Shanghai Metro Ticket

Shanghai metro adopts the following five types of tickets:

  1. Shanghai Metro DADUHUI App
This is the most convenient way to take Shanghai Metro. If you have an Alipay or WeChat Pay account, you can download the Shanghai Metro DADUHUI which supports Alipay and WeChat Pay or simply open Shanghai Metro online service on Alipay and WeChat, then you can take the metro and make a transfer by simply scanning the QR code under a second.  

If you don't have an Alipay or WeChat Pay account, Shanghai Metro DADUHUI App and MasterCard are working together to facilitate international passengers to use their MasterCard cards for transportation in Shanghai. The cardholders can simply link their MasterCard cards to Shanghai Metro DADUHUI App and enjoy the same fast, secure and smart travel experience as Shanghai locals.

It is recommend that passengers should open the app and generating a QR code ahead of time to avoid congestion and tech problems at the turnstiles.
 

2. Single Journey Ticket
It is a thin IC card which is endowed with a certain sum of money depending on the destination you choose. It can be bought at a ticket dispenser or from a ticket booth. The metro system has introduced electronic ticketing so you should carry some change. A single journey ticket can be used only one time on the day you buy it within the subway lines and stations you choose. It should be returned at your destination station and recycled in the ticket system.


 3. Shanghai Public Transportation Card
The Card is convenient to pay the metro fare. It can be used not only on the metro, but also on some public buses, ferryboats and even taxies. It is common for the new users to pay CNY 100 for the card, including a CNY 20 deposit and CNY 80 for use. The card can be used repeatedly and you can deposit more money in it at designated metro stations, bus stations, banks or stores.
 

 4. Souvenir Ticket
For visitors, a souvenir ticket is a good choice. It is valid for one year and can be bought at several designated subway stations. You can only take the train once on certain lines. When getting out of the station, it will be returned to you as a souvenir.

 5. One-day Travel Pass
It has been introduced for Shanghai subway since Expo 2010. The pass is sold CNY18 and could be purchased at any ticket booths set at these metro stations. With this pass, passenger could take all the city's metro lines without limit in 24 hours after the first use. This pass is not required to be returned after use so passenger could keep it as a souvenir.

 6. Three-day Travel Pass
It has been used since March, 2012. The pass is sold CNY45 and could be purchased at any ticket booths set at these metro stations. With this pass, passenger could take all the metro lines without limit in 72 hours after the first use. This pass is not required to be returned after use so passenger could keep it as a souvenir.

 7. Maglev & Metro Pass
This pass has been issued since May 23, 2013. There are two versions. The Maglev Single Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 55 and allows passengers to take a single maglev trip (economy class) and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. The Maglev Round Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 85 and allows passengers to take a maglev round-trip (economy class) and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. The pass is available at both the maglev stations of Pudong International Airport and Longyang Rd. as well as some major metro stations like T2 of Hongqiao International Airport, Hongqiao Railway Station, South Railway Station, Railway Station, People’ Square and Jing’an Temple, etc. After use, the card will not be recycled and passengers can keep it as a souvenir. 

Metro Ticket Machine

 Notes:
1. Ticket issuing is stopped three minutes before the departure time of the last train;
2. Go to Shanghai Metro Guidance to know how to buy a ticket.

Shanghai metro adopts a 'one-ticket transfer' system. You can take a single subway line or transfer to other lines at some major transfer stations such as People's Square, South Railway Station, Indoor Stadium, Xinzhuang, Zhongshan Park, Century Avenue and South Xizang Rd. A through ticket can be bought at your starting station. The charge is proportional to mileage with a starting price of CNY 3 for 0-6km (0-4mi). Passengers need to pay CNY 1 for each extra 10km (6mi). A subway trip between two stations in downtown usually costs no more than CNY 6. 

Metro passengers can have a discount if they pay the fare by Public Transportation Card. If you have pay the subway fare by the card over CNY 70 in a month, the fare you pay in the rest of the month will be 10% off. Additionally the Card allows for once an overdraft of CNY 8. However, if the card has a zero or a negative balance, it can't be used any more.
 

Unused tickets can be refunded in the issuing station on the issuing day. Used tickets can not be refunded whether you have used up the balance or not.