Public buses in Shanghai are a particularly convenient means of transport, with some 1,100 bus lines covering the length and breadth of the city. Shanghai Railway Station, People's Square, Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park Wujiaochang, Shanghai Indoor Stadium and Dongchang Road serve as the main bus transfer stations in downtown Shanghai. Shenzhuang, Longyang Road and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park stations provide many routes to Shanghai's suburbs.
Shanghai public buses are identified either by numbers or Chinese characters. Buses can generally be classified into the following nine categories:
1. Downtown Regular Lines: 1 (01) - 200
2. Rush Hour Lines: 201 - 299 (although some include regular lines)
3. Night Lines: 301 - 399
4. Cross-River Lines (the new cross-river lines): 401 - 499
5. Bridge Line X, Tunnel Line X (the old cross-river lines): X = specific route number
6. Special Lines: 504 - 599, 801 - 899, 901 - 999
7. Pudong New District Special Lines: 601 - 699
8. Outskirts Regular Lines: 701 - 799
9. Suburban Lines: usually identified by Chinese characters representing an abbreviated form of the first and terminal stations' names.
Ticket prices vary depending on the category of the bus line:
• Categories 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 charge CNY 1 per person for journeys within 13 kilometers (approx. 8 miles), and CNY 1.5 thereafter. Air-conditioned buses charge CNY 2 per person.
• Categories 4 and 6 charge according to the distance with a minimum of CNY 1. Air-conditioned buses charge a minimum of CNY 2.
• Category 9 buses charge according to the distance traveled with a minimum charge of CNY 1 for both normal and air-conditioned buses.
It is recommended that you keep some loose change with you for bus journeys as some routes do not have a conductor. Coins need to be placed in the slot at the entrance to the bus. A Shanghai Public Transportation Card can also be purchased and used on most routes except some of the Special and Suburban Lines. More information can be obtained by calling 021-16088160.
Shanghai also has several Airport Lines which are discussed further in the Airport Transportation section. There are also ten designated Tourist Lines to help provide easy access around the city.
Tourist Bus Lines
The ten tourist bus lines all start at Shanghai Stadium and cover almost all of the famous attractions in the city center, the suburbs and those in neighboring areas. Each tourist line represents an option for a one-day tour. Schedules can be arranged in accordance with the timetable information on the ten lines given below:
Tourist Line 1
Bound for attractions in Songjiang District in a southwest suburb of Shanghai.
Route A: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 18:15) <---> Caohejing <---> Guilin Park <---> Jing'an Xincheng <---> Qibao <---> Jiuting <---> Zhuanqiao <---> Fangta Park <---> Zuibaichi Garden <---> Songjiang East Bus Station (7:30 - 18:15)
Route B: Shanghai Stadium (7:00 - 9:00) <---> Caohejing <---> Guilin Park <---> Qibao <---> Jiuting <---> Zhuanqiao <---> Sheshan National Holiday Resort <---> Sheshan Jinjiang Rafting World (September to August) <---> Sheshan National Forest Park <---> Sheshan Ropeway (15:00 - 17:00)
Frequency: every 20 - 40 minutes
Price: CNY 2 - 8
Tel: 021- 64265987
Tourist Line 2
Runs between Shanghai Stadium and Huinan Town of Nanhui District in the southeast suburb of Shanghai, and covers many of the attractions in Nanhui.
Route: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 19:25) <---> Dapu Road <---> Shiliupu <---> Beicai <---> Zhoupu <---> Qianqi <---> Hangtou <---> Shanghai Wildlife Park <---> Huinan Town (6:15 - 19:25)
Frequency: every 15 - 20 minutes
Price: CNY 2 – 12
Tel: 021-62701674, 021-64265986
Tourist Line 3
Terminates at the Huaxia Beach Tourist Area in Shanghai's east Pudong New District. This route takes in many of the modern sights such as the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Jinmao Tower and the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park.
Route: Shanghai Stadium (8:30 - 16:30) <---> People's Square <---> Lujiazui Greenbelt <---> Oriental Pearl TV Tower <---> Binjiang Avenue <---> Jinmao Tower <---> Shanghai Securities Mansion <---> Wuniu City <---> Celebrity Garden Hotel <---> Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park <---> Sunqiao Modern Agricultural Park <---> Huaxia Cultural Park <---> Huaxia Tourist City <---> Huaxia Beach Tourist Area (6:30 - 13:30)
Frequency: every hour
Price: CNY 2 - 12
Tel: 021-64648536
Tourist Line 4
Operates between Shanghai Stadium and the Grand View Garden in the southwest Qingpu District, covering numerous places of interest in Qingpu, including the famous Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town.
Route: Shanghai Stadium (7:00 - 15:00) <---> Shanghai Zoo <---> Shanghai Horsemanship Athletic Field <---> Qushui Garden <---> Zhujiajiao <---> Water Sports Center <---> Baoguo Temple <---> Fork Club <---> Grand View Garden (9:10 - 16:30)
Frequency: every 30 - 60 minutes
Price: CNY 2 - 16
Tel: 021-64265991, 021-56052581
Tourist Line 5
Runs between Shanghai Stadium and Dongping National Forest Park in Chongming County, the largest offshore island in Shanghai. The tourist bus need to be transported by a ferryboat operating between Baoyang Port on the mainland and Nanmen Port in Chongming. The ferryboat departs from Baoyang Port at 8:30, 9:00, 13:00, 16:45, and 17:00.
Route: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 17:45) <---> People's Square <---> Jiangwan Town <---> Wusong Port <---> Xiayuan Hotel <---> Baoyang Port <---> Chongming Xuegong (Confucian Temple) <---> Chongming Dongping National Forest Park (7:35 - 17:30)
Frequency: every 40 - 90 minutes
Price: CNY 2 - 12
Tel: 021-64265989
Tourist Line 6
Operates from Shanghai Stadium to attractions in the western Jiading District.
Route A: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 17:00) <---> Changfeng Park <---> Zhenru Town <---> Shanghai West Railway Station <---> Guyi Garden <---> Huilongtan Pool <---> Confucian Temple (Fahua Tower) <---> Qiuxia Garden (Jiading Hotel) <---> Shanghai Automobile Activities Centre (8:30 - 19:00)
Frequency: every 45 minutes
Price: CNY 2 - 10
Tel: 021-64265990
Route B: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 17:00) <---> Changfeng Park <---> Shanghai Jingdezhen Ceramics Art Center <---> Shanghai Textile & Garment Market <---> Dreamland Amusement Park <---> Meilihua Holiday Resort <---> Anting (Dayang Ocean World) <---> Dazhong Huating Hotel (8:15 - 19:45)
Frequency: every 30 - 35 minutes
Price: CNY 2 - 8
Tel: 021-63902262
Tourist Line 7
A ring line covering many of Shanghai's famous historical and cultural sights.
Route: Shanghai Stadium <---> Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery <---> The Former Residence of Song Qingling <---> Shanghai Library <---> Shanghai Museum <---> The Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China <---> Zhou Gongguan <---> The Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen <---> Shanghai Stadium
Operating Time: 6:30 - 18:00
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Price: CNY 3
Tel: 021-64265991
Tourist Line 8
An alternative ring line to Tourist Line 7 that takes in a number of the city's major sights.
Route: Shanghai Stadium <---> People's Square <---> The Bund <---> Heping Park <---> Yangpu Park <---> Gongqing Forest Park <---> Shanghai Stadium
Operating Time: 6:30 - 19:00
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Price: CNY 3
Tel: 021-64265989
Tourist Line 9
A special line bound for Wuxi and the Mt. Lingshan Scenic Area in Jiangsu Province. Eight buses operate on the route to Wuxi on weekdays, with buses to Mt. Lingshan only available at 8:30 on weekends or holidays.
Route: Shanghai Stadium <---> Wuxi Jinjiang Hotel (<---> Mt. Lingshan Scenic Area)
Operating Time: 7:10 - 17:00
Frequency: every 60 - 90 minutes
Price: To Wuxi Railway station - CNY 43
To Mt. Lingshan Scenic Area - CNY 150 for a return journey, with admission fee to the park included.
Tel: 021-64265986
Tourist Line 10
A downtown shopping and sightseeing line which covers the four main commercial streets in Shanghai, and also includes stops at some of the city's major parks.
Route: Shanghai Stadium (6:30 - 19:30) <---> Xujiahui Commercial Center <---> Huaihai Road <---> People's Square <---> Nanjing Road <---> North Sichuan Road <---> Hongkou Park (Hongkou Sports Center) <---> Luxun Park <---> Quyang Business Center (6:30 - 19:30)
Frequency: every 10 minutes
Price: CNY 3
Tel: 021-64648536