Shanghai Metro
Like most other developed cities, the ditie (上海地铁; Shanghai Metro) is one of the most tourist-friendly vehicles in Shanghai as not only is it accessible for non-Chinese speakers, but its networks stretch far and wide—from the very centre of the city, all the way to the neighbouring Jiangsu province. Operating since May 1993, Shanghai Metro is one of the oldest rapid transit systems in the Mainland and has seen major developments over the years, particularly in the lead-up to the Shanghai Expo in 2010. According to government statistics, the Metro served an average of ten million people daily in 2019.
Currently, there are a total of 16 lines in operation and various interchange stations. While some stations (“physical transfer stations”) merely require passengers to head to a different platform in the same building, “transit-card only” stations need them to exit and re-enter a fare zone—potentially walking a short distance on street level—as riders change from one metro line to another. In the case of the latter, one must use a Shanghai public transport card (上海公共交通卡; “jiaotong-ka”) to receive discounted fares. An additional perk of the SPTC is that it is used across all other transport systems in Shanghai, and that it can exist electronically in your phone wallet or WeChat—perfect for the technologically savvy.
On the other hand, if you only wish to use single-journey tickets, they are purchasable at ticket vending machines and prices start from ¥3. You could also opt for the one-day or three-day pass, which allows unlimited use of the Shanghai Metro within the day(s) for ¥18 and ¥45 respectively. However, do note that these passes are only available to buy from ticket centres in certain stations.