Long Weekend, Longer Rides: Shanghai Metro Extends Hours for Qingming Rush

Shanghai Metro will extend hours and add late-night services on multiple lines around the Qingming Festival holiday, as travel demand surges.

Qingming is a traditional day when Chinese people visit ancesters' graves. It usually falls any day from April 4-6. This year's Qingming holiday break lasts from April 4 to 6.

To handle the rush, Lines 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13 will operate later than usual on April 3 and 4, with last trains extended to around midnight.

On April 6, the last day of the holiday, additional late-night trains will run on Lines 1, 2, 10, and 17, with services extended to midnight.

Operators will also increase capacity on key routes. On Line 11, trains will run more frequently during peak days, with intervals shortened from about 10 minutes to just over six minutes. Line 16 will operate longer six-car trains on April 5, Qingming Day, to accommodate higher demand.

Daily ridership is expected to reach about 7.8 million trips. Peak travel is expected on March 28 and 29, as well as throughout the April 4 to 6 holiday period. The holiday typically sees heavy outbound traffic toward the suburbs in the morning, shifting back toward downtown later in the day.

People are encouraged to plan and avoid peak hours where possible, as stations and trains are likely to become crowded.