Nanjing, a city with a rich history and once the capital of China, is one of the country’s most important cities. Today it is home to more than 8 million people and is an important urban centre in a rapidly developing nation. To meet the transport needs of its residents, Nanjing has its own metro system, the sixth of its kind in mainland China.
The Nanjing Metro serves approximately 510,000 passengers daily. It operates daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Unlike some metro systems, the Nanjing Metro does not operate 24 hours a day, nor does it have air conditioning. Passengers are also not allowed to walk between platforms.
While some metro systems use driverless trains, the Nanjing Metro uses traditional trains with drivers. It also does not have screen doors on its platforms.
The fare to ride the Nanjing Metro is 2 Yuan, and the system uses access/exit gates.
Nanjing Metro Map
Map of Nanjing Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Nanjing Metro map in PDF format.
Overview of Nanjing Metro
The Nanjing Metro is a rapid transit system serving Nanjing and its surrounding regions. The system was inaugurated on 3 September 2005 with a single line, although the first proposal for a metro system was made in 1984. A second line was added in 2010, extending the network to 55 stations and 87 kilometres of track. By 2030, the system is planned to consist of 17 lines with a total length of 617 kilometres, extending its reach to more suburban areas. Currently, the system operates six lines: 1, 2, 3, 10, S1 and S8. The “S” stands for suburban line. The lines connect major points of interest such as the Yangtze River, the city of Nanjing itself, two railway stations, Lukou International Airport and the Luhe Development Zone. More than 503 million passengers use the metro each year, with an average daily ridership of 1.417 million.
Nanjing Metro Lines and Stations
The metro system currently has six lines, with several more under construction. Each line is identified by a number or the letter “S” followed by a number and a unique colour for easy identification.
- Line 1 (Sky Blue) – Opened in 2005, Line 1 runs from Maigaoqiao Station to the Olympic Stadium, with a branch running south to the Pharmaceutical University of China. This underground line is 46.2 kilometres long and serves 31 stations.
- Line 2 (red) – Opened in 2010, Line 2 runs from Youfangqiao to Jingtianlu, covering a total distance of 40.8 kilometres with 26 stations.
- Line 3 (green) – Opened in 2015, Line 3 runs from Linchang Station to East Mozhou Road, passing several tourist attractions such as the Temple of Confucius, Xuanwu Lake and the Presidential Palace. The line is 45 kilometres long and serves 29 stations.
- Line 10 (Champagne) – Opened in 2014, Line 10 runs from west to east, connecting the areas of Pukou, Jianye and Yuhuatai. It is currently 21.6 kilometres long with 14 stations, but future extensions will increase this to 33 kilometres and 21 stations.
- Line S1 (Emerald Green) – Also known as the Ninggao Line, Line S1 has been in operation since 2014. It runs from the Jiangning area to the town of Gaochun. Currently, only the first phase of the project has been completed, linking the South Railway Station to Lukou International Airport over 35.8 kilometres with 8 stations. When completed, it will include 14 stations and cover 88 kilometres.
- Line S8 (Orange) – In operation since 2014, the S8 line runs from Taishanxincun to Jinniuhu. The line covers a total distance of 45.2 kilometres and serves 17 stations.
- Lines 4 (purple), S3 and S7 are currently under construction. When completed, Line 4 will run from west to east for 43.1 kilometres with 22 stations. Line S3, also known as the Ninghe Intercity Line, will connect Nanjing with the He region of Anhui Province and will initially run 37.8 kilometres with 18 stations. Line S7, also known as the Ningi Line, will run from north to south through the Lukou and Lishui regions, covering a distance of 30.8 kilometres with 9 stations.
Nanjing Metro Timetable
The Nanjing Metro operates between 6am and 11pm. Individual lines have their own specific operating hours within this timeframe.
- Line 1: 5.42 am to 11.19 pm (towards the Pharmaceutical University of China) and 6.46 am to 12.27 am (towards Maigaoqiao).
- Line 2: 06:00 to 23:00 (towards Jingtianlu) and 6:53 to 23:54 (towards Youfangqiao).
- Line 3: 6 am to 11 pm (towards East Mozhou Road) and 7:12 am to 12:12 am (towards Linchang).
- Line 10: 06:00 to 22:20 (towards Andemen) and 6:34 am to 23:34 pm (towards Yushanlu).
- Line S1: 6 am to 10 pm (towards the airport) and 6:14 am to 22:34 pm (towards the south station).
- Line S8: 6 am to 7 pm (towards Jinniuhu) and 6:50 am to 7:50 pm (towards Taishanxincun).
Frequency
The frequency of trains on Line 1 from Maigaoqiao to Andemen is approximately every 3 minutes, and every 6 minutes on its branches. Line 2 has a frequency of 6 to 8 minutes, Line 10 has a frequency of 6 to 8 minutes, Line S1 has a frequency of 10 minutes and Line S8 has a frequency of 14 to 29 minutes.
Ticketing and Fares
The cost of a trip on the Nanjing Metro depends on the distance travelled. One-way tickets can be purchased from customer service counters or ATMs, which accept coins and 5 and 10 yuan notes. Ticket prices range from 2 to 9 yuan, depending on the destination. For journeys of up to 8 stations or a distance of 10 kilometres or less, the ticket costs 2 yuan, while journeys of 10 to 16 kilometres cost 3 yuan. There are further incremental price increases based on distance, with an additional 1 yuan for every 9 kilometres over 70 kilometres. In addition, Lines 1 and 2 charge 6 yuan for the entire journey, while Lines 3 and S1, and Lines 10 and S8 charge 7 and 4 yuan respectively.
The Nanjing Public Utility Information Card (PUIC), also known as the Jin Ling Tong in Chinese, offers several benefits, including a 5% discount on metro fares, a 20% discount on city buses and numerous discounts at attractions, supermarkets, car parks and shopping centres. The card can be recharged at various locations around the city, including metro stations, and can be used on the metro, city buses, taxis and ferries.
There are two types of PUIC cards: personalised and non-personalised. Personalised cards have an initial fee of 30 yuan, which is refunded when the card is returned. These cards have a minimum fee of 1 yuan every 30 months and are suitable for adults or students. Unfortunately, non-personalised cards are non-refundable.
There’s also the Nanjing Citizen Card (NJCC), which is exclusively for residents of Nanjing. This dual-purpose card can be used for public transport and banking/social security services. Depending on individual needs, cardholders can opt for additional services, such as obtaining a PUIC service or a bank loan. The NJCC card costs 20 yuan.
Parking
Specific stations offer parking facilities.
Regulations and Tips
The metro is undoubtedly the best way to get around Nanjing, as it connects to many attractions and shopping areas. However, it is strictly forbidden to take animals, whether caged or leashed, on the metro, with the only exception being guide dogs for the visually impaired. Bicycles of any kind are also prohibited. Eating and drinking on the metro is not allowed, with fines ranging from 20 to 200 yuan depending on the offence. Passengers must always travel with a valid and stamped ticket, otherwise they may be fined the maximum fare for the distance travelled, plus a penalty of up to five times the maximum fare.
Interesting Facts
The German company Siemens was contracted to develop the signalling system for Lines 1 and 2. For Line 2, Siemens partnered with the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (NRIET).
The colour of the seats in the metro corresponds to the colour of the line on which they are used.