Shanghai A to B

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Yishan Road is a near-complete interchange solution as it stands now. If you change between Lines 3 and 9, you’ll never need to do a Virtual Interchange, and if you can hang on to a northbound Line 4 (Inner Circle), you can just take one Line 3 train to Hongqiao Road and hop on over to Line 4 there. The trouble is if you’re out of the station from the Line 4 part — or if you’re heading on the Outer Circle on Line 4 from Lines 3 or 9. That’s where your Single Journey Ticket expires — or where you’ll need the Virtual Interchange.

As Yishan Road stands right now, it’s a semi-dismal mess. All Line 3, Line 4 and Line 9 exits are independent of each other — not just to mention how many Exit 2s there are at the stop. Good news, though: by the end of 2009, an interchange passageway — underground with a staircase going above-ground — will be in the works, ready for the World Expo. If you’re doing Line 3, expect minor inconveniences while works impact Yishan Road.

Final plans call for all-underground interchange solution. Ah well, there goes your dosage of non-underground air…

There are now reports stemming from, in particular, the MetroFans community hinting at the opening of Exit 12 at the Century Avenue interchange, which is shared by Lines 2, 4 and 6 and will also be shared by Line 9 in late 2009.

Exit 12 brings direct access to the west side of Century Avenue (as in the avenue itself). You’ll be able to directly cross the avenue underground.

This exit is pretty close to the Line 9 bit of the station, so there’s, as always, the temptation to cross into Line 9. That bit, however, is reserved for later this year, when Phase II of Line 9 (Yishan Road — Middle Yanggao Road) opens up. Line 9 will the pass through two major interchanges — Xujiahui and Century Avenue.