Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Commuting in Shanghai

Shanghai has a well connected network of subway, buses, taxis and scooter walas. The subway is clean, efficient and cheap. For most rides you will pay approximately ~4RMB, slightly more or less depending on the number of stations between your destinations. But expect to walk a lot if you switch lines. Most of the people on subways are doing only one thing though, looking at the screens of their smart-phones.

 The taxis start at approximately 14RMB for the first 2.4Kms and then it scales up. Taxis are amazing if you are too tired to commute within a 3Kms radius as for RMB20 or less you will reach your destination in 4-5 minutes assuming less traffic versus 30minutes or so it would take in walking to a subway station, walking towards the platform, commute time, getting out of the station and walking to your actual destination. So highly recommended.

Buses are present but they are Chinese heavy so use this link to figure out your idea bus for the route. I managed to find the bus that takes me to Zhangjiang Hi-tech park station but it takes me  at least 20minutes to reach there on bus versus 5 minutes it take me on taxi but the price is only 2RMB for most bus rides. So if you are living in an area well connected by bus you are in luck for a cheap ride. The ride also becomes entertaining because these bus drivers think they are driving a space-ship and maneuver it like that.


Speaking of cheap rides, the third option is that of scooters that take you from one place to next for only 5RMB flat. These scooter guys/gals can be seen outside of railway station exits and outside office's during rush hours and are ideal if you want to be somewhere quick and for cheap. Be conscious of the fact that these guys are flexible when it comes to  following the traffic rules.





Pictures capturing rush hour traffic in Pudong Office Area close to Jinke Subway Station

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