Colorfully-painted buses in Shanghai may capture your attention when you are walking on the street. In terms of handling capacity, Shanghai Public Bus System holds the world’s largest number of passengers in its everyday operation. Today, Shanghai has more than 1100 bus lines interlacing like a complicated cobweb and the bus system keeps expanding day by day to satisfy the rapid development of Shanghai. The Public Bus System covers every residential area within the city and major transfer hubs are located near Shanghai Railway Station, People’s Square, Xujiahui (徐家汇), Zhongshan Park and Wujiaochang (五角场).

Buses in Shanghai are put into different categories, among which include conventional buses (常规线), night buses, special-line buses (专线) and cross-river buses. Self-service ticketing was introduced into Shanghai Bus System 10 years ago and nowadays most buses in Shanghai are running without conductors to collect fees. A “Shanghai Public Transportation Card” makes you carefree to take public transportation vehicles, for most buses, metros and taxies are equipped with card readers. At peak hours, buses are packed with people and bus-mounted mobile TV can offer you some entertainments and information when buses slowly move on the way.

You can visit the small towns in outskirts Shanghai by taking air-conditioned bus. The main station for these routes is near the Shanghai Railway Station. Inter-town and inter-countryside buses are widely available too. These buses are mainly yellow painted with comfortable seats.