How to get around Shanghai

When on holiday or business stay in Shanghai, China, you could be easily overwhelmed by the sheer size and chaotic nature of a city this large. However, finding your way around the city is actually easier than one might think. Here’s a quick guide to Shanghai’s public transportation options:

Taxis

Taxis are abundant in Shanghai, and as long as you have a business card or piece of paper with the directions written in Chinese, they will get you where you need to go. The average taxi ride will cost between 15RMB and 30RMB, with a base rate of 11RMB during the day and 14RMB after 10pm. In addition to making sure that you have the address written in Chinese, there are a few other tricks of the trade.

• Getting a ride. Flagging a taxi in Shanghai is a little different than in other cities. Stick your arm straight out in front of you and wave your hand up and down. Unlike the New York style flag, with arm and hand straight up, the Chinese have a more understated mode.
• Pick the best taxi – go for the turquoise and avoid the dark red. There are a number of taxi companies operating in the city, and some are known for being honest and trustworthy, while others have a slightly worse reputation. Go for the Turquoise Taxi (officially known as Dazhong) first, followed by Gold/Yellow (Qiansheng) and White (Bashi). Avoid the dark red cabs, as they generally have the worst service and may be more likely to take the long way to your destination. (Only a taxi company with more than 1,000 taxis in service can select and brand a color, as such the turquoise, gold/yellow, and white taxis. The dark red color is used for all other smaller taxi companies).
• Seeing stars? In addition, some drivers have illuminated stars on the back of their rear view mirror – if you see a cab with one of these, go after it. It means that they are recognized as one of the best drivers and they may be able to speak a bit of English.
• Where to? If you get in the cab and realize that you either do not have the address in Chinese or your cabbie looks at you and says ‘Shenme Lu?’ (What Street?), you have a few options available, as long as you have a cell phone. You can text Guanxi - an expat ‘help-line’ of sorts at 9588-2929 with the name of your destination, and they will text the address back to you. If you need it in Chinese, just reply back with a ‘c,’ and they’ll send it back to you in Chinese, which you can then show the driver. Or you can call the Shanghai Help Center at 962288 and ask one of the operators to speak to the cab driver for you. Both of these services are provided fee of charge, absent the cell phone usage, of course,

The Shanghai Metro

The Shanghai Metro system is quite extensive and can for the most part get you to any of the main destinations in the city. The city just completed work on three additional lines in December 2007, bringing the total number of lines to 9. The city has a goal of having 14 lines operational in time for the 2010 World Expo. Some tips:

• You need a ticket. If you plan to use the subway for more than a few days, the most convenient option is to buy a re-chargeable card, so you don’t have to buy a new ticket each time you take the subway. The cards, which cost 30RMB, can be loaded with whatever amount of cash you desire, and are easily swiped on the top of the turnstiles as you walk through. (The average subway ride will cost you 3-6RMB). You can also use your subway card to pay for taxi rides or the bus. Otherwise, you will need to buy a ticket before boarding the train. Tickets can be bought from the ticket booths or from one of the automated machines.
• Which train? All Metro stations have signs and maps in both Chinese and English, making finding your way quite easy. Just look for your destination, and find the line heading in that direction. Each station will clearly state the next, upcoming station and the last station that was passed, making finding the right train even easier.
• Stand strong. Be ready to push your way in and out, especially during rush hour. While many people will try to let people out the subway train before pushing their way in, sometimes the urge to rush in takes over, so be prepared to work your way through the crowd.
• Hold on! If standing, be sure to brace yourself against a wall or grab on to one of the rails – the drivers tend to be quite liberal when stopping and starting up, and sometimes throw in a few extra stops and starts when reaching a station.

Shanghai buses

An option for the more adventurous traveler, the bus is very affordable option, but requires a bit of homework (and perseverance), as routes can be difficult to determine and the buses almost always seem to be filled to capacity. Here are some tips:

• Getting on and off. While the ‘rule’ is to enter the front door and exit the rear, no one really abides by that. So, enter and exit whichever door you are nearer to. There will then be a conductor who will make their way through the bus to collect fares from those who just boarded – usually a 2RMB flat fare. You can also pay with your subway card, which the conductor will also take from you to swipe on the box and then return to you. After that, all you need to do is hold on and enjoy the ride, and try not to miss your stop!
• Where am I going? Buses are plentiful and have routes that run across every part of Shanghai. While some bus stops have signs detailing their routes, they are usually written in Chinese, making understanding where the bus goes a bit of a challenge. In addition, most of the websites that give information about the routes are also in Chinese. Consequently, unless you can read Chinese, you need to find other ways of figuring out where the buses go. Taking notes on the bus numbers you see frequently is a good way to determine which buses run near your home or hotel, so if you’re out sightseeing and see one of those numbers, hop on and see if it takes you home. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, hop on a bus that is going the direction you want to go and see where you end up!

In addition to these options, don’t forget about hitting the town on your own two feet. Taking the time to explore a neighborhood on foot can often lead to some unexpected surprises, so don’t be afraid to see where the sidewalk takes you. And, if you lose your way, you can try out your taxi-flagging skills, in Shanghai a cab is never far away.

Photo of Shanghai traffic chaos originally posted by Poagao

Topic:  How to Tuesday | 1 Comment
Tags:  China, transportation

Share this article:

About the author

Dawn Carlson is a freelance writer who is spending a year living in the bustling and ever-growing city of Shanghai, China. Originally from Minnesota, USA, she is enjoying the break from sub-zero temperatures and the adventures of driving on snow-covered streets. While still not quite able to keep up with the locals when it comes to spicy Chinese dishes, she is slowly working her way through the restaurants of this vibrant and international city.