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Shanghai Public Transportation Card

It will be more convenient and pleasant if you use a Shanghai Public Transportation Card when you travel around the city.

Like the MetroCard in New York City and the Oyster Card in London, it is a kind of stored value smart card used in the public transportation of the city and some cities in the nearby Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces.

Shanghai Public Transportation Card Service Center

The card is issued and managed by Public Transportation Card Co., Ltd. (SPTCC).

Public Transportation Card Service Center

The service center is set up by SPTCC to serve the public on consultation, card issue, return and repair as well as value recharge, transfer and return.

Address: No. 609, Jiujiang Road (near the intersection with Zhejiang Road)
Office Hours: 09:30 - 18:30 (from Monday to Friday); 09:30 - 16:30 (Saturday, Sunday)
Information Line: 021-63611100
Sales Hotline: 021-63601952

Card Types

There are mainly three types of Public Transportation Cards - ordinary, souvenir and transformed cards.

1. Ordinary cards are categorized into system running test cards issued in 1999 and other ordinary cards.

2. Souvenir cards are made to commemorate some important events, festivals and Chinese cultural heritage. You can choose from cards with various topics and patterns on the city's transportation history, famous attractions, Tourism Festival, as well as Shaoxing Opera, Chinese zodiacal animals, APEC Shanghai 2001, the bid for World Expo 2010, 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

3. Transformed cards have many forms, including constellation cards, lover cards, Christmas cards and mini cards. The most special transformed ones are the watch cards with cards inside various stylish watches.

Scope of Use

The application scope of Public Transportation Card extends to many transportation means in that city, including taxis, buses, tourist buses, long-distance buses, metro lines, maglev trains, ferries and trucks. Also the card can be used at some parking lots, parking meters, gas stations, toll highways and auto repairing stores.

Directions for Use

Here we give detailed instructions for the issuance and use of Public Transportation Card, showing you how to:
→ Buy a Card → Value Recharge → Value Transfer → Refund → Maintenance

- Last updated on Jul. 05, 2022 -

Questions & Answers on Shanghai Public Transportation Card

Asked by Ioannis from GREECE | Jan. 17, 2020 01:42

What is the cost of the Shanghai 3 days unlimited transportation card?

Does it cover all metro lines inside the city?

Answers (1)

Answered by Theo from NEW ZEALAND | Jan. 18, 2020 17:09

It costs CNY45. You can take all metro lines except maglev train.

Asked by CAROLINE AQUINO from PHILIPPINES | Jan. 07, 2020 20:54

Where can I buy the Shanghai one-day or three-day travel pass?

Answers (1)

Answered by Gloria from CAMEROON | Jan. 07, 2020 22:08

You can purchase it at the service counter inside the metro stations. :)

Asked by pen from UK | Jan. 07, 2020 15:30

is there unlimited rides available for 5 days or 7 days for the Shanghai Transportation Card?

Answers (1)

Answered by Grace from AUSTRALIA | Jan. 07, 2020 22:09

No. Nowadays, it only has one day and three days travel pass.

Asked by Christian Quimson from PHILIPPINES | Dec. 28, 2019 07:01

Where can I buy the transportation card when I arrived at Pudong Airport?

is there a Convenience Store there to buy or load up the card? :) or only in the metro station? :)

Answers (1)

Answered by Grace from NEW ZEALAND | Dec. 30, 2019 00:57

Yes, you need to buy it at metro station of Pudong airport.

Asked by Nana from SINGAPORE | Dec. 12, 2019 08:38

About Shanghai Transportation Card

Public transport card if I buy 3days unlimited the date I purchase buy I didn't used the day I bought
May I want to used the card 2days later?
Can I buy first but not using first the card?

Answers (1)

Answered by Gabby from UNITED KINGDOM | Dec. 15, 2019 19:33

Yes, you can. The time is counted from the first use.