Explore Shanghai Metro and City Maps

When I have a look at my site stats, one of the usual top searches in looking for a map of Shanghai's roads or a good map of Shanghai's metro stations. For my mind, there's a number of so-so metro and city maps in English. Realistically, Shanghai's expats would really benefit from an English version of the Google China's Ditu (map) service or an equivalent here in Shanghai.

A screenshot of Google China's Map (Ditu) service.

Online map systems can really help when orienting new visitors or new friends in Shanghai to help communicate the location of a tourist attraction, museum, restaurant or meeting-point. One of the mapping systems I've used a lot for this is the Smartshanghai Interactive Map, but it has its limitations, namely it can't toggle between English and Chinese, which makes asking taxi drivers or people for help even more difficult.

Don't fret. The ExploreShanghai online mapping website can provide the solution. It is a new and FREE map service that meets both Chinese and English requirements, which also provides some cool pointers to access the city. Created by web boffin Matt Mayer, the site offers two great maps for English-speakers in Shanghai, ExploreShanghai City and ExploreShanghai Metro.

Screenshot of the ExploreShanghai City online mapping service..

The ExploreShanghai City map has a lot of interactive and search functions. The most handy in my opinion is the ability for users to mark locations and enter data in a similar manner to what Google Earth maps can do.

Both of the SmartShanghai and ExploreShanghai maps both have the ability to bookmark a location and access it via a hyperlink. I've found this very handy if you're hosting an event or a party somewhere.

Both the SmartShanghai and ExploreShanghai city maps can be accused of having a downtown-centric view of Shanghai, and don't really address Hongqiao, or Pudong at all. There's not a lot of information outside the inner-ring road either, so just be warned if you want to use these mapping services outside this general area. I'm sure these will be areas that are improved upon in the future.

Screenshot of the ExploreShanghai Metro Map.

I don't believe I've seen a Shanghai metro map that looks anything the ExploreShanghai Metro site. The beauty of this map is that is also contains the information that you need to plan your journey, which includes the first and last times of each metro line at the stations you choose, and the time and cost of the journey. Usually this requires consulting your metro timetable or reading the information at the metro station.

These are cool, handy tools. Go and check them out.