Author Archives: matt

Explore Shanghai for iPhone 1.8 released!

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Explore Shanghai metro map version 1.8 for iPhone. We’re dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date and accurate metro map of Shanghai, and this latest update adds all the new lines and stations including Line 10, and the Line 2 extensions to both Hongqiao and Pudong Airports.

Look Ma, new lines!

We apologise for the slight delay in getting this update out: with new lines opening frequently, and an approximate 5-day approval process from Apple, we’re going as fast as we can 🙂 This is the ninth version of Explore Shanghai since we launched late last year!

Version 1.8 is a free upgrade for existing users: just look for a notification on the App Store to update. Not bought Explore Shanghai yet? It’s just $0.99. Go get it now!

10 facts about Shanghai Metro Line 10 (and a map)

As we reported on Tuesday, Shanghai Metro Line 10 will open on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know.

  1. This brings the total length of the Shanghai Metro system to 420km: the longest in the world!
  2. Line 10 will initially open for trial operation for 2-3 weeks between the hours of 9am to 4pm, avoiding the rush hours. – UPDATE – Now 5.30am to 7.30pm!
  3. The line will have 27 stations, see the full list at the end of this post
  4. At the western end of the line, there are two branches, to Hangzhong Road and Hongqiao Airport. The Hongqiao Airport branch will open later in the year.
  5. The trains on Line 10 are designed to operate without drivers, but there will be drivers on board for the trial operation.
  6. The line passes many of Shanghai’s tourist attractions, such as Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi and East Nanjing Road.
  7. Line 10 will also include the first metro stops servicing the Gubei area.
  8. Line 10 trains and stations have a lilac livery. That’s a light purple!
  9. The Shanghai Metro Company promise 108 bus lines servicing the new metro stations!
  10. We’ll have an update for exploreshanghai.com on Saturday. Meanwhile, check out this map of the new line! (Click to enlarge)

Here are the stations on the new line, from west to east.

  • Hangzhong Road 航中路
  • Ziteng Road 紫藤路
  • Longbai Xincun 龙柏新村
  • Longxi Road 龙溪路
  • Shuicheng Road 水城路
  • Yuli Road 伊犁路
  • Songyuan Road 宋园路
  • Hongqiao Road 虹桥路 – interchange with lines 3 and 4
  • Jiaotong University 交通大学
  • Shanghai Library 上海图书馆
  • South Shanxi Road 陕西南路 – interchange with line 1 (virtual interchange, requires public transportation card)
  • Xintiandi 新天地
  • Laoximen 老西门 – interchange with line 8
  • Yuyuan Garden 豫园
  • East Nanjing Road 南京东路 – interchange with line 2
  • Tiantong Road 天潼路
  • North Sichuan Road 四川北路
  • Hailun Road 海伦路 – interchange with line 4
  • Youdian Xincun 邮电新村
  • Siping Road 四平路 – interchange with line 8
  • Tongji University 同济大学
  • Guoquan Road 国权路
  • Wujiaochang 五角场
  • Jiangwan Stadium 江湾体育场
  • Sanmen Road 三门路
  • East Yingao Road 殷高东路
  • Xinjiangwancheng 新江湾城

Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Pudong Airport and Line 10 to open for trial operation this week

The Shanghai Metro company has announced that the Line 2 eastern extension to Pudong International Airport will open for trial operation on Thursday 8th April.

We can also exclusively report that Line 10 will open for trial operation on Saturday 10th April! Trial operation means limited opening times, approximately 9am to 4pm avoiding the morning and evening hours. Expect the lines to switch to full-time operation in a few weeks.

Line 2 extension

The new Line 2 extension stretches from the current terminus at Guanglan Road all the way to Pudong International Airport. The airport station is located between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For the first time it will be possible to travel by metro between Pudong and Hongqiao Airports. Note that all passengers will need to change trains at Guanglan Road.

Line 10

You heard it here first, Line 10 will be opening this Saturday! However, again the opening times will be limited initially to 9am to 4pm, and only the central portion of the line will be opening: the westernmost stations at Hongqiao Airport, and the north-eastern part of the line will not be opening yet. We’ll provide a full list of stations set to open as soon as the official announcement is made in the next few days.

April 7th: Xujiahui interchange and Middle Yanggao Road to open

Two pieces of good news for Line 9 riders in Shanghai: on April 7th the interchange passageway at Xujiahui station between Line 9 and Line 1 will open: previously interchanging involved having to exit one station, walk along a busy road above ground and re-enter the other station. Now a passageway will directly connect the two stations, cutting interchange times by several minutes.

Additionally, Line 9 will be extended by one stop in Pudong, from Century Avenue to a new eastern terminus at Middle Yanggao Road.

As usual, both exploreshanghai.com and our Explore Shanghai iPhone app will be updated with the new station and interchange times shortly!

Explore Singapore MRT map for iPhone launched!

We’re proud to announce the launch of the fifth ExploreMetro iPhone app – the Explore Singapore MRT map!

It includes route planning for all journeys on the MRT network with times and prices, offline access, station names in English and Chinese, a find my nearest station feature and free updates for life!

We think Explore Singapore is the best Singapore MRT app for iPhone and iPod touch. The app is fully up to date with the latest information, and we’ll be providing free updates for the Circle Line extension in April.

Explore Singapore is available on the iTunes App Store today priced at just $0.99. Want to try it out for free? Follow us on Twitter or become our fan on Facebook where we’ll be handing out some free promo codes!

Introducing the Explore Singapore MRT map

We’re delighted to announce the launch of Explore Singapore, our fifth metro map site and the first outside of China. Singapore’s MRT is a modern and efficient system and we’re delighted to be able to bring our mapping technology to a new city. Look out for more city sites during 2010!

As with all our ExploreMetro maps, you get:

  • Simple clear mapping of all current lines at www.exploresg.com
  • English and Chinese versions
  • Built-in route-planner with times and prices for all journeys
  • First and last train times for all stations
  • MRTpedia with pages for every station and line including Google Maps, nearby attractions and journey times
  • An iPhone app – currently in review by Apple, launch expected soon!

Shanghai Line 11 full opening from 29th March; lines 10 and 2 delayed

Good news and bad news from the Shanghai Metro Company today!

First, the good news: Metro Line 11 will fully open from 29th March.

  • The new branch line to Anting will open – handy for visitors travelling to the Shanghai Circuit station for the F1 race! Note that the station at East Changji Road will open at a later date.
  • Line 11 will be Shanghai’s first branched line, so pay attention to the destination of your train: Anting or North Jiading.
  • The full line will now be open between approximately 6am to 9.30pm. ExploreShanghai online has been updated with all the new train times: just click on any station to see the popup.

The bad news: the Eastern extension of Line 2 to Pudong Airport, and Line 10 have been delayed, no official opening date has yet been announced.

Faster trains on Line 11, new branch line opening soon

The Shanghai Metro Company has announced that final testing is taking place on the new Line 11 branch line. The line is expected to open before the Formula 1 race at the Shanghai International Circuit takes place on the weekend of 16th – 18th April. The new stations on Line 11 will be

  • Shanghai Circuit 上海赛车场
  • East Changji Road 昌吉东路
  • Shanghai Automobile City 上海汽车城”
  • Anting 安亭 (terminus)

Currently trains on Line 11 only run between 9am and 4pm, the interval between trains has now been reduced from 9 minutes to 7 minutes. Note that some northboard trains will terminate at Jiading Xincheng, where the line divides into the two branches to Anting and North Jiading.

We’ll announce on the blog as soon as the new branch opens for passengers!

Explore Shanghai 1.6 for iPhone launched

The latest 1.6 update to our Explore Shanghai Metro map for iPhone is out now on the iTunes App Store! The latest update adds the new extension to Line 2 to Hongqiao Airport, and also updates the routeplanner and first/last train times with all the latest data.

Version 1.6 is a free upgrade for existing users. If you haven’t downloaded ExploreShanghai, you’re missing out! Download it now from the iTunes App Store.

And a quick reminder there’s only two days left to grab a copy of Explore Hong Kong for iPhone for FREE! Stop reading this right now!