Changsha Metro Line Service Guide (2024)

As of June 2024, Changsha has six metro lines and one maglev line in operation, and one metro line under construction. Taking metro is one of the most convenient way to commute in Changsha. The public signs are in Chinese and English. Stops are announced in both Chinese and English and there are maps on all the metro trains, with blinking lights showing the upcoming stops.

Brief introduction of each metro line

Changsha Metro Line 1 began operation in June 2016. It starts from Kaifu District Government Station in the north, and ends up at Shangshuangtang Station in the south. There are 20 stations along the line, including 19 underground ones and one elevated station. It is designed with 7 transfer stations, linking to the operational line 2, 3, 4, 6, and CZT Intercity Railway, and the planned line 8.

The Metro Line 1 North Extension Phase I opened to traffic on June 28, 2024. This section starts from Kaifu District Government Station in the south, stretching along Furong North Road to Shahe Parking Lot in the north. Five stations are set up along the 9.88-kilometer section, including 2 elevated and 3 underground ones.

Changsha Metro Line 2 opened to traffic in April 2014. It runs through 3 passenger hubs of the city (the West Station of Changsha, Changsha Railway Station, and Changsha South Railway Station) and connects Yuelu District, Tianxin District, Furong District, Yuhua District, and Changsha County. There are 19 stations along the 21.926-km line, including 9 transfer stations linking to line 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and the Maglev Line.

The Metro Line 2 westward extension began operation at the end of 2015, extending from Wangchengpo Station to Meixi Lake area, with a length of about 4.45 km.

The entire length of Metro Line 2, including its westward extension, is located underground.

Changsha Metro Line 3 started trial operation in June 2020. It runs from southwest to northeast, with a total length of 36.5 kilometers. There are 25 stations (all located underground) in total, including 5 transfer stations which links to metro line 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. It connects Yuelu, Tianxin, Yuhua, Furong, Kaifu Districts, and Changsha County.

The Metro Line 3 has seamless connection with the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Intercity Railway West Ring Line, enabling a remarkable reduction in commuting time between Changsha and Xiangtan to just 20 minutes. Beginning operation in June 2023, the west ring line is 17.29 kilometers in length, with eight stations set up along the line.

Changsha Metro Line 4 opened to trial operation in May 2019. It is 33.5 kilometers long, connecting Wangcheng, Yuelu, Tianxin, Yuhua Districts, and Changsha County. There are 25 stations along the line, all of which are located underground. It has 8 transfer stations, connecting with line 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and the CZT Intercity Railway.

Changsha Metro Line 5 started trial operation in June 2020. It is a north-south trunk line in the east of the Changsha's main urban area network. With a total length of 22.5 kilometers, it runs through Yuhua, Furong and Kaifu Districts, and Changsha County. There are 18 stations along the line, including 4 transfer stations linking to line 2, 3, 4, and 6.

Changsha Metro Line 6 started operation in June 2022. It is the longest metro line in Changsha, and the first line connecting to the airport. With a total length of 48.1 kilometers, it has 34 stations along the line, including 6 operational transfer stations connecting to line 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Changsha Metro Line 7 is under construction and will begin operation in 2027.

Operating Hours: 6:30 to 23:00 every day

The operation schedule of each line varies slightly. Please check the on-site bulletin. Since the time of the first and last trains arriving at each station is different after departure, the specific service time of each station varies slightly. Please refer to the operation schedule of each station for details.

On the occasion of important holidays or events, the operation schedule of some metro lines may be adjusted, including extension of service hours and temporary suspension. Please follow the Transportation column, or WeChat account of our website (Eye Hunan) to get the latest information.

Ticket price:

The ticket varies according to the distance. The starting fare is two yuan for destinations within 6 kilometers (inclusive). For the distance over six kilometers, it is priced according to the principle of "the unit price decreasing with longer distance".

How to the take the metro?

In Changsha, foreign travelers can take the subway via the following ways:

- An App named "Changsha Metro [长沙地铁]"

- An App named "XiangxingYikatong [湘行一卡通]";

- An App named "My Changsha [我的长沙]"

- An Alipay mini-program named "Transport [出行] ";

- Xiaoxiang Card [潇湘一卡通]; or,

- Single journey ticket.

Note: The Xiaoxiang Card integrates Changsha bus, metro, and maglev line payment systems. There are two kinds of cards: real-name and non-real-name cards. The non-real-name ones are open to foreigners. Cardholders get a 30% discount when taking a bus and a 10% discount when taking the subway or maglev trains in Changsha.

To take Changsha metro through the mini-program on the Alipay App, users can click on the "出行 (travel)" tab on the homepage of Alipay App, and choose the "地铁 (metro)" tab on the top to get the QR code for the metro rides.

Preferential Policy:

Free ride is offered to:

- Seniors over 65 (65 included);

- Children under 14 (14 not included);

- The disabled;

- Disabled military personnel;

- Military personnel in active service;

- Veterans;

- Fire-rescue personnel;

- Families of martyrs, families of military personnel who died while on duty, and families of military personnel who died of a disease;

- Holders of Changsha's "Talent Green Card" and its supplement card; and,

- Personnel identified as "Changsha Master Craftsman".

People of any of the above-mentioned groups can enter and exit the metro station through green channels based on their valid certificates. Children under 14 years old can take the subway for free by swiping their student cards. For those under 14 who do not have a student card, they can pass through a green channel and enjoy free rides after presenting valid documents or photocopies to prove their age, such as ID cards, household registers, and birth certificates.

The green channels are always set up beside the gate machines or the service center in every metro station.
The Changsha Metro Group is currently building the Metro Line 5 into an "all-age-friendly" urban rail transit demonstration line, and will promote the upgraded services to the entire line network.



Passengers with special needs, including the elderly, those with disabilities, vulnerable individuals, pregnant women, and those with infants may call 0731-86850000 or use the "长沙地铁(Changsha Metro)" App to make an appointment for escort service. Working staff of the station will escort them to go through entrance and boarding, and accompany them on the metro train until another working staff take over the escort work at the destination station. Passengers without an appointment may ask the working staff for help on the site, or call the escort hotline of the station.

In addition, there are more assistance facilities at the "all-age-friendly" station, including:

- Barrier-free intelligent service machine beside the lift at the entrance, equipped with a barrier-free map and a braille button to ask for help;

- Service counters at both standard and lowered heights;

- Courtesy waiting rooms;

- Wheelchair ramps; and,

- Mother-and-baby rooms equipped with wet tissues and warm water.

Source: hunan.gov.cn; Hunan Daily; website of Changsha Metro Group; Changsha Evening News