Shanghai Metro Ticket

Using WeChat or Alipay metro QR code is the most convenient way to take Shanghai Metro. If you have a WeChat Pay or Alipay account, you can simply open Shanghai Metro online service on one of them, and then take the metro by simply scanning the QR code under a second. This method is also applicable when taking the city bus. If it doesn’t work for you, you can download the Shanghai Metro DADUHUI App instead and link it to your Master Card or Diners Club to assist you in taking the metro in Shanghai. It is recommended that passengers should open the app and generate a QR code ahead of time to avoid congestion and tech problems at the ticket gate.

As for the discount, if passengers use any two of the following transportation modes - bus, metro, or Chongming Passenger Steamship - within two hours by scanning their WeChat or Alipay QR code, they will receive a CNY1 discount on the second transaction, with no limit on the number of times this applies.
 The pass is sold at CNY18 (USD 3) and could be purchased at the ticket counter set at any metro stations. With this pass, passenger could take all the metro lines in downtown and some suburban metro lines without limit in 24 hours after the first use. This pass is not required to be returned after use so passenger could keep it.
 This kind of ticket costs CNY 45 (USD 7) per piece. One can also purchase it at any ticket counter inside the subway stations. The validity period starts from the first swipe and lasts for 72 hours. During this period, you can ride all subway lines except the maglev line and some suburban lines as many times as you like. Similarly, after its expiration, passengers can keep the pass.
 Maglev & Metro Pass, namely, is a special type of ticket that allows one to ride both the metro and the maglev. It has two versions:

1. The Maglev Single Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 55 (USD 8) and allows passengers to take a single maglev trip in economy class and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. 

2. The Maglev Round Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 85 (USD 13) and allows passengers to take a maglev round-trip in economy class and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. 

The pass is available at both the maglev stations of Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road, as well as some major metro stations like Terminal 2 of Hongqiao International Airport, Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Railway Station, People’ Square, Jing’an Temple, etc. After use, the card will not be recycled.

 Note:
Once these Passes are activated and used, they cannot be refunded at any case.
 The Card can be used not only on the metro, but also on city buses, ferryboats and even taxies in Shanghai. One can buy it at metro stations, some bus stations, designated SPD Banks or some FamilyMart convenience stores. It is common for the new users to pay CNY 100 (USD 15) for the card, including a CNY 20 deposit and CNY 80 for use. The card can be used repeatedly: when the CNY80 is used up, one can deposit more money in it also at the above-mentioned places. 

Using this card, passengers can enjoy discounts. In urban areas, if one transfers between buses and subways or vice versa within two hours, a CNY1 discount will be offered. Or if one has paid the subway fare by the card over CNY 70 (USD 10), the fare in the rest of the month will be 10% off. 

The inconvenience lies in that before leaving Shanghai, one needs to return the card at those designated places to get back the deposit of CNY20 and the balance. However, not all card sales outlets offer refund services, and if the balance exceeds CNY10, you have to go to a manual service counter for a refund, with 5% service charge on the excess amount.
 China T-Union card is an upgrade version of Shanghai Public Transportation Card. With a “China T-Union” logo on the front, it can be used to take public transport not only in Shanghai, but also in other 300+ cities in China. While in Shanghai, you can purchase it, deposit money and return it as mentioned above.
 

Metro Ticket Machine

Single Journey Ticket allows only a one-way trip on Shanghai metro. One needs to decide the starting station and the terminal station before buying the ticket. There are two physical versions – plastic chip card ticket and paper ticket marked with QR code. They both can be purchased at the self-service ticket machine or the manual counter in the metro station.

Passengers using plastic chip card tickets simply need to place the card against the sensor of the entry gate and pass through; when exiting, they need to insert it into the card slot of the gate and the ticket will be automatically retrieved. Paper ticket holders only need to align the QR code on its front with the scanning area of the gate when entering or exiting, and then pass through. Unlike the plastic ones, paper tickets will not be retrieved.

Remember single journey tickets are only valid on the day of purchase. And if you need to make an out-of-station transfer, you will have to buy a new ticket.
 For visitors, souvenir ticket is also a good choice. It is valid for one year and can be bought at several designated subway stations. You can only use it to take the train once on certain lines. When getting out of the station, you can keep it as a souvenir.

Since single journey tickets and souvenir tickets are all one-time consumables, there are no discounts available for either.
 Different types of tickets precisely meet the needs of different people. 

 For tourists who will travel in multiple cities in China, it’s better to choose WeChat / Alipay Metro QR Code or the China T-Union transportation card.

 If one will travel a lot by metro in Shanghai within a few days, then One-day Travel Pass, Three-day Travel Pass, or Maglev & Metro Pass would be both convenient and cost-effective options.

 For those who plan to live a long time in Shanghai, it is more recommended to use WeChat / Alipay Metro QR Code, Shanghai Metro DADUHUI App, or the Shanghai Public Transportation Card.

 If you decide to take the Shanghai subway only once, then a Single Journey Ticket or a Souvenir Ticket would be the best choice.
 The charge is proportional to mileage, with a starting price of CNY 3 for 0-6km (0-4mi). Usually, a subway trip between two stations in downtown costs no more than CNY 6. 

For your reference, here are the ticket prices (CNY) between some of the major metro stations in Shanghai.
 

Route	Ticket Fare
Pudong Airport Terminal 1 & 2 —— East Nanjing Road (near the Bund)	CNY7
Hongqiao Railway Station —— East Nanjing Road	CNY5
Yuyuan Garden —— East Nanjing Road	CNY3

 Note: 
Apart from Single Journey Tickets and Souvenir Tickets, any other type of ticket admits out-of-station transfer within 30 minutes for free, which means one pays none to pass through the ticket gate and then re-enter via another for transfer within 30 minutes.