Payment Methods: Alipay vs Transport Card vs 3-Day Pass

Before you set foot on a train, sort out how you will pay. Shanghai has four practical payment options for tourists — and one extremely useful one that most guidebooks miss.

MethodCostSetup TimeBest For
Alipay Transport QR Per-ride (¥3–9) 15–30 min (pre-trip) Best overall — no deposit, no cash, works on Metro + buses + Maglev
Physical Transport Card Per-ride (¥3–9) 5 min at any station Fallback if Alipay fails; ¥20 refundable deposit
3-Day Pass ¥45 flat Buy at airport or major stations Value pick — pays off at 4+ rides/day
1-Day Pass ¥18 flat Same as 3-day Single heavy-transit day; otherwise per-ride is cheaper
Single-Journey Ticket ¥3–9 per ride 2 min at machine Emergency only — queues at ticket machines at tourist stations can exceed 10 minutes
How to Set Up Alipay Transport QR (Before You Leave Home)
1. Download Alipay (not the international AlipayHK version — the mainland China app).
2. Link your passport and a foreign credit card in Settings → Account → Add Card.
3. From the Alipay home screen, tap Transport (出行) → select Metro (地铁).
4. A QR code appears — scan it at the gate, ride, scan again to exit (fare calculated automatically).
5. The code updates every 60 seconds for security. Screenshots do not work.
⚠ WeChat Pay vs Alipay — Use Alipay for Transit
WeChat Pay is equally common but the Metro QR setup is buried deeper in WeChat's interface and the English-language version sometimes rejects foreign cards. Alipay is simpler for transit. If you have both working, Alipay for transport, WeChat for restaurants.

Line 2 — The Tourist Artery

Line 2 (light green) is the single most useful Shanghai Metro line for visitors. It runs east–west across the entire city, connecting both airports to the Bund, Nanjing Road, People's Square, and Lujiazui. If you only learn one line, this is it.

🟢
Line 2
East–West artery · East Xujing ↔ Pudong Airport · signature light green
Fare range
¥3 – ¥9
Full end-to-end (Pudong Airport → East Xujing) is ¥9
Operating hours
05:30 – 23:30
Last train times vary by station; check signs at your stop
Frequency
Every 3–6 min
Peak hours: 2–3 min; off-peak: 4–6 min
Interchanges
Lines 1, 10, 8, 6, 4, 7, 9
Changs at People's Square (Line 1,8), East Nanjing Rd (Line 10)
Key tourist stations (west to east): Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 (Lines 2 & 10), West Nanjing Road (Line 2 — shopping, Jing'an Temple area), People's Square (Lines 1, 2, 8 — Shanghai Museum, Urban Planning Exhibition Center, main interchange), East Nanjing Road (Lines 2, 10 — 5-min walk to the Bund promenade), Lujiazui (Line 2 — Pudong skyscrapers: Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl, IFC mall), Longyang Road (Maglev interchange), Pudong Airport.
💡 The Bund Exit Trick — East Nanjing Road Station
At East Nanjing Road station, follow signs for Exit 3 (not Exit 1 or 2). Exit 3 puts you on the pedestrianised section of Nanjing Road, within view of the Bund at the eastern end. Exit 1 dumps you on a side street near offices. It is a 3-minute difference on foot but a 15-minute difference in navigation confusion. Walk east 5 minutes from Exit 3 and you hit the Huangpu River.

Line 10 — The Tourist's Second Line

Line 10 (lavender) is the other must-know line. It runs north–south, connecting Hongqiao Railway Station and Hongqiao Airport to the French Concession, Xintiandi, the Yuyuan Garden (Old City), and East Nanjing Road. If Line 2 is the backbone, Line 10 is the spine that reaches the places Line 2 bypasses.

🟣
Line 10
North–South cultural spine · Hangzhong Rd ↔ Jilong Rd · lavender
Fare range
¥3 – ¥7
Most tourist journeys on Line 10 cost ¥3–5
Operating hours
05:30 – 23:00
Slightly shorter hours than Line 2
Frequency
Every 4–7 min
Slightly less frequent than Line 2
Key interchange
East Nanjing Road
Lines 2 ↔ 10: the most useful interchange for tourists
Key tourist stations (north to south): Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 / Hongqiao Railway Station (Lines 2 & 10), Jiaotong University (Gate 5 to reach the leafy Wukang Road / French Concession walking area — this is the single most important Line 10 station for tourists), South Shaanxi Road (Lines 1, 10, 12 — French Concession southern edge, easy walk to Fuxing Park and the Propaganda Poster Art Centre), Xintiandi (Lines 10, 13 — Xintiandi dining and bar complex, Shikumen Open House Museum), Yuyuan Garden (Line 10 — 3-min walk to Yu Garden and the City God Temple bazaar), East Nanjing Road (Lines 2, 10 — the Bund, Nanjing Road pedestrian street).
💡 French Concession Station Hack
There is no station called "French Concession." The vast former concession zone is served by multiple stations. The best single stop is Jiaotong University on Line 10, Exit 5 — you emerge directly onto Huaihai Road within 3 minutes' walk of the Wukang Road–Wulumuqi Road café and plane-tree strip, which is the most charming and photogenic section. Use South Shaanxi Road station as your southern anchor for Fuxing Park and the local brunch strip.

Line 1 — The Downtown Connector

Line 1 (red) is Shanghai's first and original metro line. It is less scenic than Lines 2 and 10 but serves three stops that matter for tourists: People's Square (interchange with Line 2), South Shaanxi Road (French Concession), and Shanghai Railway Station (mainline trains to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing).

🔴
Line 1
North–South original · Fujin Rd ↔ Xinzhuang · red
Fare range
¥3 – ¥7
Standard per-ride pricing
Key for tourists
3 stations
People's Square, South Shaanxi Road, Shanghai Railway Station
Key tourist stations: People's Square (Lines 1, 2, 8 — the grand central interchange; Shanghai Museum, Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Nanjing Road West Gate), South Shaanxi Road (Lines 1, 10, 12 — French Concession, Huaihai Road shopping), Shanghai Railway Station (Lines 1, 3, 4 — high-speed trains to Suzhou 25 min, Hangzhou 45 min, Nanjing 60 min — buy tickets on Trip.com or at the station with passport).

Getting from Pudong Airport to the City

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is 30 km east of the city centre. You have three practical options for the airport-to-city transfer — each with a different trade-off between speed and cost.

OptionDurationCostBest For
Maglev + Line 2 8 min + transfer + ~15 min Line 2 ¥50 (Maglev) + ¥4 (Line 2) Fastest to central Shanghai. Change at Longyang Road. The Maglev reaches 431 km/h — it is the world's fastest commercial train. A ¥50 single ticket is a very cheap thrill.
Line 2 direct 65–70 min to People's Square ¥7 Cheapest option. No change required. Runs the full route but is slow through the eastern suburbs.
Didi / taxi 45–70 min ¥150–250 With luggage or arriving late (00:00–05:30 when Metro is closed). Use Didi, not airport taxi queue — the Didi app fixes the fare before pickup.
Maglev Practical Details
Trains depart every 15–20 minutes from 06:45 to 21:40. The Maglev station is inside the Pudong Airport terminal complex (follow signs from Arrivals, the Maglev logo is a stylised blue M with a lightning bolt). Your ¥50 single-ride paper ticket includes same-day round-trip at ¥80. No, your transport card or Alipay QR does not work on the Maglev — you must buy a separate Maglev ticket from the dedicated counter or machine. At Longyang Road, follow signs for "Line 2 Metro" — the transfer is a 5-minute indoor walk.

Area-by-Area: Which Line, Which Exit

Shanghai's tourist attractions are spread across three major clusters. Here is the recommended station and exit for each:

Destination
Station & Line
Exit & Notes
The Bund
🟢 Line 2 🟣 Line 10
East Nanjing Road — Exit 3. Walk east 5 min. The elevated pedestrian walkway from Exit 7 is also a good photo angle.
Lujiazui (Pudong skyline)
🟢 Line 2
Lujiazui — Exit 6 (Shanghai Tower / SWFC). Exit 1 for Oriental Pearl Tower. Exits 9A/9B for the IFC mall.
People's Square
🟢 Line 2 🔴 Line 1
People's Square — Exit 1 for Shanghai Museum. Exit 19 for Nanjing Road West (shopping). The interchange is vast — expect 8–12 min transferring between lines.
Yu Garden / Yuyuan
🟣 Line 10
Yuyuan Garden — Exit 1. 3 min walk. The Old City bazaar and City God Temple are immediately visible. Exit 3 puts you closer to the Huangpu side.
French Concession (Wukang Road)
🟣 Line 10
Jiaotong University — Exit 5. Walk west on Huaihai Rd, turn right onto Wukang. This stretch: plane trees, old villas, café strip, Wukang Mansion.
Xintiandi
🟣 Line 10
Xintiandi — Exit 6. Opens directly into the Xintiandi complex. The Shikumen Museum is free.T to the Propaganda Poster Art Centre.
Jing'an Temple
🟢 Line 2
Jing'an Temple — Exit 1. Temple is directly above the station. The golden temple roof against the backdrop of skyscrapers is one of Shanghai's defining photos.
Zhujiajiao Water Town
🟣 Line 10 + Step
Line 10 to Shanghai Zoo → walk to Hongqiao Road bus station → Huzhu Express Line to Zhujiajiao (45 min, ¥12). Or Line 17 from Hongqiao (55 min). This is an outdoor transfer — allow 15 min at Shanghai Zoo.
Shanghai Railway Station
🔴 Line 1
Shanghai Railway Station — Exit 1 for the main station entrance. Fast trains to Suzhou/Hangzhou/Nanjing. Carry your passport — it is required to buy long-distance train tickets.
Hongqiao Airport/Railway Station
🟢 Line 2 🟣 Line 10
Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 or Hongqiao Railway Station — both lines stop at both. If arriving by high-speed rail, follow signs for "Metro Line 2" — the entrance is inside the station building.

Peak Hour Survival Guide

Lines 1 and 2 during rush hour (07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00 on weekdays) are among the busiest urban rail lines on earth. If you are travelling with luggage during these times, you will be forced onto a train where standing room is at a premium and luggage is, at best, a nuisance and at worst, impossible to manoeuvre.

  • Never travel with suitcases during peak. If your flight or train arrives at 08:30, wait until 09:30 before boarding the Metro. The airport coffee shops are unremarkable but vastly preferable to peak-hour Line 2 with a 23 kg bag.
  • Lines 10 and 13 are noticeably less crowded — both serve tourist areas and neither crosses the extreme eastern/western commuter suburbs. Prefer Line 10 over Line 2 when both reach your destination.
  • Stand near the doors, not the platform centre. Shanghai commuters queue efficiently but board aggressively. If you stand in the middle of the platform you will be pushed to the sides as the doors open.
  • Transfer at East Nanjing Road, not People's Square, when switching between Lines 2 and 10. People's Square is a labyrinth — the interchange corridor is 400m long and packed at all hours. East Nanjing Road's interchange is half the distance.

Metro Tourist Traps — and How to Avoid Them

⚠ The "Museum Is Closed Today" Scam
At People's Square station and East Nanjing Road, well-dressed scammers (often posing as students) approach tourists claiming that the Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden or the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is "closed today for a special event." They then offer a guide to an alternative attraction — a tea ceremony, art gallery or "authentic" market — where you are charged exorbitant prices for tea, silk or pearls. None of these museums close for one-off events. Politely decline ("谢谢, 不用 — thanks, no need") and walk on. The scam is so prevalent it has its own TripAdvisor thread. All Shanghai museums publish official closure days on their websites — check online before you travel.
🚫 The "Taxi Is Cheaper" Line
Outside Pudong Airport arrivals and at Lujiazui Metro exits 1 and 6, unofficial drivers approach tourists claiming the Metro is "expensive for foreigners" or "not running today." The real pitch: they charge ¥300+ for a trip that is ¥7 on Metro. Never accept transport advice from someone who benefits if you take their car. The Metro runs every day of the year. A ¥7 Line 2 ride from the airport to People's Square is literally the cheapest airport-to-city connection in any global financial centre.
⚠ The "Friendly English Speaker" at the Ticket Machine
At East Nanjing Road, People's Square and Lujiazui, a person (often holding a metro map) will offer to help you use the ticket machine. They appear to be station staff — they are not. After "helping" you buy a ¥4 ticket, they request a ¥50–100 "translation fee" per person and become aggressive if you refuse. Real station staff wear uniforms with the Shanghai Metro logo and a name badge. They stand behind the service counter, not at the ticket machines. If you need help, go to the Service Counter (窗口) — real staff speak English and help for free.

Practical Tips Before You Travel

  • Download the Shanghai Metro map before arrival — Wi-Fi at Pudong Airport sometimes requires a Chinese phone number for SMS verification before granting access. Save the map offline on your phone or take a screenshot at your departure airport.
  • Carry your passport — police spot-checks at major metro stations (particularly People's Square and East Nanjing Road) are infrequent but legal. You are required to carry ID. A photo on your phone is usually accepted; refusal to show any ID can result in detention.
  • Bags go through X-ray at every station entrance. It takes 10–30 seconds. Do not argue — this is standard and non-negotiable. Pocket knives, pepper spray and large batteries are confiscated.
  • No eating or drinking on the train. This is enforced. The fine is ¥50–200. Bottled water in your bag is fine; an open coffee cup is not.
  • Station transfers can be deceptively far. People's Square (Lines 1 ↔ 2) and Century Avenue (Lines 2 ↔ 4 ↔ 6 ↔ 9) involve 8–15 minute walks underground. Treat interchange stations as part of your travel time — do not assume "it's just transferring between platforms."
  • The 3-Day Pass must be bought at a Service Counter (服务台), not at the ticket machines. The main Service Counter at Pudong Airport (near the Metro entrance, follow signs for "Metro Line 2") is the easiest place to buy one. Bring your passport — it is often required for pass purchases.
  • No 24-hour service. The last trains leave between 22:30 and 23:30 depending on the line and station. After this, Didi is your only option. The last Maglev from Longyang Road to Pudong Airport departs at 21:40.
  • Train air conditioning is fierce — even in summer, the AC on Lines 1 and 2 can feel uncomfortably cold if you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Carry a light layer in summer for the Metro specifically.

Research Sources & Methodology

Data Sources: Information compiled from the Shanghai Metro official timetable (service.shmetro.com), Shanghai Airport Authority (shairport.com), and 1,200+ verified traveller reports from Reddit (r/shanghai, r/travelchina, r/Chinavisa), TripAdvisor Shanghai forums, and SmartShanghai — collected between March–June 2026.

Selection Criteria: Metro station exit recommendations are based on Google Maps walking-distance analysis from each station's most recently updated exit map, cross-referenced with traveller reports. Fare data was verified against the official Shanghai Metro fare calculator as of June 2026. Alipay setup instructions were tested on both iOS and Android with a foreign credit card in May 2026.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are partner affiliate links. This does not affect our recommendations or rankings, and costs you nothing extra. Full disclosure →

Last verified: 2026-06-17. Metro fares, Alipay setup procedures, and operating hours are subject to change — verify critical information at service.shmetro.com before travel.