Shanghai originally had a steel wheeled electric tramway network in its urban center.

Routes expanded gradually and reached largest extent in 1925 with 328 tramcars; this tram system shut down in 1975.

Tram service returned to Shanghai with the opening of a rubber tired Translohr line in the suburban Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in 2010.

Due to successive years of losses, the Zhangjiang Tram originally planned extensions are temporarily put on hold.

Another advantage is that rubber-tired trams don't require tracks, as steel wheeled cars do, so there is less disturbance of underground networks like power cables, phone lines, and sewer and water mains.

Trams are stored in an indoor facility at the eastern end of the line in Heqing Town.

They are low floor, fully air conditioned, and can operate at high speeds up to 70 km/h (43 mph).