Shanghai plans to build 700 to 800 kilometers of tram tracks to link the city's metro stations to suburban towns, officials said.

Zhou Huai, vice-director of the Shanghai transport and port authority, told the Shanghai Morning Post that the first tram route will be built in the suburban Songjiang district, connecting Songjiang New Town and Sheshan tourism area.

A new type of low-carbon, energy saving tram, made by the China CNR Corp Ltd, will possibly be introduced.