Riding The Shanghai Metro
Taking a ride on the Shanghai Metro subway system is a good reminder on why I hate rush hour. With a population of 20 million, it’s pretty much rush hour all the time in Shanghai. The Metro moves 4 million people every day to and from their destinations.
Shanghai is the third city in China to build a subway system (Beijing and Tianjin are the other two). The Metro is one of the world’s most rapidly expanding subway systems, currently with eight lines, and has more new lines under construction, along with proposed extensions to the lines currently in operation. The network of the system has outpaced the Hong Kong MTR as of December 2007.
Riding the Metro cost 3RBM for journeys under 6 km, then 1RMB for each additional 10 km, to the highest fare of 9RBM. That means you can ride from one end of Shanghai to the other end for about $1.25 USD. Inexpensive, yes. However, be prepared to feel like a sardine.
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Have u ever come to India john? do come to Mumbai when ever u get chance and travel In Mumbai’s local train and u will find Shanghai Metro a lot less crowded Mumbai’s train moves more then 8 million commuters every day.
here we have more commuter and less trains every train moves more then 20000 commuter at a time
Reply to this commentMumbai’s local trains. Dont Ask!
I have travelled in it. One of the most pathetic thing it is. Some people are like half out of the door, standing somehow, but what to do? Thats the only thing Mumbai has. And I am shocked that this is getting neglected still. Atleast something the government should look into? Atleast some solution? Do you see the life risk in that when your half outside the train?
Metro isnt risky as the doors close, you cannot fall outside of it.
Reply to this commentSuperb Metro of Shanghai, I have had a ride in many Indian Metros, I have had the same experience as you did
Reply to this commentWhich ones Apoorv? How many cities have metros? Please do tell me lol
Reply to this commentI remember riding the T in Boston during rush hour or on the way to a Red Sox game. It was certainly not comfortable. I can’t imagine riding the subway every day in big cities like NYC. Well….not that sitting in a car for an hour in traffic is any better.
Reply to this commentActually, that’s about as packed as the ride gets in Taipei: the blue line from Panchiao to Taipei City. Trains every few minutes, but still packed like sardines.
It’s too stressful for me to travel like that… but then for many people there is NO alternative.
Kenneth
Reply to this commentJohn, seems like you’re the tallest guy in China.
Reply to this commentHe makes everyone look small…have you seem some with fellow bloggers
Reply to this commentOr tallest in that compartment of Metro?
Reply to this commentHey john does the Subway remain crowded even at night like & what was the time you were there??
There are lot of people there……oh!! mAn..
Reply to this commentIn Caracas, Venezuela we have only 3 lines, a third of Shangai’s population and 2 million commuters a day. In rush hour you need to wait for 4 trains to get in and you need to start pushing and slamming people or you’ll be walking home.
Reply to this commentSounds like absolute chaos.
Reply to this commentSounds like…they need more lines
Reply to this commentSeems like a nice way to get some exercise done. Pushing all these people can’t be easy!
Reply to this commentI love how people try to crowd onto the train as soon as it arrives, not letting anyone get off first… Just like Hong Kong!
Reply to this comment@Carl Shanghai’s public is decent compared to Mumbai’s public at least they let cumuter alight 1st here in Mumbai they rely attack others to catch the train
Reply to this commentThey do that in most places.
Reply to this commentWhat you see there reminds me of the subway in Boston for a Red Sox game, but also on the B line down Commonwealth Ave when school is in session at Boston U. SOOO Packed.
Reply to this commentThose T rides to Fenway are INSANE. Same with the rides to the Garden for Celtics/Bruins games.
Reply to this commentWhen I used to live in Sao Paulo I had the same problem. too many people riding the train and subway all the time. I HATE RUSH HOUR!!!
Reply to this commentThats why companies are offering commuting times during other times other then rush hour times to combat this but, i think its down to local councils (don’t know what you call them in the US) to fix these issues.
Reply to this commentwhy everybody use the same door to get out and get in?
Reply to this commentThats usually the case everywhere
Reply to this comment@ Restaurant blog blogger
You are right
Reply to this commentAt night the lines are not as crowded, I used to live there for about 2 years (in Beijing), yes he people getting on and off at the same time always made me laugh
at least it is not as bad as this … yet in Tokyo
Reply to this commenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axwMxUBL_ws
John, you gave me a nice giggle at the end of the video. Thanks.
Reply to this commentHa. Have you been to England? I was born/raised there & there were countless times when the Underground would be completely crowded. I HATED having to stand up. Let’s not even get started on the way some people tried to lean on others for support. The only car that was hardly packed was the one at the end.
And I also love the new music. That came with iMovie too, right?
Reply to this commentI live in England…not in london though, but have experienced the problems with the underground.
Reply to this commentI guess it’s still that bad. It was even worse in the summer. At least on the buses you could open the windows.
Reply to this commentThat is nothing compared to the Hong Kong MTR during rush hour. You are more like kissing the girl next to you.
Reply to this commentWe had that problem in Sao Paulo 2 years ago, some rapists use to go to the stations in rush hour to take advantage of the poor girls who couldn’t do anything to prevent the attack. They didn’t have sex but they abuse a lot of the girls.
Reply to this commentAfter so many incidents they put one police officer at every single car to protect the women against those MTF’s.
thank god Mumbai female commuter don’t face such troubles in trains here we have special cars for female commuters and female special trains during rush hours
Reply to this commentYou are right Pradeep Mumbai Females are lucky to have 2 full cars to them self but the Railway platform is not safe for them and the late night traveling is not at all advisable for female commuters
Reply to this commentJohn thanks for your coverage of shanghai. my wife and i will be there in september and your videos have shown us what to expect. I’m so excited. however after the last vide I must say I’m a little disappionted with you. You violated a major rule of riding the metro. you tried to enter the train before all the passengers exited, and thats a no-no. See my rule for riding the metro here: http://www.thesnapclap.com/2007/08/27/rules-for-riding-the-dc-metro/
Reply to this commentNo one obeys the “Wait for others to exit before entering” or any other rules!
Reply to this commentI guess with a billion people in China, it could become difficult to enforce the rules all the time. Sounds like fun!
Reply to this commentAh, that’s insane! I don’t travel by subway a lot, but when I have I felt uncomfortable for having a stranger even SIT next to me!
Reply to this commentIts cheap though. If I had metro here in my city. I’d definitely travel with it. It saves lots of money
Reply to this commentThats a whole lot better then tokyo in rush hour where the police literally herd folks into the train like livestock.
Reply to this commentLOL.
Reply to this commentIs there that much Rush? like Police has to come and all? WOW!
WoooW
Reply to this commentIs that true that they have someone who pushes the people to get inside the subway? I’ve read that somewhere…
Thanks John I laughed my head off. Watch out Leno here comes Chow, ssmilin
Reply to this commentI remember the Tokyo tour guide pointing out the best female underwear shop in Japan. It was kind of a bizarre point but that’s because all the girls who get their panties shredded on the subway go there to shop.
Reply to this commentApparently, young girls on crowded subways would suddenly rise above the crowd because of all the hands pinching them.
ahahahahhhahahah awesome
Reply to this commentThat was awesome John. I can’t believe you wrote about “feeling up”. The US needs a modern transit system in mid size cities to hedge the price of fuel.
Reply to this commentYou make a video about riding the subway and we all flock to it like water in the desert. With that many people it’s good to see everyone somewhat orderly getting on and off. No one getting hurt
Reply to this commentThe comment about “feeling up” was a little creepy though
~Terry
Metro is an underground subway I guess
Reply to this commentMetro can be underground or elevated. Like in India, Delhi for example, most of it is elevated.
Reply to this commentJohn is the tallest of all
heh 
Reply to this commenthaaa..I noticed that aswell.
Reply to this commentThe crowd in Mumbai local train is much more than this, the worst thing is that their are separate cars for ladies in each train
Reply to this commentThanks god. I live in Singapore. By the way John, do you mind to share what gadget did you use to take the video clip? what brand?
Reply to this commentI use a Flip Video Ultra.
Reply to this commentMetro has always been a cheap transport and one of the most needed in every big city. India needs the similar solutions, we only got in like Delhi and Kolkata at the moment
Reply to this commentJohn,
What a sardine in a can the subway is! Too crowded for a subway, IMO. However, subway is one of the most efficient answer to traffic problem in big cities and metropolitan.
Cheers!
Reply to this commentYea, I’d say that’s pretty crowded. Don’t think I’d enjoy that every day.
Reply to this commentCome John, that last remark was soooo over dramatic
-Mike
Reply to this comment