The metro systems in Beijing, Tianjin, Nanjing and Suzhou still use metro cards or metro tokens.
I love taking the metro. I even enjoy rush hour. When the train is crowded, I can barely move and I have to stand for what seems like hours until I get to my stop. I put in headphones and listen to some music or read a book on my phone, and time flies by. Sometimes I like to watch all of my fellow passengers in the metro and marvel at how incredible it is that there are so many people in such an enormous city. Another reason I love riding the metro is that it is very affordable. It only costs about $0.40 or $0.50 per trip! Finally, taking the metro makes me feel good about my impact on the environment. It is much better for the planet than taking a taxi or driving a car.
Because Shanghai’s population is so large and the city is spread out, people have to find alternative modes of transportation besides driving or walking. The metro carries many passengers a long distance, so it is a much more effective method of transportation. Also, metro lines are built underground and above ground. They do not take up precious space that could be used for buildings, roads or parks.
