Getting around

Part of Before you go, a sourced pre-trip guide for a first visit to Shanghai. Checked 2026-10-05; rules change, so each step links to its source. Data version 7aa0fecd1904.

Metro: Tap your card at the gate — Shanghai metro gates take contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB and UnionPay cards.

Amap is the map that works here: search places, follow metro routes, call a taxi. Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at any metro gate, or use Alipay's metro QR code. For taxis, every place page has the Chinese address ready to show.

In short

Metro: tap a card, scan a QR code or buy a ticket

1. Tap a contactless UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, Amex or JCB card at any gate; use the same card in and out.

2. Small password-free payments must be on; Type-B and no-ODA cards don't work.

3. Or scan the Shanghai Metro code in Alipay or WeChat, or in the Metro Daduhui app.

4. Or buy a single ticket at a machine; station service centres take foreign cards.

5. Fares start at 3 yuan; a 1-day pass is 18 yuan, a 3-day pass 45 yuan (no Maglev).

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal People's Government

Use Amap; Google Maps is blocked

1. Amap works in English, Japanese, Korean and more, without logging in.

2. Search the English name, then check the Chinese name.

3. Book taxis in Amap or DiDi so the driver already has the destination.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government (source line: Amap), Shanghai Municipal People's Government, UK FCDO

Show drivers the Chinese address

1. Each place page in this guide shows the Chinese name and address to show a driver.

2. Save your hotel's name and address in Chinese characters, as a screenshot.

3. Amap's bilingual phrase cards help with drivers and hotel staff.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government (source line: Amap), China Footnotes place data (internal)

Pudong to the city: metro, Maglev, Airport Link, taxi

1. Metro Line 2 to People's Square: about 7 yuan, about 1 hour.

2. Maglev to Longyang Road: 50 yuan single, about 8 minutes; then change to Line 2.

3. Airport Link to Hongqiao Airport T2: up to 26 yuan, about 40 minutes; last train 22:15.

4. Taxi from the official rank (T1 Gate 12, T2 Gate 25): about 180 yuan to People's Square.

5. Late at night: the airport night bus (守航夜宵线) from T1, 23:00–05:30, 18–34 yuan.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Airport Group, Shanghai Airport Group

Hongqiao: metro Lines 2 and 10, taxi 100–150 yuan

1. Metro Lines 2 and 10 at Terminal 2; Line 10 at Terminal 1.

2. Taxi: about 30 minutes and 100–150 yuan, from T1 Gate 1 or T2 Gate 4.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government

Taxis: DiDi or the official rank; meter and receipt

1. Book DiDi in Alipay, WeChat or Amap; the fare is paid in the app.

2. At airports, DiDi pickups use the ride-hail zone, not the taxi rank.

3. Street taxis: use marked, metered taxis and keep the receipt.

4. Some taxis take foreign cards; carry some cash as a backup.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government, UK FCDO, Shanghai Municipal People's Government

Traveller tips

Next: Safety