Transport in Shanghai: Metro, Taxi, Bus, Airport, Railway Station
Metro System
There are stations where several Metro lines meet. An interchange station is a station where you can change for other lines without meeting a ticket barrier. A transfer station, however, is one where you have to leave the first line through a ticket barrier and then be charged for another line.
However, the Metro has its disadvantages. It is extremely crowded in rush hours and Line 1 is crowded in whatever hours. Be wary of thieves, both on the train and on the platform, especially when it is extremely crowded.
Shanghai is going to build 10 new Metro lines from 2005 to 2012, stretching 389 kilometers. Total kilometrage of Shanghai Metro System is expected to reach 510 kilometers by 2012, among which 400 kilometers are going to put in use before 2010 Expo. Construction of four of the lines will start this year.
color of each line:
● Line 1
● Line 2
● Line 3
● Line 4
● Line 5
● Line 6
● Line 8
● Line 9
New Line Available Now:
● Line 7
● Line 11
Attention!
● Be careful on the platform at rush hours and never get too close to the track. Keep an eye on your valuables when the train is extremely crowded.
● Line 3 has a section coinciding with Line 4, but their schedules are different.
For the metro map you can get from:
http://www.exploreshanghai.com/metro/
This metro map now is available on the iPhone.
Taxi
The vacancy disk will help you know which cab is available. When the disk is upright and illuminated showing two Chinese characters -- 空车 -- it means the cab is vacant.
Besides flagging down a cab on the street, you can also book a car by phone. There is no service fee for phone bookings except Dazhong company, which charges 4 yuan for each telephone or online reservation. The taxi hotline is, 96965 and English is available.
Taxi Fare:
Current fares for daytime operation (5am to 11pm)
1-3 km 3-10 km More than 10 km
Fares 11 yuan 2.1 yuan per km 3 yuan per km
Waiting time Waiting 5 minutes equals traveling a kilometer
Attention!
●If you take the taxi from PVG or Hongqiao Airport or Maglev Train Station, DO take the taxi from taxi stop, DON'T trust the people coming to you, speaking little English, and want you to take their taxis!
●As mentioned, you may find cabs scarce in rush hours and on rainy days. Taxi call centers will also become too busy to reach in these situations.?Your best bet is probably to head for places taxis haunt, such as restaurants. Although taxis don't often park outside restaurants, many people go there by taxi. If you are quick enough, you can jump in as other passengers get out.
●Don't try to hail a cab at a crossroads, as taxi drivers cannot stop their cars within 30 meters from an intersection to pick up passengers.
●Cabbies in Shanghai are also not allowed to take a tip. Most of them are amicable, but their English is limited. So it's best to get spmeone to write down your destination in Chinese.
●Remember to take the receipt. The slip will contain information on the taxi, including its plate number and the taxi company. In case you leave something in the car, the receipt will give you clues to find it.
Bus & Transport Card
Shanghai buses can be extremely crowded in rush hours and some of them are not totally clean. But buses on busy shopping streets or connecting major attractions are in excellent condition and during off-peak hours it is a pleasure to ride in them. Plus, the bigger windows of a bus will give you a better view of the city than taking taxis or subways
Bus Fare:
Generally speaking, it's 2 RMB for one ride with air-conditioning bus. Some buses for long ride will have different level rate from 1- 12 RMB. ( some will be even more, usually for the buses accessing to outskirts area)
Attention!
● Language is the biggest barrier for foreigners to ride a bus. The signs at bus stops are all in Chinese and very few bus drivers and conductors speak English. Some buses in the downtown have English announcements in their onboard reminder system.
●If you have to take a packed bus, take care of your pockets and backpacks. It is wise to take down the pack from your shoulder and carry it in your hands, which can save space on the bus and keep it away from pickpockets.
●A Public Transportation Card cannot be swiped twice on the same bus or Metro station. So prepare coins if you have a card but your companions don't.
●The bus fares are for one way. If you reach a terminal station and want to ride back, you must buy a ticket or pay the charge again.
Transport Card:
it could be widely used for payment on local buses, taxis, Metro lines and docks, etc.
You can purchase it at metro stations, banks and convenient stores.
Discounts for transport card users
Bus passengers: transport card holders will receive a 1 RMB discount on their two RMB fare if they take a second trip on any of the routes involved in the discount scheme within 3 hours of boarding the first bus / metro.
Refund
You can refund your transport card at the following Metro stations:
-> Line 1: Hanzhong Road, Henshan Road, Jingjiang Park Station, Gongkang Road stations.
-> Line 2: Jiangsu Road, Nanjing East Road, Shiji Park stations.
-> Line 3: Dongbaoxing Road, Caoxi Road, Zhenping Road stations.
You can also refund your transport card at these places:
-> No.218, Taixing Road. Open hour: 9：00-17：00, every day except holidays.
-> Third Floor, No.389, Meiyuan Road. Open hour: 8：30-16：30, Monday to Friday.
-> Second Floor, No.920, Nanjing West Road. Open hour: 9：00-17：00, every day except holidays.
-> No.161, Luochuan East Road. Open hour: 9：30-16：00, every day except holidays.
-> No.121, Xinbei Road, Minhang District. Open hour: 9：00-16：00, every day except holidays.
Airport:
Useful info:
Telephone inquiries: 6834-1000
Passenger flight information: 9608-1388
Lost and found: 6834-6324
Airport website: http://www.shanghaiairport.com/en/
Maglev Train:
The round trip ticket cost 80 yuan and the one way ticket cost 50 yuan. Passengers with current day flight ticket can buy a one way ticket of Maglev Train at 20% discount.
Maglev train station is just right opposite to Long Yang Road Metro Station ( Line 2), which could access to city center.
Shanghai Railway Station
Shanghai Railway Station:
Metro Line 1, 3, 4
Shanghai South Railway Station:
Metro Line 1, 3
Attention!
●Figure which railway station your train will be before you go.
●DO take the taxi from taxi stop, DON'T trust the people coming to you, speaking little English, and want you to take their taxis!
●Now the for the train ticket selling is available 5 days in advance, express train ticket is 10 days in advance.