Finding the right metro exits with lifts in China can make a significant difference when travelling around China with a wheelchair or reduced mobility. A station may have several exits, but the lift you need can be connected to only one of them.
MetroMan (地铁通) is a China-focused metro app that provides route planning, metro maps and station information in English and other languages. Its station information can help you check exits before you travel and, where the relevant data is available, identify accessibility information associated with the station.
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However, there is an important limitation: MetroMan’s official current app descriptions confirm station details and metro information, but they do not promise that every station in every supported city has complete lift-access data. Treat the app as one part of your accessibility planning rather than assuming every exit shown with accessibility information is guaranteed usable when you arrive.
For help planning a wider trip to China, our guide to visiting China with autistic children is a good starting point.
What Is MetroMan China?
MetroMan is a specialist urban rail app covering metro networks across more than 50 Chinese cities. It has been available since 2011 and provides metro route searches, offline maps and station information.
The MetroMan China app supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese. This makes it particularly useful for international visitors who find local metro apps difficult to navigate in Chinese.
MetroMan’s current app listing says it covers 53 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Xi’an and many others.
Why Metro Exits With Lifts Matters for Wheelchair Users
Large metro stations in China can have many exits. Two exits from the same station can lead to opposite sides of a wide road, shopping complex or junction.
For a wheelchair user, there is an additional issue: the nearest exit to your destination may not be the exit with a lift.
If you follow a standard route without checking accessibility, you can reach the correct station but discover that the suggested exit is served by stairs or an escalator. Returning through the station to locate a lift can add considerable time and distance.
How to Use MetroMan to Check Station Exits
The exact appearance of MetroMan changes as the app is updated, but the basic process is to open the relevant city, select your station and inspect the station information before travelling.
- Open MetroMan China.
- Select the Chinese city you are travelling in.
- Search for or tap the metro station you need.
- Open the station details rather than looking only at the overall metro-line map.
- Check the available exit information for the station.
- Look for any accessibility or lift information associated with the exits in your version of the app.
- Note the exit number or letter connected with the lift-access information.
- Compare that exit with the location of your destination before travelling.
Exit numbering varies by metro system and station. You may see exits identified by numbers, letters or combinations such as A1 and A2.
What Symbol Should You Look For?
Where MetroMan provides accessibility information for a station, look for an accessibility or wheelchair symbol and any lift/elevator information associated with the station or exit.
Do not assume that a general wheelchair symbol necessarily means every station exit is accessible. You still need to identify the specific route between street level and the platform.
If MetroMan does not display clear lift information for the station you need, that does not automatically mean the station has no lift. It may simply mean that the relevant accessibility information is not included in MetroMan’s data for that station.
How to Check Whether an Exit Has a Lift
When the station information identifies exits and accessibility facilities, note the exit connected to the lift and compare it with your destination.
For example, your destination might be closest to Exit C, while the accessible street-level lift is beside Exit A. In that situation, planning for Exit A before you board the train is usually much easier than arriving at Exit C and discovering stairs.
Remember that there can be more than one lift involved in a metro journey. You may need:
- a lift between street level and the ticket hall;
- a lift between the ticket hall and platform;
- accessible connections when changing lines; and
- a lift from the arrival platform back to street level.
Knowing which street exit has a lift is useful, but it does not by itself confirm that the entire journey is step-free.
Plan the Arrival Station Before You Board
Check your arrival station while you still have time to plan, rather than waiting until the train reaches the station.
Save the exit number or take a screenshot of the station information. This can be particularly useful underground, where your mobile connection may be unreliable or you may not want to search through the app while moving through a crowded station.
MetroMan’s current app information states that its metro maps can work offline, which makes it useful as a backup when you do not have mobile data.
Cross-Check the Exit With Amap or Baidu Maps
For wheelchair journeys, I recommend treating MetroMan as a metro-network and station-information tool and cross-checking important accessibility details with another source.
Amap (Gaode Maps) has dedicated wheelchair navigation and can use accessibility data when planning routes. Baidu Maps also contains mapped accessibility information, including searches for accessible lifts.
Using two sources is particularly useful when the lift is essential to completing your journey. MetroMan can help you understand the metro route and exits, while a street-mapping app can help locate the lift in relation to roads and your final destination.
Useful Chinese Words for Finding a Metro Lift
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 地铁 | Metro / subway |
| 出口 | Exit |
| 无障碍 | Accessible / accessibility |
| 无障碍电梯 | Accessible lift / elevator |
| 电梯 | Lift / elevator |
| 直梯 | Lift / elevator |
| 轮椅 | Wheelchair |
| 无障碍通道 | Accessible route / passage |
If you cannot locate the lift, showing station staff 无障碍电梯在哪里？ can help communicate that you are asking where the accessible lift is.
Do Not Confuse Exit Information With Guaranteed Accessibility
A map or app cannot guarantee that a lift will be working when you arrive.
Lift maintenance, construction, temporary closures and station changes can affect an otherwise accessible route. Mapping databases can also be incomplete or take time to reflect changes.
For an important journey, check the local metro operator’s accessibility information where available and ask station staff if you need confirmation.
What if MetroMan Does Not Show an Elevator?
If MetroMan does not show clear lift information, do not immediately assume the station is inaccessible.
Try these alternatives:
- check the station in Amap;
- search Baidu Maps for the station name plus 无障碍电梯;
- look for accessibility information from the city’s official metro operator;
- ask station staff which exit has the accessible lift; or
- consider a nearby station if its accessible route is clearer and the surface journey is manageable.
Our accessible transport in China guide covers wider transport accessibility planning, including metro travel.
Why MetroMan Can Be Useful for International Visitors
MetroMan’s main advantage for many international visitors is that it specialises in Chinese urban rail networks while offering an English interface.
The current MetroMan China listing includes route planning, journey times, fares, offline maps and coverage of more than 50 cities. This can make it easier to understand the metro system without relying entirely on a Chinese-language transport app.
The app is useful beyond wheelchair travel too. Knowing the correct exit before reaching a large station can reduce unnecessary walking and make journeys more predictable for families travelling with autistic children.
For wider preparation, see our China with autistic children guide and our guide to travelling with autistic children.
MetroMan Wheelchair Planning Checklist
| MetroMan Accessibility Checklist | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Install MetroMan China before your trip. | ☐ |
| Select the correct city and check that its metro data is downloaded or available. | ☐ |
| Plan the complete metro journey. | ☐ |
| Open the details for your arrival station. | ☐ |
| Check the station’s exit information. | ☐ |
| Look for accessibility or lift information associated with the exits. | ☐ |
| Write down or screenshot the exit you need. | ☐ |
| Compare the accessible exit with your final destination. | ☐ |
| Cross-check important lift information with Amap, Baidu Maps or the metro operator. | ☐ |
| Allow extra time in case a lift is difficult to locate or unavailable. | ☐ |
| Show station staff this text 无障碍电梯 if you cannot find the accessible lift. | ☐ |
MetroMan Elevator and Exit FAQ
Does MetroMan show metro station exits?
MetroMan provides station information and has long included exit information for supported stations. The amount of detail can vary between cities and stations, so check the station you need before relying on it.
Does MetroMan show which exits have lifts?
Accessibility and lift information may be available in station details, but MetroMan’s current official app description does not guarantee complete lift data for every exit in every supported city. Always cross-check a critical accessible route.
Does MetroMan work offline in China?
MetroMan currently advertises offline metro-map use, which can make it useful underground or when you do not have a reliable mobile-data connection.
What is the Chinese word for an accessible lift?
无障碍电梯 means accessible lift or elevator. 无障碍 means accessible or accessibility.
Should I rely only on MetroMan for wheelchair access?
No. Use MetroMan as a planning tool and verify essential lift access with another mapping source or the local metro operator. Lifts can also be temporarily unavailable even when correctly mapped.
Can MetroMan help autistic travellers?
It can help with advance route planning by showing metro routes and station information. Knowing the route, transfers and intended exit before travelling can reduce some uncertainty, although the app is not an autism-specific assistance service.
China’s metro systems can make getting around its major cities surprisingly convenient, but choosing the wrong station exit can turn a straightforward journey into a much more difficult one if you need step-free access.
Using MetroMan to check which exits have lifts can help you plan your route before you arrive at the station. This can be particularly useful for wheelchair users, families travelling with disability pushchairs and anyone who finds stairs, escalators or long station transfers difficult.
Remember that having a lift at your chosen exit does not necessarily mean that every part of the journey will be completely step-free. Station layouts, interchange routes and lift availability can vary, while lifts can occasionally be temporarily unavailable.
Where possible, check your route before setting off and give yourself additional time when using unfamiliar stations. It can also be useful to have the name and number of your preferred exit saved on your phone so that you can show it to station staff if you need help.
MetroMan is just one tool that can make navigating China’s enormous metro networks easier, but a little advance planning can make a significant difference when travelling with additional accessibility needs.
Continue Planning Your Trip to China
We already have a growing collection of China guides ready for you to read and will continue to add more as we explore the country and publish new accessibility and family travel resources.
- Start with our complete guide to China with autistic children for practical information about planning a family trip, transport, sensory considerations and preparing before you travel.
- Heading to the capital? Read our guide to Beijing with autistic children for family-friendly attractions, transport and ideas from our own visit.
- Travelling around the country? Our guide to accessible transport in China covers metro systems, high-speed trains, buses, taxis and accessibility considerations.
- Planning a longer connection? Learn how China’s 240-hour visa-free transit works and what you need to consider before relying on it.
- British passport holder? Read about visa-free travel to China for UK families and the rules for stays of up to 30 days.
- Flying through Beijing? Our Beijing Capital Airport layover guide covers staying at the airport, leaving the airport and making the most of a longer connection.
- Need additional support at the airport? Read our guide to Special Assistance at Beijing Capital Airport before your journey.
Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children
- Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
- Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
- Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
- Always alerted at the last minute that the little one needs a toilet? Find a toilet anywhere with this app
Continue Planning Your Accessible Travels Using Our Guides
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