Shanghai’s Metro: The Ultimate Urban Jungle Gym

Let’s get down to business, Shanghai is gigantic. Astoundingly big as in its among the large cities on Earth, the Metro and how do I even begin to explain the system? It stands above everything on the planet, out of fifteen lines and four hundred stations with more being constructed. There is no denying it is an engineering marvel, and honestly, it’s baffling how fast it has expanded in three decades. But here’s the kicker, not many people do. That is something we can change.

Shanghai 101: The Basics

Located in the mouth of yanngzze river is Shanghai which is one of the eastern coast cities of China. The Huangpu river divides this wetland full of skyscrapers into two emblematic figures which are cunctrum Puxi and the yellow Pudong dominated with skyskapers. This city sits at the bottom part of China and is too flat, soft and wet at the same time making it a nightmare to dig a tunnel.

Don’t forget about the airports too. Out of the major airports located in Shanghai, foreign airplanes mostly use Pudong International, whereas Hongqiao airport services domestic flights. Prior to the pandemic, Pudong International Airport operated on a colossal scale, accommodating over 70 million passengers annually, whereas Hongqiao Airport run by Shanghai Civil Aviation Group serviced around 50 million. The Metro system connects to both airports. This is highly useful considering the traffic congestion in the city.

A Partial Introduction to the Metro

A Beast – that’s how best we can describe the Shanghai Metro System. With over 800 kilometers of track, 408 stations and 19 lines, there needs to be some serious planning. Unlike other metro systems, this one was developed with a base plan due to French engineering company, Systra, which influenced with France’s metropolitan railways. Also, the logo of the system is a combination of the letter ‘M’ and ‘S’ of Shanghai, which happens to be my favorite too.

Like the majority of the country, the design of the trains is similar across China. The majority of the time, the trains have either a very low capacity or there just isn’t enough room aboard to accommodate the passengers. Some of the train lines have over a million daily journeys; in these cases, standard Chinese trains are used that run on 1500-volt DC overhead lines.

The Lines: An Analysis Breakdown

Let’s begin with the lines, which I will simplify into four categories.

1. North-South Lines: These stretch, you guessed it, north and south.
2. East-West Lines: These travel, east and west.
3. Diagonal and Loop Lines: These move in a zigzag motion across the city.
4. Suburban Lines: These join the suburbs with the city center.

North-South Lines

1. Line 1: The OG is my favorite. The oldest and the first one, opened in 1993. It has 28 stations after covering a distance of 36 kilometers. One of the most busy stations moving around 1.5 million riders a day.
2. Line 3: Opened in 2000. It has a length of 40km and possesses 29 stations. It is mainly above the ground which is an unusual characteristic for Metro lines in such a populated city.
3. Line 7: Opened in 2009. It is 44km long and 33 stations in total, and it connects Pudong Airport to the city center.

East-West Lines

1. Line 2: The Chinatown King’s Line. The king of the metro. It first opened in 1999 and it is the busiest Tile in Shanghai. The line interlinks both airports and moves through the center of the city. On average it services nearly 2 million riders a day.
2. Line 9: Runs in a diagonal from southwest to northeast. It primarily operates underground. Its length 64 kilometers with 35 stations.
3. Line 12: Newest line. Fully underground with platform screen doors at every station. Total length of 40 kilometers with 32 stations.

Diagonal and Loop Lines

1. Line 10: A fully automated loop line. It interconnects the city’s northeast side to the southwest making it a 45 kilometers loop. 37 stations along the line.
2. Line 11: At 82 kilometers long it is the longest line. 39 stations. Fun fact: no train runs the entire length, so you’ll have to switch if you’re going end-to-end. Highest speed of 100 km/h.
3. Line 4: The only loop line in Shanghai. 34 kilometers long with 26 stations. It shares traks with Line 3 in some stretches of the loop.

Suburban Lines

• Line 5-Consolidates with Line 1 towards the southwest direction. Covers a distance of 33 kilometers and has 19 stations.
• Line 16-Suburban line offering express services. Covers a distance of 60 kilometers and has 13 stations.
• Line 17-Another contouring suburban line which is 35 kilometers long and has 13 stations. Features an unusual cross-platform transfer to Line 2 which is infrequent in Shanghai.

Shanghai Metro Station List

• Line 1 : Hanzhong Road, Lianhua Road, People’s Square, Bao’an Highway, Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Changshu Road, Xujiahui, West Youyi Road, Shanghai Railway Station, Tonghe Xincun, Xinzhuang, Gongfu Xincun, Xinzha Road, South Huangpi Road, Shanghai South Railway Station, Pengpu Xincun, Waihuanlu, Hulan Road, Hengshan Road, Caobao Road, South Shaanxi Road, Shanghai Circus World, Fujin Road, North Zhongshan Road, Yanchang Road, Wenshui Road, Gongkang Road, Jinjiang Park.
• Line 2 : Panxiang Road, Lingkong Road, People’s Square, Zhangjiang High Technology Park, Jing’an Temple, Weining Road, West Nanjing Road, Middle Chuangxin Road, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Guanglan Road, Beixinjing, Zhongshan Park, Chuansha, South Pudong Road[viii], Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2, Jiangsu Road, Haitiansan Road, Tangzhen, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, Songhong Road, Jinke Road, East Huaxia Road, Century Park, Longyang Road, Century Avenue, Loushanguan Road, Lujiazui, Hongqiao Railway Station, Yuandong Avenue, National Exhibition and Convention Center, East Nanjing Road.
• Line 3 : Shuichan Road, Youyi Road, Zhongtan Road, Songfa Road, Baoyang Road, Zhenping Road, Chifeng Road, Dongbaoxing Road, Zhanghuabang, South Changjiang Road, Tieli Road, Jiangwan Town, Jinshajiang Road, Caoxi Road, Caoyang Road, West Yan’an Road, Shilong Road, North Jiangyang Road, West Yingao Road, Baoshan Road, Zhongshan Park, Longcao Road, Dabaishu, Hongqiao Road, Yishan Road, Shanghai Railway Station, Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai South Railway Station, Songbin Road.
• Line 4 : Pudong Avenue, Jinshajiang Road, Zhenping Road, Yishan Road, Hongqiao Road, Century Avenue, Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Zhongtan Road, Linping Road, Xiangcheng Road[iv], South Xizang Road, Shanghai Stadium, Hailun Road, Dalian Road, Tangqiao, Yangshupu Road, Nanpu Bridge, Shanghai Railway Station, Dong’an Road, Zhongshan Park, Damuqiao Road, Lancun Road, West Yan’an Road, Baoshan Road, Luban Road, Caoyang Road.
• Line 5 : Xinzhuang, Fengpu Avenue, Jiangchuan Road, Wenjing Road, Beiqiao, Minhang Development Zone, Dongchuan Road, Huanchengdong Road, Yindu Road, Huaning Road, Jinhai Lake, Xidu, Chunshen Road, Zhuanqiao, Jinping Road, Wangyuan Road, Xiaotang, Pingzhuang Highway, Jianchuan Road, Fengxian Xincheng.
• Line 6 : West Huaxia Road, Shangnan Road, Yuanshen Sports Center, Linyi Xincun, Beiyangjing Road, Wuzhou Avenue, Yunshan Road, Hangjin Road, Zhouhai Road, Lancun Road, Jufeng Road, Minsheng Road, Gaoqing Road, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Dongming Road, Pudian Road, Oriental Sports Center, Boxing Road, West Gaoke Road, Dongjing Road, Gangcheng Road, North Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, South Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Wulian Road, Jinqiao Road, South Lingyan Road, Deping Road, Century Avenue.
• Line 7 : West Gaoke Road, Dahuasan Road, Jinxiu Road, Nanchen Road, Xincun Road, Fanghua Road, Meilan Lake, Xingzhi Road, Zhenping Road, Changping Road, Changzhong Road, Changqing Road, Dong’an Road, Huamu Road, Middle Longhua Road, Dachang Town, Jing’an Temple, Qihua Road, Yaohua Road, Panguang Road, Changshou Road, Yuntai Road, Changshu Road, Shanghai University, South Yanggao Road, Zhaojiabang Road, Longyang Road, Langao Road, Luonan Xincun, Shangda Road, Gucun Park, Houtan, Liuhang.
• Line 8 : Oriental Sports Center, Nenjiang Road, Zhongxing Road, People’s Square, Qufu Road, North Xizang Road, Xiangyin Road, Hongkou Football Stadium, Chengshan Road, Lujiabang Road, Siping Road, Jiangpu Road, Shiguang Road, Anshan Xincun, South Xizang Road, Huangxing Park, Yaohua Road, Middle Yanji Road, China Art Museum, Lianhang Road, Laoximen, Lingzhao Xincun, Jiangyue Road, Shendu Highway, Quyang Road, Yangsi, Pujiang Town, Luheng Road, Huangxing Road, Dashijie.
• Line 9 : Xiaonanmen, Century Avenue, Dongjing, Sheshan, Songjiang Xincheng, Xingzhong Road, Gutang Road, Minlei Road, Fangdian Road, Zuibaichi Park, Jinji Road, Caohejing Hi-Tech Park, Zhongchun Road, Hechuan Road, Jinhai Road, Lantian Road, Shangcheng Road, Zhaojiabang Road, Xujiahui, Songjiang University Town, Jinqiao, Songjiang Sports Center, Taierzhuang Road, Jiashan Road, Middle Yanggao Road, Lujiabang Road, Qibao, Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station, Madang Road, Caolu, Jiuting, Dapuqiao, Guilin Road, Yishan Road, Sijing.
• Line 10 : Xintiandi, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1, Guofan Road, Longxi Road, Hailun Road, Shuangjiang Road, Longbai Xincun, Tongji University, Hongqiao Railway Station, Jiao Tong University, Songyuan Road, South Shaanxi Road, Sanmen Road, Gangcheng Road, Jilong Road, Shanghai Library, Youdian Xincun, Xinjiangwancheng, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, East Yingao Road, Siping Road, Tiantong Road, Ziteng Road, Yuyuan Garden, Shuicheng Road, Guoquan Road, Wujiaochang, North Sichuan Road, West Gaoqiao, Shanghai Zoo, Laoximen, Jiangwan Stadium, Yili Road, Hangzhong Road, Gaoqiao, East Nanjing Road, Hongqiao Road.
• Line 11 : Guangming Road, Nanxiang, Shanghai Swimming Center, Luoshan Road, Taopu Xincun, Yuqiao, North Jiading, Caoyang Road, Baiyin Road, Wuwei Road, West Jiading, Qilianshan Road, Longyao Road, East Changji Road, Malu, Pusan Road, Longhua, Yunjin Road, Jiangsu Road, Disney Resort, Shanghai West Railway Station, Liziyuan, Shanghai Circuit, Jiao Tong University, Kangxin Highway, Huaqiao, Oriental Sports Center, Xujiahui, Chenxiang Highway, Anting, Shanghai Automobile City, Zhenru, Zhaofeng Road, Fengqiao Road, Xiuyan Road, Kangheng Road, Jiading Xincheng, Longde Road, East Sanlin, Sanlin.
• Line 12 : Damuqiao Road, Jufeng Road, Caobao Road, Hongxin Road, Donglan Road, Qufu Road, Fuxing Island, Qixin Road, West Nanjing Road, Ningguo Road, Husong Highway, Dongjing, Dalian Road, Jinjing Road, Guilin Park, Hongmei Road, International Cruise Terminal, South Shaanxi Road, Aiguo Road, Tilanqiao, Longhua, Jiangpu Park, Jinhai Road, Middle Longhua Road, North Yanggao Road, Donglu Road, Liuwu Highway, Changdong Road, Longchang Road, Hongcao Road, Longcao Road, Jiashan Road, Hanzhong Road, Hi-tech Park, Tiantong Road, Gudai Road, Shenjiang Road, Changxi Road.
• Line 13 : Lianxi Road, Longde Road, Chengshan Road, Wuning Road, Jinshajiang Road, Beicai, Middle Gaoke Road, Xuelin Road, Dongming Road, Fengzhuang, Xintiandi, Yunle Road, Daduhe Road, Zhangjiang Road, South Qilianshan Road, Huapeng Road, World Expo Museum, Zhongke Road, West Jinshajiang Road, Dangui Road, Middle Huaxia Road, West Nanjing Road, Madang Road, Qianwan Park, Shibo Avenue, Jile Road, Hanzhong Road, Jiangning Road, Xia’nan Road, Jinyun Road, Middle Huaihai Road, Shanghai Natural History Museum, National Exhibition and Convention Center, Jidi Road, Zhenbei Road, Changqing Road, Changshou Road, Chenchun Road.
• Line 14 : Tongchuan Road, Zhenru, Wuding Road, Guiqiao Road, Dingbian Road, Caoyang Road, Zhongning Road, Yuanshen Road, Xiepu Road, Pudong Football Stadium, Jing’an Temple, Wuning Road, Lintao Road, Lantian Road, Jinyue Road, Dashijie, Fengbang, South Huangpi Road, Changyi Road, Lujiazui, Pudong Avenue, Longju Road, South Pudong Road, Zhenguang Road, Yunshun Road, Yunshan Road, Huangyang Road, Zhenxin Xincun, Lexiu Road, Yuyuan Garden, Jiayi Road.
• Line 15 : Oriental Beauty Valley Avenue, Nanda Road, Changfeng Park, Jinghong Road[ii], South Lanxianghu Road, Hongbaoshi Road, Fengxiang Road, Yuanjiang Road, Tongchuan Road, Jingxi Road, Zizhu Hi-tech Park, Daduhe Road, South Hongmei Road, North Meiling Road, Guilin Road, Loushanguan Road, Zhumei Road, Jinqiu Road, North Huifeng Road, Guilin Park, Luoxiu Road, Qi’an Road, Wangyuan Road, East China University, Shanghai West Railway Station, Gulang Road, Yaohong Road, Wuzhong Road, Shanghai South Railway Station, Yongde Road, East Wuwei Road, Shuangbai Road, Shujian Road, Gucun Park.
• Line 16 : Lingang Avenue, Longyang Road, Heshahangcheng, East Zhoupu, Wild Animal Park, Dishui Lake, Huinan, East Huinan, Shuyuan, East Hangtou, Xinchang, Luoshan Road, Middle Huaxia Road.
• Line 17 : Xicen, National Exhibition and Convention Center, Huijin Road, Qingpu Xincheng, Xuying Road, Dianshanhu Avenue, Xujingbeicheng, Panlong Road, Caoying Road, Oriental Land, Zhujiajiao, Middle Jiasong Road, Hongqiao Railway Station, Zhaoxiang.
• Line 18 : Minsheng Road, Jiangpu Road, South Jiangyang Road, Fanrong Road, Yingao Road, Kangwen Road, Aihui Road, Hetao Road, Jiangpu Park, Shanghai University of Finance, Pingliang Road, Tongnan Road, Fudan University, Lianxi Road, Xiasha, Fangxin Road, Kangqiao, Guoquan Road, South Changjiang Road, West Changjiang Road, Hangtou, Hulan Road, Changyi Road, Longyang Road, Yingchun Road, Yuqiao, Zhoupu, Beizhong Road, Fushun Road, Middle Yanggao Road, Danyang Road, Shenmei Road.
• Pujiang : Huizhen Road, Dongchengyi Road, Sanlu Highway, Shendu Highway, Puhang Road, Minrui Road.

Shanghai Top Places

• Pudong – Lujiazui, Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower
• Xuhui – Xujiahui, Longhua Temple, Tianzifang
• Jing’an – Jing’an Temple, Nanjing West Road, Suzhou Creek
• Minhang – Qibao Ancient Town, East China Normal University
• Huangpu – The Bund, People’s Square, Yuyuan Garden
• Changning – Zhongshan Park, Hongqiao Airport, Tianshan Road
• Baoshan – Wusongkou Cruise Terminal, Gucun Park
• Yangpu – Fudan University, Yangpu Bridge, Wujiaochang
• Hongkou – Duolun Road, Lu Xun Park, North Bund
• Putuo – Zhenru Temple, Changfeng Park, Global Harbor
• Songjiang – Sheshan, Thames Town, Shanghai Film Park
• Jiading – Shanghai International Circuit, Anting Auto City
• Fengxian – Nanqiao, Bihai Jinsha, Gulf Forest Park
• Qingpu – Zhujiajiao Water Town, National Exhibition Center
• Chongming – Dongtan Wetland, Chongming National Geopark
• Nanhui – Lingang New City, Dishui Lake, Shanghai Astronomy Museum
• Kangqiao – Wild Animal Park, Kangqiao Industrial Zone
• Zhangjiang – Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility
• Gubei – Hongqiao Business District, Yili Road, Gubei SOHO

The Future-More Lines, More Chaos

But Shanghai is not finished, not by a long shot. They are extending and building new lines like it is some kind of craze. Here is a fast overview:

• Line 19-North-south line to alleviate congestion on lines 1 and 8.
• Line 20-Orbital line in the upper parts of Shanghai.
• Line 21-Express line with several intersecting sections like in Line 16.
• Chongming Line-New suburban line that goes from Shanghai to Chongming Island.

The Concerns: Capacity and Celerity

Along with these achievements, Shanghai Metro has a challenge: it is running out of space. The journey between some termini can take than 90 minutes, and the heart of the city is crammed with subway lines. The answer? An inter-city rail network. Picture a city’s skyline with super-fast trains running from the suburbs to the city center. It is still a work in progress, but at least it is a start.

On one hand, the Shanghai metro is a technological marvel. It is also breathtakingly vast and efficient, but it’s definitely not perfect. Some haphazard transfers are awful. Other lines are simply overcrowded, with mobs of passengers waiting to board. It remains one of the greatest feats of modern engineering, though. And, the beauty of it all is that if you are a public transportation enthusiast, then Shanghai should be the ideal destination for you.

Thus, the next time you find yourself in China, don’t forget to get onto the metro in Shanghai Don’t forget to prepare yourself for some disorder on the way, though.