Shanghai Ferry

Logo of Shanghai Ferry at Fuxing Road Ferry Terminal

The Shanghai Ferry (Chinese: 上海市轮渡, abbr. 市轮渡) is a system of ferry routes across the Huangpu River in Shanghai. The ferry service started on January 5, 1911 by the municipal authorities in Pudong.[1] Before the 1970s, the ferry service was the only way to cross the Huangpu River. In the 1980s, the Shanghai Ferry became one of the busiest ferry services in the world. In the 1990s, as bridges and tunnels across the Huangpu river were built, the ferry service saw a sharp drop in ridership. The Shanghai Ferry currently consists of 18 ferry lines and is operated by the state-owned Shanghai Ferry Company.

History

Before the creation of the ferry service

The Tongren pier in the 1920s

Before the Shanghai ferry service was created, private sampan ferries were the main way to cross the Huangpu River. Most sampan ferries could only carry around 30-50 passengers and a one-way trip across the river would take around 30 minutes. As the city grew, the demand for cross-river traffic increased rapidly. In addition, increasing number of large vessels and the strong currents on the river posed extra dangers for traditional sampan ferries. Accidents involving sampan ferries were on the rise.

In 1909, municipal authorities in Pudong dredged several tributaries of the Huangpu River. To help the workers commute across the river, the Pudong authorities rent a steamboat to ferry workers between the Tongren Pier (near the Bund at East Beijing Road) and Donggou in Pudong.[2] Since the number of workers taking the ferry was far below the ferry's capacity, the authorities would also admit other passengers along the way, charging a small fee to subsidise the operation costs. As the steamboat was much safer and faster than other means to cross the river such as sampan ferries, taking the steamboat became the preferred way for people to cross the river. Meanwhile, the authorities realised that the ferry revenues can cover the renting cost. The authorities therefore decided to make its steamboat ferry service permanent.

Development of the ferry service

A Shanghai Ferry sailing on the Huangpu River before 1949
Dongchang Road Ferry terminal, before 1949

On January 15, 1911, the Pudong municipal authorities launched a ferry line between Tongren Pier and Donggou. In 1917, another ferry line linking Tongren Pier to Xidu was launched. Two years later, the authorities launched a ferry line between Tongren Pier and Xigou (Qingningsi). Around the same time, private ferry companies also started to launch commercial ferry lines.

In 1927, the ownership of the Pudong ferry service was transferred to the newly established Shanghai Special Municipality. By 1935, the ferry service operated 6 lines across the Huangpu river with 9 steel floating docks, 6 wooden docks, 12 ferry boats, and 5026 seats. The annual ridership reached 12.98 million. Before the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the Shanghai Ferry, consisting of mainly government-run ferry lines as well as private ferry lines, became the main way to cross the Huangpu River.[3]。

The Shanghai Ferry service was reduced to 3 lines due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. By 1945, the Shanghai ferry fleet had been reduced to 2 long ferries, both leased out, and 3 standard ferries unable to put in service due to broken engines. In March 1947, the Shanghai Ferry Company was established as a joint venture between the government and various private ferry companies and original ferry lines were being restored. By 1949, the Shanghai Ferry Company operated 4 ferry lines across the river, one long-haul ferry route, and one ferry route for automobiles with 19 ferry boats, 13 steel floating docks, and 2 wooden docks.[4]。

Shortly after the Communist takeover of Shanghai, the military administration of Shanghai requisitioned the Shanghai Ferry Company on December 28, 1949. In 1956, the Communist government nationalised the ferry industry of Shanghai, abolishing traditional private sampan ferries and acquiring new ferry boats to launch new lines.[5] In 1993, the Shanghai Ferry Company operated 21 lines with a daily ridership of 1 million and an annual ridership of 3700 million.[6]。By 2011, the Shanghai Ferry Company operated 18 ferry lines and 55 ferry boats with a daily ridership of 250,000.

Lines

Existing ferry lines

Standard ferries

Lines Lines (in Chinese) Terminal in Puxi Terminal in Puxi (in Chinese) Operation Hours Terminal in Pudong Terminal in Pudong (in Chinese) Operation Hours Interval (minutes)
Sansong Line[7] 三淞线 Wusong 吴淞 6:00-21:00 Sanchagang 三岔港 5:50-20:45 20/30
Caolin Line[8] 草临线 Linjiang Rd 临江路 6:00-20:30 Caozhen 草镇 5:50-20:35 20/40
Dongnen Line[9] 东嫩线 Nenjiang Rd 嫩江路 5:30-21:20 Dongtang Rd 东塘路 5:40-21:30 10/15/20/30
Nanlu Line[10] 南陆线 Lujiabang Rd 陆家浜路 24 hours Nanmatou 南码头 24 hours 12/24/30/Irregular intervals at night
Tangmi Line[11] 塘米线 Mishidu 米市渡 6:30-18:30 Tangkou 塘口 6:45-18:35 30 (Under renovation)

Air-conditioned ferries

Lines Lines (in Chinese) Terminal in Puxi Terminal in Puxi (in Chinese) Operation Hours Terminal in Pudong Terminal in Pudong (in Chinese) Operation Hours Interval (minutes)
Jinding Line[12] 金定线 Dinghaiqiao 定海桥 24 hours Jinqiao 金桥 24 hours 10/20/30/Irrgular intervals at Night
Xiening Line[13] 歇宁线 Ningguo Rd 宁国路 6:40-18:20 Xiepu Rd 歇浦路 6:50-18:30 20/30
Mindan Line[14] 民丹线 Dandong Rd 丹东路 5:00-22:00 Minsheng Rd 民生路 5:10-21:50 10/20
Qiqin Line[15] 其秦线 Qinhuangdao Rd 秦皇岛路 24 hours Qichangzhan 其昌栈 24 hours 10/20/30/Irrgular intervals at Night
Taigong Line[16] 泰公线 Gongping Rd 公平路 7:00-19:00 Taidong Rd 泰同栈 7:00-18:50 10/20
Dongjin Line [17] 东金线 East Jinling Rd 金陵东路 7:00-22:00 Dongchang Rd 东昌路 7:00-22:00 15
Dongfu Line[18] 东复线 East Fuxing Rd 复兴东路 6:00-19:00 Dongchang Rd 东昌路 6:00-18:45 15
Yangfu Line[19] 杨复线 East Fuxing Rd 复兴东路 5:00-23:00 Yangjiadu 杨家渡 5:10-22:50 10/20
Tangdong Line[20] 塘董线 Dongjiadu 董家渡 6:20-18:00 Tangqiao 塘桥 6:30-18:10 20/30
Sangang[21] 三港线 Gangkou 港口 5:00-23:00 Sanlin Rd 三林路 5:10-23:05 10/20/30
Chenche [22] 陈车线 Chegouqiao 车沟桥 5:50-18:30 Chenhang 陈行 6:00-18:35 20/30
Duwu Line [23] 杜吴线 Wujing 吴泾 5:00-19:00 Duhang Ferry Pier 杜行 5:15-19:08 30
Ximin Line[24] 西闵线 Minhang Ferry Pier 闵行 4:00-0:00 Xidu Ferry Pier 西渡 4:10-00:05 15/20/30

Discontinued Lines

In the 1990s, the Shanghai government built several tunnels and bridges across the Huangpu River, such as the Nanpu Bridge, the Yangpu Bridge, and the East Fuxing Road Tunnel. As a result, some ferry lines were discontinued due to sharp drops in ridership.

Fares

Shanghai ferry service has different fare categories for 8 types of passengers.[25]。

Type of passenger Type of ferry Standard token Monthly token
Passengers Standard ferries RMB 0.50 RMB 20.00 (Adults)
RMB 10.00 (Students)
Passengers Air-conditioned ferries[26] RMB 2.00 N/A
Bicycles Standard ferries RMB 1.30 RMB 52.00 (Adults)
RMB 26.00 (Students)
Bicycles Air-conditioned ferries[26] RMB 2.80 N/A
Light motorcycles Standard ferries RMB 1.50 RMB 60.00
Cycle Rickshaws Standard ferries RMB 5.00 N/A
Extra luggage Standard ferries RMB 1.00 N/A
Motorcycles Standard ferries RMB 4.00 N/A
Light motorcycles Standard ferries RMB 2.50 N/A

Discounts

A ferry boat entering Qichangzhan Ferry Terminal

Discounts on Shanghai Ferry are available to holders of the Shanghai Public Transport Card. Ferry discounts are separate from other public transport discounts and standard ferry discounts are separate from air-conditioned ferry discounts. According to the website of the Shanghai Ferry company:[27]：

Accidents

The deadliest accident of the Shanghai Ferry happened on December 12, 1987. Heavy fog on that day resulted in a suspension of ferry service at Lujiazui Ferry Terminal, where passengers started to gather up. The ferry service restored at 9 am. When the second ferry arrived at 9:10 am, anxious passengers pushed towards the ferry boat. An estimated 30,000-40,000 passengers (many with bicycles) had queued for the ferry. The passengers became anxious from the waiting and began to push towards the second ferry, after the first had departed. People and bicycles began to fall into the river from the pushing and the scene quickly turned chaotic. The station was closed 5 minutes later in order to disperse the crowd and commence rescue operations.

The disaster killed 17 people, severely injured 2 and injured over 70 people. It was the deadliest stampede to occur in Shanghai before the stampede in 2014. Another casualty report stated that 66 were killed, 2 severely injured and over 20 slightly injured.

References

  1. ↑ "上海"官办"轮渡诞生100周年" (in Chinese). 中新网. 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  2. ↑ 薛理勇 (1999). 《上海掌故辞典》 (in Chinese). 上海辞书出版社. p. 83. ISBN 7-5326-0513-2.
  3. ↑ "上海内河航运志>>第六章渡运" (in Chinese). 上海地方志办公室. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  4. ↑ "上海内河航运志>>第六章渡运>>第六节上海市轮渡公司" (in Chinese). 上海地方志办公室. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  5. ↑ "上海内河航运志>>第六章渡运>>第一节黄浦江客渡" (in Chinese). 上海地方志办公室. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  6. ↑ "百岁轮渡 再酿新变" (in Chinese). 解放日报. 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  7. ↑ "三淞线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  8. ↑ "草临线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  9. ↑ "东嫩线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  10. ↑ "南陆线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  11. ↑ "塘米线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  12. ↑ "金定线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  13. ↑ "歇宁线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  14. ↑ "民丹线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  15. ↑ "其秦线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  16. ↑ "泰公线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  17. ↑ "东金线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  18. ↑ "东复线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  19. ↑ "杨复线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  20. ↑ "塘董线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  21. ↑ "三港线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  22. ↑ "陈车线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  23. ↑ "杜吴线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  24. ↑ "西闵线时刻表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  25. ↑ "非空调渡船票价一览表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  26. 1 2 "空调渡船票价一览表" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  27. ↑ "《上海市轮渡公共交通卡优惠连乘办法》" (in Chinese). 上海市轮渡有限公司. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
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