticket for one trip through a ticket machine is quite easy. Switching to English, you must select the starting and ending point, after which the ticket price will be calculated automatically.
To enter the station, the ticket must be presented to the reader, and to exit the station, a ticket for one trip must be placed in the reader slot. If you bought a ticket to a certain station and are trying to get off at another, then this will not work. You will need to pay extra at the box office at the exit.
The card can be purchased at the metro, shops, banks and other official points of sale. You can also order a card on the official website or through a mobile application (Chinese).
Shanghai has one of the fastest growing and expanding subways in the world. The metro system is perfectly integrated with other forms of public transport. As of 2020, there are 16 operating lines in Shanghai: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and Pujiang (the train schedule is available via the links). Lines 14, 15, 18 are scheduled to be launched in 2020-2021. It is also planned to expand existing lines, and by 2030 to commission new lines (from 19 to 25).
The subway in Shanghai is pretty fast way movement, although not the cheapest. But at the same time, even despite the workload at rush hour, the movement is still comfortable, if only because air conditioners work everywhere in summer, and heating in winter. Stations are announced in both Chinese and English.
At each metro station there is a map, including on English language. Some lines have branches. Metro staff always come to the aid of guests of the city, so you can safely ask for answers to your questions.
Before entering the transport zone, you must pass a security check hand luggage, identical to the access control in the metro of the cities of the Russian Federation. With travel cards, everything is quite simple, they must be applied to the turnstile readers at the entrance and exit from the station. A ticket for one trip must be kept until the end of the trip. To exit the station, place the ticket in a special slot in the turnstile.
The only inconvenience of the metro as public transport is its opening hours. Each line has an individual schedule. Some lines close quite early, mostly the metro operates from 05:30 to 23:00, although life in the city is in full swing until late. For convenience, you can use the extended Shanghai metro map and plan your route in advance. You can also preload mobile applications, which will make it easier to build a route. For example, Explore Shanghai for iOS and Android.
Magnetoplane
In the summer of 2019, construction began on a new Express Airport Link that will connect Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Currently, to get from one airport to another, you need to use the metro (Line 2) or take a bus. Travel time takes 70 to 90 minutes. The 68.6 km line will reduce travel time to 40 minutes once construction is completed, tentatively scheduled for 2024. The trains will move at a speed of 160 km/h. Express Airport Link will consist of 9 stations.
Buses
The route map of buses consists of more than 1000 lines. Traveling by bus is cheaper than by subway. All buses are equipped with air conditioning, television news monitors, and a running line indicating the next stop, duplicated by a voice message in Chinese and English. Buses are usually new: European models of Chinese assembly. Supervises bus transport a number of Shanghai private transport enterprises.
Public buses are identified by numbers or hieroglyphs. As a result of the optimization that has taken place over the past years, many bus routes have been shortened, replaced or combined. Some regular routes began to operate lines only during peak hours, retaining the original numbering. There are several conditional categories of buses in Shanghai:
Routes with a numbered code:
- Up to No. 200 - regular regular routes;
- From No. 200 to No. 299 - for the most part, routes operating during peak hours (although some of them include regular lines);
- From No. 300 to No. 399 - night routes;
- From No. 400 to No. 499 - lines crossing the Huangpu River;
- From No. 500 to No. 599, No. 800 - No. 899 - special lines;
- From No. 600 to No. 699 - lines of the Pudong area;
- From No. 700 to No. 799 and from No. 1000 - regular suburban routes.
The remaining lines are indicated by Chinese characters, which are an abbreviated form of the names of the first and final stations. Some of them go to airports, across the Huangpu River, to the port, to the railway station, etc.
Most buses run around the city from approximately 05:30 to 21:30. Rush hour routes operate from 06:00 to 08:00 and from 16:30 to 18:30. The night bus schedule is from 23:00 to 05:30. Time varies depending on the route.
Fare is paid by SPTC transport card or in cash. It is best to prepare coins in advance, which must be lowered into the container at the entrance (next to the driver). No one gives out. Conductors work on some long routes.
Also in Shanghai there are several large bus stations, from where you can get to the suburbs on comfortable buses.
It will be possible to cover the sights of the city in a short time using the services of one of the excursion bus companies. Buses run around Shanghai according to the system Hop on Hop off: you can get off at any station, walk and see the sights, and then continue with the same ticket on another bus tourist route. Tickets can be purchased when boarding the bus. Such excursion services in Shanghai are provided by Shanghai Bus Tours, Springtour and a number of other companies.
The most convenient way is to download the Shanghai public transport map to your phone, there is a huge variety of similar applications today. For example, Moovit offers detailed diagrams and schedules of all Shanghai metro, bus, tram routes, as well as the best ways to get to the desired stop or attraction.
shanghai trolleybus
Shanghai's trolleybus system is the oldest in the world. It was launched back in 1914. Today there are 14 routes in Shanghai:
No. 6: Changbai Road Tumen Road - Wujin Road North Henan Road;
No. 8: Sanmen Road Shiguang Road - Songpan Road Yangshupu Road;
No. 13: Tilanqiao - Zhongshan Park Metro Station;
No. 14: Jiangpu Road North Zhongshan 2nd Road - Dongxinqiao;
No. 15: North Zhejiang Road East Tianmu Road - Shanghai Stadium;
No. 19: Tangshan Road Tongbei Road - Putuo Road Jiangning Road;
No. 20: Jiujiang Road/ the Bund - Zhongshan Park Metro Station;
No. 22: Changbai Road Tumen Road - Minhang Road Changzhi Road;
No. 23: South Zhongshan 1st Road South Xizang Road - Xinkangli;
No. 24: Doushi Street East Fuxing Road - Changshou New Village;
No. 25: Pingliang Road Jungong Road - South Chongming Road;
No. 26: Xinkaihe Road - West Guangyuan Road Hongqiao Road;
No. 28: Baotou Road Nenjiang Road - Tilanqiao;
No. 71: East Yan'an Road/the Bund - Shenkun Road Bus Hub.
All trolleybuses are air-conditioned and meet the highest comfort requirements. The approximate timetable for trolleybuses is from 05:00 to 23:00. The fare is 2¥.
Shanghai trains
Shanghai is the crossroads of many strategically important rail lines. High-speed trains connect Shanghai with many destinations throughout China - Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Harbin, etc.
The city has 4 major railway stations — Train Station Shanghai, South Station, West Station and Hongqiao Station.
As you know, China's trains are divided into categories. Most of high-speed trains Shanghai has category G (the most comfortable and modern trains). Chinese trains strikingly different from the usual Russian for the better.
Train tickets can be purchased at ticket offices or vending machines at stations. You must have your passport with you. Tickets are also purchased at official representative offices or on the official website of China Railways (at Chinese). It is recommended to arrive at the station 1.5 hours before the departure of the train.
The fare will directly depend on the departure date, carriage class and destination. Ticket prices for some destinations in 2020:
- Shanghai to Beijing: from 451 ¥ ;
- Shanghai - Harbin: from 983 ¥ ;
- Shanghai to Xi'an: from 469 ¥ and so on.
Commuter trains to Yuyao, Ningbo, Shaoxing and Shangyu run from Shanghai several times a day. The most up-to-date prices and train schedules from Shanghai are available on the China Railway official website.
Tunnel Attractions Bund
In fact, the Bung tunnel does not contain any real sights, as it passes underground. Of course, this is the fastest way to get from the Bund to the Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. This tunnel is intended only for tourists, although it will be useful for those who urgently need to get to the TV Tower during rush hour. All 5 minutes of following the tunnel you will be accompanied by light show. The line has automatic control.
You can drive through the tunnel from May to October from 08:00 to 22:30, and from November to April from 08:00 to 22:00. A one way ticket will cost 50 ¥ , and on both sides 70 ¥ .
Shanghai water transport
Wusong Port is an important passenger transport hub, through which local transportation is carried out. You can leave Shanghai for Putuoshan every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Travel time one way will be 12 hours. The ticket price varies depending on the class and starts from 139 ¥.
Regular ferries run from Shanghai to the Chongming Islands. The fare will depend on the destination and ranges from 11¥ before 22¥.
Ferries also run successfully between the most tourist areas- Bund and Pudong. Ferry is the most cheap way crossing the river. Only 3¥ you can make a fascinating journey and see the city panorama in a completely different light. Ferries run approximately every 10 minutes, the travel time is even less - just over 5 minutes.
Shanghai Ferry offers cruises from Shanghai International Port to Osaka, Japan. Departures are on Tuesdays at 11:00, Thursdays at 09:00, Fridays at noon and Sundays on a floating schedule. Fares start from 1300
In taxis, you can pay in cash (preferably), by bank card or SPTC transport card.
You can safely call a taxi one of the unique features of modern China. These are traditional cars in our understanding, bicycle and motor rickshaws, and even motorcycle taxis. So a taxi in Shanghai is a topic for a separate article.
The “single” ones familiar to Muscovites are made at the Zelenograd Mikron plant. The enterprise has been producing microcircuits since Soviet times. In the early 1990s, it was corporatized. Then the plant became part of the Sitronics concern, owned by AFK Sistema. In July 2006, the concern signed an agreement with STMicroelectronics on the transfer of technologies for the production of microcircuits based on the topology of 180 nanometers. This line produces microchips, which are now included in every Moscow ticket. In addition to them, the plant produces SIM-cards and plastic cards with chips for Visa and MasterCard, chip modules for a universal electronic card and a biometric passport.
Plant "Mikron"
Location: Moscow, Zelenograd
The number of employees: 1 700
Foundation date: 1967
The main element of the Moscow transport card is a microchip measuring 0.2 square millimeters. Microchip crystals are made on silicon wafers in clean rooms where powerful air conditioners maintain a constant temperature of 21 degrees and 45% humidity. Only employees of the plant in overalls and masks can enter the clean rooms - this is necessary in order to prevent the ingress of dust or foreign particles from clothing and skin onto plates with future chips or equipment.
The manufacture of a crystal is a complex technological process, which is similar to the repeated developing of a photograph. The surface of the silicon wafer is coated with a special dielectric layer. A photosensitive composition is applied to it - a photoresist. Then, using an ultraviolet beam, the plate is illuminated through a photomask with a pattern of one of the layers of the future microcircuit. This procedure is repeated many times on the entire surface of the plate, as long as there is enough space, depending on the size of the chip itself. So one plate with a diameter of 200 millimeters "fits" 90 thousand transport chips.
Ultraviolet radiation, passing through the photomask, illuminates certain areas of the surface, which are then developed using special compositions. As a result, as if "drawn" lines from the photoresist remain on the surface. Free areas are subjected to various effects: etching or ion implantation, when ions of other substances are “shot” into the wafer from a high-voltage accelerator, penetrating into the surface layers of silicon to a certain depth. This is how tens of millions of tiny transistors are obtained, which in the desired sequence must be connected to each other by conductors. The density of the elements is so great that it is impossible to combine them all on one layer. Therefore, several layers are made where the conductors do not cross with each other. All layers and conductors form a complex structure, similar to branched passages in an anthill.
The entire process of manufacturing crystals on a wafer takes about two to three months and requires sequential execution of more than three thousand different operations. There are nine sections in the clean room of the plant, which are responsible for different stages of production. Every day and around the clock, specialists control the technological process, ensuring the quality and accuracy of all operations. In total, Mikron, which, in addition to the production of crystals, is also engaged in scientific research, design of microcircuits and assembly of finished products, employs about 1,700 employees.
When the production of crystals is completed, the plates are sent to the transport card production workshop. In the bumping section, the machine puts tiny gold bars (bumps) on each chip at great speed. Then they will become the contact between the chip and the antenna of the transport ticket. The antenna is needed to power the chip with electricity using electromagnetic induction. When a ticket is applied to the turnstile validator, the ticket antenna enters an electromagnetic field and starts to generate a weak electric current. The chip “wakes up” and starts transmitting information about its number, the number of trips, and the validity period via the radio channel. The information is checked against the database, and if everything matches, the trip is debited from the card and the turnstile doors open.
At the stage of thinning, the plates become ten times thinner. The machine cuts off excess silicon from below and the wafer thickness is reduced from 750 to 75 microns. This avoids the appearance of a tubercle in the place where on transport card chip will be installed.
Then the plate is transferred to a sticky film and sent for cutting, where diamond cutters cut it vertically and horizontally, carefully cutting out each of the 90,000 chips. The thickness of the cut is minimal, and the appearance of chips on the edges is unacceptable.
On the conveyor, the chips are attached to a special non-stretch polyethylene tape with an aluminum antenna. First, the device applies glue exactly to the attachment point, and then a chip is placed on it: on the back of the adhesive film, the chip is lifted with a thin needle so that the vacuum suction cup can pick it up and install it in the right place. A film with an antenna and an installed chip is called an "inlay". The inlays are tested, cut into strips and rolled into tight bobbins. 
After cutting down the tickets are personalized. The drum grabs the ticket and writes the card number on its chip, which will later allow it to be identified in the database. The packers stack the cards in boxes that are sent to the subway and ticket offices in the city. The numbers of tickets and batches are entered into the computer, and then, when selling, the cashier simply “assigns” a certain number of trips to the ticket.
Each month, Mikron makes over 30 million transport cards for the Moscow Transport Department and the Moscow Metro. Their selling price has not exceeded 5 rubles for three years.
photos: Ivan Gushchin
You will definitely remember Shanghai not only for skyscrapers, temples and the former French concession, but also for its public transport, especially for how convenient and easy it is to use. Our metro rail system has more kilometers than any city in the world. Taxis are relatively affordable and buses here can take you to the most remote areas of the city.
But if you've just stepped off a plane, navigating this gigapolis can seem like a complex and confusing process. That's why we've put together this handy guide to all kinds of transportation in Shanghai.
Shanghai public transport card
The public transport card is applicable to all public transport in Shanghai. Similar to MetroCard in New York or Octopus in Hong Kong.
You pay a deposit of 20 yuan per card and you can immediately credit up to 1,000 yuan, but we do not recommend more than 200 yuan in case the card gets lost somewhere. You can buy, top up or return your card at the Service Center of the State public network Shanghai at 609 Jiujiang Lu (right next to the Howard Johnson Plaza) or at designated MRT stations.
Some stations have shops where you can top up your transport card. Basically, replenishment services are performed through a special device using a Chinese bank card, Alipay or WeChat Wallet.
Shanghai's giant underground transport network has 16 lines and is not going to stop developing and expanding. The lines are indicated by numbers and colors. All stations have Chinese and English signs, which are easy to navigate, as they give clear directions to the station, transitions and exits. Station announcements are also voiced in Chinese and English.
If you are traveling in the city center, one trip by subway will cost 3 yuan, while the maximum fare for long distances will be 9 yuan. If during the month you used the amount of more than 70 yuan, then the calculation of fares after 70 yuan occurs at a discount.
Depending on the situation, you can use one-way tickets, 24-hour and 72-hour passes, which is very convenient, because these passes have no limit, you can ride from one side of Shanghai to another all day long, and all with one ticket.
Depending on the lines and stations, the metro starts working from 5:30 am to 22:30 - 23:30 pm.
We wrote a lot and in detail about the Shanghai maglev: , and this miracle of Shanghai transport technology, so we will not bore you with data that has not yet changed that you can get / fly from Pudong Airport using a maglev to the relative city center in just 7 minutes.
The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two parts: Pudong and Puxi. In addition to the metro, bus and taxi, there are also ferries. There are a total of 19 ferry lines serving about 40 ferry stations.
The ferry ride costs 2 yuan, if you are carrying a bike, the fare will be 1.3 yuan on a regular ferry and 2.8 on an air-conditioned ferry, if you are with a scooter, the fare will be 1.5 yuan on a simple ferry and 3 yuan on an air-conditioned ferry.
Not all lines are open 24 hours, some close quite early. Only Dongdong Line, Taigong Line and Jinding Line offer 24/7 services. Only pedestrians are allowed on the Dongjin Line. Cars, trucks or other motor vehicles are allowed on the Dongnen line.
More than 1,000 employees in Shanghai bus routes. This is a convenient and cheap way to get around Shanghai if you know where the stations are and where you need to get off. The ticket usually costs 2 yuan, the driver will not have an exchange for you, so it is better to prepare the fare money in advance.
Be aware that not all lines have an anglicized map or announce stops in English. Central regular lines are always 1 (01)-200, rush hour lines are always 201-299, night lines are always 301-399, river crossing lines are always 401-499.
Bus timetables vary depending on lines and bus companies. If you can speak at least basic Chinese, we recommend downloading the Baidu Maps app. It shows which buses will reach the desired stop and their exact location. It also shows you the fastest route, the routes that require the least amount of walking, and whether it's best to take the bus or subway.
Taxis are very convenient for getting around Shanghai, despite the fact that the price is higher than other modes of transport and the drivers do not speak English. Hailing a taxi in Shanghai is relatively easy.
Different colors represent different taxi companies:
Ordinary Taxi: Landing CNY 14 for the first 3 km during the day and CNY 18 at night (23:00-5:00). 2.50s/km up to 15km, then 3.60s/km. Between 11:00 and 17:00 the fare is higher: 3.10s/km for the first 3 km, then 4.70s/km after 10 km.
Expo cabins (those with a large trunk): landing 16 yuan during the day and 21 yuan at night.
There are also two hundred champagne gold-colored British luxury taxis, aka the "golden taxis" in the city center, which are more accessible to people with disabilities, and run around the city. The landing fee is 18 yuan.
It is recommended to prepare a copy of your address in Chinese, make sure you know the nearest intersection. The streets in Shanghai can stretch for miles, and taxi drivers often use the nearest intersection as a guide to know exactly which part of the city you're heading to.
Bicycles for rent
The transport landscape in Shanghai began to change rapidly with the onset of the bike-sharing boom. Rows of bicycles for rent can be found everywhere, you can rent them for a mere 1-2 yuan and go anywhere. Bicycles of different colors are owned by different companies, the most common being: Mobike (orange), Ofo (yellow) and Xiaoming (blue). This is your cheapest and most convenient transportation option in Shanghai if you are traveling relatively short distances.
The favorite of all Laowai is Mobike, so far it is the only bike rental app available in English. The app also allows you to reserve the bike closest to you for up to 15 minutes. Mobike requires you to register with a photo of your passport and a selfie with your passport. Verification takes about 10 minutes.
Didi Chuxing is a Chinese Uber. The application offers a choice of renting a public car or a luxury car with a driver. You can choose from a taxi, a luxury car and a mini van. A regular taxi ride can be paid for in cash, other vehicles are paid through WeChat or AliPay applications.
And another mode of transport in Shanghai is an electric scooter!
Scooters in price range from 400 yuan for a used one and up to 6,000 yuan for a brand new one, depending on the power and beauty. From the beginning of 2017, all scooters must be registered, so you will have to drive to the police and go through all the procedures. You can buy a new scooter almost anywhere in the city center.
Whatever transport you choose in Shanghai, we wish you an easy journey!
