Shanghai Metro

地铁About this metro system

Shanghai Metro holds the distinction of being the longest metro system in the world by total route length, surpassing Tokyo and Beijing in that metric in 2010 and continuing to extend since. The network opened its first line in 1993 and has expanded at a consistent pace, reaching 20 lines and over 500 stations as of 2026.

The system covers Shanghai comprehensively: from Pudong International Airport (Line 2) and the Maglev connection point at Longyang Road, through the city centre at People's Square (Lines 1, 2, and 8), to the Old Town (Line 10), Xintiandi (Line 10), the French Concession (Lines 1 and 9), Jing'an Temple (Lines 2 and 7), and the waterfront areas along both banks of the Huangpu.

For practical navigation, Line 2 is the main east–west spine running from Pudong Airport through the central business district to Hongqiao Airport. Line 1 runs north–south through the heart of the former French Concession and Puxi. The interchange stations at People's Square (Lines 1, 2, and 8) are among the world's busiest; expect significant crowds at peak hours. The QR code ticketing system — accessible via WeChat or the Metro Dahang app — eliminates the need to handle physical coins or cards for infrequent users.