Shanghai Metro Guide: Foreign Card Tap and How to Ride
Shanghai metro guide: 21 lines, foreign card tap-to-pay, fares and apps. Navigate Shanghai by subway without a Chinese account.
The first time I used the Shanghai Metro I fumbled with an app, a QR code, and a queue behind me. A local tapped a card and walked through. Since June 2025, that’s an option for visitors too: you can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, or other foreign card at the turnstile and ride without downloading anything or linking a Chinese bank account. The Shanghai Metro is the world’s largest urban rail system by route length—21 lines, over 500 stations—and it now treats foreign cards as first-class payment. This Shanghai metro guide covers how to ride, what it costs, and when to use an app instead.
Last Updated: March 2026
Shanghai Metro Guide: Foreign Card Tap (Easiest Way to Ride)
Shanghai Metro rolled out foreign card tap-to-pay in late June 2025. If your card is contactless (NFC), you tap in at the start of your journey and tap out at your destination; the fare is calculated by distance and charged automatically. No app, no registration, no Chinese phone number. Supported networks include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay, and e-CNY. One caveat: some TYPE-B chip cards or cards without ODA may not work. If in doubt, confirm with your bank that contactless payment is enabled before you travel.
I’ve used a Visa and a Mastercard on different trips; both worked at every turnstile I tried. The only time I had trouble was with an older card that wasn’t contactless—the reader simply didn’t respond. So bring a contactless card and you’re set for most rides.
Shanghai Metro: Fares and Operating Hours
Fares are distance-based. The minimum is ¥3 for 0–6 km; then ¥1 per 10 km up to 16 km, and ¥1 per 20 km beyond that. The maximum single-journey fare is ¥15. There’s a ¥1 discount when you transfer between metro and bus within 120 minutes. Trains run from around 5:00–6:00 in the morning until about 22:30–23:37 on weekdays, with Friday and Saturday nights extended on some lines (last trains around midnight to past 1:00).
The Maglev from Pudong Airport runs 06:45–21:40. During rush hour (7–9 am and 5–7 pm) trains come every 2.5–3 minutes; off-peak can be 4–9 minutes.
| Distance | Fare |
|---|---|
| 0–6 km | ¥3 |
| 6–16 km | ¥3 + ¥1 per 10 km |
| 16 km+ | ¥3 + ¥1 per 20 km |
| Maximum | ¥15 |
When to Use an App Instead
If you prefer a single app for metro, bus, ferry, and taxi, SH MaaS (随申行 / Suishenxing) has English support. You can link a foreign card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, Diners), generate a QR code, and scan at the turnstile. The app also lets you add a QR for up to two companions. The official metro-only app is Metro Daduhui (大都会); it has some English but can be unstable. You can also use the transport mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat Pay. For a one-off ride, buying a single-journey ticket at the machine (cash or mobile payment) works too. Tourist passes exist: 1-day unlimited for ¥18, 3-day for ¥45; Maglev combo tickets (one-way Maglev + 24h metro for ¥55, round-trip + 24h for ¥85) are useful if you’re using the Maglev from Pudong Airport.
How to Ride Step by Step
Find the blue M metro signs, go through security (bag X-ray, walk-through metal detector), then pay at the turnstile—card tap, QR scan, or ticket. Follow signs for your line and direction, board, and when you get off, tap or scan again at the exit so the system can calculate your fare. Prohibited items include flammables, explosives, sharp objects, and certain pressurized containers; liquids in clear bottles and laptops may get a separate check. If you have luggage, self-service lockers are available at 144 stations (including Nanjing East Road, Xujiahui, Lujiazui, Hongqiao, Disney); the locker interface supports English, Japanese, and Korean. Backpacks run about ¥10–15 per day, suitcases ¥20–30.
Key Lines and Airport Connections
Line 2 (Green) is the backbone: it links Pudong International Airport, Lujiazui, Nanjing East Road (near The Bund), People’s Square, Nanjing West Road (Jing’an Temple), and Hongqiao Airport T2. Line 10 serves Yu Garden, Nanjing East Road, and Hongqiao Airport T1. Line 11 goes to Disney Resort. For airport-to-city details, see our Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport guides. The Airport Link connects both airports in about 40 minutes if you’re transferring.
From Pudong Airport to downtown by Line 2 is roughly 90 minutes and ¥7–9; Maglev to Longyang Road then Line 2 is about 45 minutes and ¥50–55. From Hongqiao to People’s Square is about 30–35 minutes and ¥4–6.
Rush Hour and Practical Tips
Rush hour (7–9 am and 5–7 pm) is very crowded. If you have luggage or can avoid those windows, do. Station signs are in English. Useful phrases: 地铁站在哪里？(Where’s the metro? — Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?), 换乘 (transfer — Huànchéng), 出口 (exit — Chūkǒu). Be wary of tea-house and taxi touts near tourist areas; use the DiDi app or official taxi stands for rides. Metro hotline: +86-21-6437-0000. Police: 110 (multilingual). Lost and found: go to a station Service Center or call the metro hotline; items are kept for 180 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my foreign card really work at the turnstile?
Yes, since June 2025. Contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, and Diners Club are accepted system-wide. If your card doesn’t respond, it may be non-contactless or restricted; try another card or use an app/ticket.
Do I need to buy a transport card?
No. Tap your foreign card or use SH MaaS / Alipay / WeChat. Transport cards (¥20 deposit, refundable at service centers) are an option if you prefer a single physical card for metro, bus, and ferry.
What are the last train times?
Weekdays roughly 22:30–23:37 depending on line and direction. Friday and Saturday some lines run past midnight (up to around 01:05). Check the Metro Daduhui app or station notices for the day you travel.
Is the metro accessible?
Stations have elevators and accessibility features, but platform gaps and crowds can be challenging. Buses have limited wheelchair access; metro is generally better for mobility needs.
Where can I find a Shanghai metro guide for tourists?
This page is a practical Shanghai metro guide: foreign card tap, fares, key lines and airport links. For other Shanghai transportation options see our Pudong Airport, Hongqiao, DiDi, and night transport guides.
Conclusion
The Shanghai Metro is the fastest and cheapest way to move around the city, and with foreign card tap it’s also one of the simplest. I still use the SH MaaS app when I want one place for metro and bus, but for metro-only trips I usually just tap my card and go. Bring a contactless card, avoid rush hour with luggage if you can, and use our airport and DiDi guides when you need a ride instead of the train.
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