Category Archives: shanghai

Shanghai Metro Line 7 northern extension to open December 28th

The northern extension of Shanghai Metro Line 7 will open for trial operation on December 28th. This is great news if you live in Baoshan District, as you can now go shopping in Jing’an Temple then catch the last metro home 🙂 The new terminus will be at Meilan Lake.

Unfortunately not all the intermediate stations will be opening on December 28th: see the route map above. Also, trains on the northern extension will only be once every 15 minutes, compared to every 5 minutes on the main line as far as Shanghai University.

Of course, we’ll have an update to our online Shanghai Metro map and iPhone app available soon!

The ExploreMetro Christmas Sale: Buy one app get one free!

Every app, every city, just $0.99

From now until December 15th you can buy any ExploreMetro iPhone app for just $0.99! That’s 50% off the regular price. Whether you live in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, Singapore or Hong Kong, or are planning a trip there during 2011, be sure to grab a copy today!

Buy one for you, get one for a friend!

The first 100 people who buy an ExploreMetro app will be eligible for a FREE extra copy to send to a friend! That’s right, just purchase any ExploreMetro iPhone app, and forward your iTunes email receipt to iphone at exploremetro dot com. We’ll send you a promo code which you can give to your friend for a free copy of the same app! Hurry, stocks are limited, we only have 100 free apps to give away!

The small print:

  • Promo codes will work in any country, the recipient will require an iTunes account
  • Promo code will be for the same app you purchase.
  • Limited to one code per person
  • Only 100 free apps available, we’ll update this blog post once we’ve sold out

Explore Shanghai 2.7 for iPhone with Retina Display

Our most popular iPhone app, Explore Shanghai has just received an update on the iTunes App Store, and it’s a big one!

  • All the latest stations! Includes the new Line 10 extension to Hongqiao Airport. Every Shanghai Metro station and line is up-to-date.
  • Retina Display! iPhone 4 and iPod touch (4th generation) users can enjoy incredibly crisp graphics
  • All new map! We took the opportunity to redesign the map with a new font and clearer graphics
  • Choose your language! If you have your iPhone set to English, but you’d prefer to use a Chinese map, now it’s as simple as toggling a setting.

Screenshots! (Click on any screenshot for hi-res retina display goodness!

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Shanghai Metro Line 10 Hongqiao branch opens

Today, November 30th 2010, the second branch of Shanghai Metro Line 10 opens!

After passing Longxi Road station, the line now branches in two. There are new stops at Shanghai Zoo and Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1, and new interchange stations at Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station.

Note that the free shuttle bus between Hongqiao Airport T1 and T2 is now discontinued. You’ll need to use Metro Line 10 to shuttle between the two terminals!

Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station is a “virtual interchange”, you’ll need a Shanghai Public Transportation Card to transfer free-of-charge between Line 2 and Line 10.

The opening times have also been extended on Line 10, with the last train of the day departing Hongqiao Railway Station at 10pm. You can find the first/last train times for any station on our interactive map, fully updated at www.exploreshanghai.com.

iPhone users, never fear! An update to our Explore Shanghai iPhone app is on its way to Apple, including not just the new line but awesome retina display graphics for iPhone 4 and iPod touch!

Saturday Subway Stuff: Stinks, security, shuffling and songs

A roundup of the latest metro news and links from ExploreMetro cities!

Join 1 million people: get Explore Shanghai for iPhone FREE

We passed an exciting milestone: 1 million unique users using our online metro map and iPhone app of the Shanghai Metro! To celebrate, for the next two days you can download Explore Shanghai for iPhone absolutely FREE!

You can get all our latest features, including route-planning with up-to-date times and prices, Google Maps for every station, audio clips of every station name, and “find my nearest station“. Normally the app costs $0.99, but today and tomorrow you can download the app for free. Don’t delay, download it today!

Google Maps in every ExploreMetro app

We’ve just released the 2.5 update to all our iPhone metro maps! That’s five new updates for Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Singapore and Hong Kong!

Here’s what’s new!

Google Maps – By popular demand, you can now see a street map for every station. This is really handy if you’re arriving at a metro station and want to see which exit to take, or how to reach your destination. Just tap on any station, then tap Street map (requires a 3G or Wifi internet connection).

New interface – We’ve simplified the interface for browsing stations and planning routes. Just tap any station to see this standard popup. You can switch between Metro map, Street map and Train times (for first/last train times). You can also listen to the name of the station as an audio clip by tapping the station name, or start planning a route.

Easy routeplanning – Planning routes is now even simpler. Tap on the first station, and choose “Plan route”. Then tap on your destination. The route, time and price will be immediately shown. We’ve also updated the Singapore app prices for the new distance-based fares.

Version 2.5 is a FREE update for all existing users. Download our apps today!

Shanghai Metro ticket guide

Michael emailed to ask “I will be visiting Shanghai … and will be using the metro system quite a bit and would like to know if they have metro transportation card that can be bought for mutiple days use or family use”

Here’s are the options:

1. Buy single journey tickets for 3-9RMB each depending on distance. Purchasing is pretty simple using the ticket machines which have instructions in English. Then swipe your card on the way in, and let it be swallowed on the way out.

2. Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (ask at an information desk) for a 20RMB refundable deposit, and you can top it up with 50RMB or 100RMB increments using a recharge machine. Then just swipe your card at the ticket gates in and out. Individual trips cost the same as single tickets, though there is a 10% discount if you travel enough in a month. Also at certain “virtual interchange” stations (Shanghai Railway Station, Yishan Road, South Shaanxi Road, Hongkou Stadium) you can avoid paying for a second ticket if you have a card.

3. Buy a one-day pass for 18RMB or a three-day pass for 45 RMB, available at the airport and some information desks. Unless you’re using the metro for many trips every day, this will probably be more expensive than single tickets, however it does speed things up, particularly if you’re travelling in a group.

Each person needs their own ticket, you can’t share a SPTC or pass between multiple people. Any more tips, do leave a comment!

6.5 million people using the Shanghai Metro every day

According to the latest figures, over 6.5 million people (that’s 650万) are now using the Shanghai Metro each day. July 9th saw 6.527 million people pass through the entrance gates, the 12th time the daily record has been broken this year! The average daily figure during 2009 was 3.6 million, but the new lines which have opened this year have boosted attendance significantly.

After breaking through 6 million for the first time on May 21, the numbers have shot up in the first week of July, due to the extended opening hours on Line 10 and increased numbers of passengers on Expo Line 13. Both lines have seen daily numbers double since May.

Get the data in a Google Spreadsheet