Early proposals

In 1984 the first serious proposal for construction of a subway appeared in the Municipal People's Congress.^[5] In April 1986, the Nanjing Integrated Transport Planning group was established to research on how to implement a subway system in Nanjing. In December 1986 the team published the "Nanjing Metro Initial Phase". The phase consists of a north–south line, east–west line and a diagonal Northwest to Southeast line. The three lines meet in the city center forming a triangle.^[6] A revision of the "Nanjing City Master Plan" in 1993 added another line through the urban core, and three light metro lines connecting Nanjing's suburbs in Pukou and the at time proposed new airport. In addition a suburban railway to Longtan was proposed. A 1999 report on "Nanjing city rapid rail transit network planning" further proposed six subway lines, two subway extensions and three light metro lines.^[7]

In 1994, the State Planning Commission approved the preparatory work for the subway only to have the entire metro project postponed in 1995 amid a national freeze on new metro projects.^[8]

Major changes were made to "Nanjing Urban Rail Transit Network Planning" in 2003.^{[citation needed]} The new master plan consisted of 13 lines, of which nine are subway lines and four are light metro lines. The new Line 6 will be a loop line connecting all the urban radial lines. The plan retained the original lines 1, 2 and 3 from the previous plan. According to the new plan, the initial phase would consist of the completion of Metro Line 1 and 2 by 2010. Together the two lines will form a basic "cross" network. By 2020 the completion of Lines 1, 2, 3, and 4 was to form a more robust "pound" shaped (#) network. Longer-term plans include the construction of a loop line connecting all existing lines. The plan also identified four subway lines crossing the Yangtze river.

First line

The initial section of Line 1 from Maigaoqiao to Xiaohang received final official approval in 1999. In May 2000, the Experimental Station resumed construction with the entire Line 1 project in full construction in December.

A western extension of Line 1 from Xiaohang to a newly built stadium was fast tracked after Nanjing won hosting the National Games. Line 1's initial section and the western extension started trial operations on September 3, 2005, running from Maigaoqiao to Olympic Stadium with 16 stations and a total length of 21.72 kilometers (13.50 mi).^[5] The opening of the Nanjing Metro Line 1 gave Nanjing the sixth metro system in the Chinese mainland after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Line 1

Line 1 runs mainly in a north–south direction. The line starts at Maigaoqiao in the north, heading southwards to CPU (China Pharmaceutical University). The construction of Line 1 began in the year 2000 and was inaugurated on September 3, 2005, with 16 stations and a length of 21.72 kilometers (13.50 mi).^[20] On May 28, 2010, Line 1's 24.5-kilometer (15.2 mi) long south extension entered into operation.^[21][22] Thus, before the transfer of Line 1's Olympic Stadium Branch to Line 10, Line 1 was 46.2-kilometer (28.7 mi) long with 31 stations.^{[citation needed]} The Olympic Stadium branch line broke away from Line 1 and formed parts of Line 10,^[23] when the latter's construction finished and entered operation on July 1, 2014. Currently, Line 1 is 38.9-kilometer (24.2 mi) long with 27 stations.^[24] Line 1's color is light blue.

Line 2

Line 2 is 43.4-kilometer (27.0 mi) long and has 30 stations.^[10] It runs mainly in an east–west direction, from Yuzui in the southwest to Jingtianlu in the northeast. It entered into operation on May 28, 2010.^[21][22] On 28 December 2021, the line was extended west 5.4 kilometers (3.4 mi) with 4 new stations to Yuzui Station.^[25] Line 2's color is red.

Line 3

Groundbreaking work for Line 3 started in January 2010. This line, with a north–south orientation, started operation on April 1, 2015^[26] and is 44.9 kilometres (27.9 mi) in length with 29 stations.^[11] Line 3's color is green.

Line 4

Construction of east–west Line 4 begun in late 2012^[27] and the first phase entered operation on January 18, 2017. The completed portion is 33.75 kilometers (20.97 mi) in length.^[28] The line is known as A Zi (the Purple) as the branding for the line and the train color is purple, the first of which were delivered in April 2015.^[29] The line started operation on January 18, 2017.^[30] Line 4's color is purple.

Line 5

Line 5 opened its southern section on March 31, 2024 that is 12.9 kilometers long with nine stations.^[31] Line 5's color is yellow.

Line 7

Line 7 is a northeast–southwest line roughly following the south bank of the Yangtze River.^[32] The south section has been under construction since November 2017.^[33] The rest of the line started construction in November 2018.^[34] The north section opened on 28 December 2022,^[35] and the south section from Yingtiandajie to Xishanqiao opened on 28 December 2023. This line is also the first line of Nanjing Metro to use trains in GoA4 automated level. Line 7's color is dark green.

Line 10

Line 10 is a western extension from Line 1's Olympic Stadium branch line, which broke away from Line 1 and formed part of Line 10 when the new line was completed. Construction started in February 2012,^[36] finished in 2014. The line is approximately 21.6-kilometer (13.4 mi) long with 14 stations,^[13] and entered operation on July 1, 2014.^[37] Line 10's color is beige.

Line S1

Line S1 acts as Nanjing's airport express line, connecting Nanjing South Railway Station to Gaochun District via Nanjing Lukou International Airport. The entire line was planned to be 85.8-kilometer (53.3 mi) long with 13 stations.^[38] The first phase from Nanjing South to Lukou International Airport started construction on December 27, 2011, and finished in 2014. The first phase opened on July 1, 2014, in time for the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. It is 35.8-kilometer (22.2 mi) long with 8 stations.^[14] The second phase extension later became Line S9.^[39] Line S1's color is teal.

Line S3

Line S3 opened on 6 December 2017. It starts from Nanjing South Railway Station and heads west, crossing the Yangtze River on the cantilever along the edge of Dashengguan Yangtze River bridge together with high-speed rail trains, before terminating at the Gaojiachong station in Qiaolin, southwest of Pukou District. Originally planned as Metro Line 12 or the Ninghe Intercity Rail Line, the route started construction in late 2011. Besides Nanjing South Railway Station in which passengers can transfer to Lines 1, 3, or S1, Youfangqiao station is also a transfer station between Line S3 and Line 2.^[40][41] Phase one is 37.53 kilometers (23.32 mi) long with 19 stations^[42] and connects Nanjing South Railway Station to Jiangbei New Area in Pukou. Phase 2 is now still being planned, which might extends further southwest from Phase 1 to Hexian county in the far future.^[43] Line S3's color is magenta.

Line S4

Line S4 or the Nanjing-Chuzhou Intercity Railway is a 46.2 kilometers (28.7 mi) rapid transit line connecting Nanjing North railway station with neighboring Chuzhou city in Anhui province. The line will feature passing loops at select stations to allow for distinct express and local services.^[44] Chuzhou section of the line is opened on 28 June 2023.^[45] An extension to Nanjing North railway station is under construction. The Chuzhou section of the line will use the separated "Chuzhou Rail Transit" logo.^[46]

Line S6

Line S6 or the Nanjing-Jurong Intercity Railway is a 43.7 kilometers (27.2 mi) connecting suburban Nanjing with neighboring Jurong opened on 28 December 2021. It is the first line in Nanjing Metro that reaches other cities, starting at Maqun station, ending at Jurong station. Line S6's color is lilac.

Line S7

Line S7 opened on 26 May 2018. It is an extension of Line S1 further southeast, starting at Konggangxinchengjiangning station, ending at Wuxiangshan station in South Lishui District. Some Line S1 trains continue to operate into Line S7. Line S7's color is pink.

Line S8

Line S8 is a suburban metro line which connects Luhe District to Pukou District. The line is 45.2 kilometers (28.1 mi) long,^[18] 34.1 kilometers (21.2 mi) of the line is elevated. The line features 17 stations^[18] including 6 underground stations and 11 elevated ones. It uses B size trains in 4 car sets that are capable of running up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). Construction of the line started on June 21, 2012, and it was officially opened on August 1, 2014.^[47][48] Line S8's color is orange.

Line S9

Line S9 starts from Xiangyulunan station, the 6th station from Nanjing South Railway Station on Line S1, and extends further south to Gaochun District for a total length of 52.42 km (32.57 mi). Upon opening on December 30, 2017, Nanjing became the first city in mainland China where every district is accessible by metro.^[49] Line S9's color is yellow.

Line 5

Line 5 received approval on 14 January 2015.^[62] Before the relocation in 2017, the line is projected to be 37.4 kilometers (23.2 mi) long, containing 30 stations and to cover a route from Fangjiaying station in Gulou District to Jiyindadao station in Jiangning District.^[63]

Line 6

Line 6 is a 32.4 km fully underground line with 19 stations. Construction started on 28 December 2019.^[64]

Line 9

Line 9 (Phase 1) is a 19.67 kilometers (12.22 mi) have a total of 16 stations, all of which are underground. The symbol of the train is orange red, and the maximum speed is 80 km/h. The route passes through Xuanwu District, Gulou District and Jianye District, and passes through Nanjing Railway Station, Xiaguan, Longjiang, Lüboyuan, Jiangsu Grand Theater and other areas. In the future, it will become an important line within the main city to connect the central Hexi, Xiaguan and Xinzhuang areas. The regional line is of great significance to the development of Hexi New City and the upgrading and reconstruction of the Xiaguan area. Construction started in May 2020, the construction period is about 4 years.^[65] The list of stations: Danxialu, Caohouxun, Nanjing Railway Station, Zhongyangmen, Chenghecun, Daqiaonanlu, Xiaguan, Agricultural Trade Centre, Dinghuaimendajie, Longjiang, Guanziqiao, Hanzhongmendajie, Shuiximendajie, Qinghelu, Lüboyuan and Binjianggongyuan.^[66] In the southern extension of Phase 2, Line 9 is expected to be extended all the way to Banqiao in the far south west of Nanjing.

Single tickets

Single journey tickets can be purchased from the ticket vending machine or at a ticket window. The ticket vending machine accepts both coins, bills (¥5 and ¥10) and Alipay. ^[69]

Transit card

Apart from one-way tickets, fares can be paid with the Nanjing Public Utility IC Card, or Jinlingtong (Chinese: 金陵通; pinyin: Jīnlíngtōng). It can be purchased for a refundable fee of 25 yuan (about 3.8 dollars) and refilled at ticket booths inside the metro stations as well as many collaborative convenience stores throughout the city. The card can be used to pay for other means of public transportation, such as the city taxi and the city bus. An NFC version of the card is free of charge by applying from the phone's wallet app.

This transit card is similar to Beijing's Yikatong, and the Octopus card of Hong Kong's MTR.