Shanghai Airport Guide (PVG & SHA)

Shanghai has two airports, and knowing the difference matters before you book anything. Pudong (PVG) sits on the eastern edge of the city, handles almost all international flights, and is about 30km from downtown. Hongqiao (SHA) is on the western side, roughly 13km from the center, and mostly runs domestic and short regional routes to places like Japan and South Korea. In 2024 Pudong handled about 76.8 million passengers and Hongqiao about 47.9 million, so both are large and well organized. This guide covers how to tell them apart, every realistic way into the city (including the famous maglev), how to move between the two airports, and a few rules that trip people up.

PVG vs Hongqiao: which one are you flying into?

The single most useful thing to check is your airport code on your ticket, because the two are about 40km apart and getting them confused can cost you a flight.

One detail worth knowing: Hongqiao Terminal 2 sits inside the Hongqiao Transportation Hub, the same complex as Hongqiao Railway Station. If you're connecting to a high-speed train, you can walk between them. That makes Hongqiao very convenient for trips that combine a flight with rail travel onward.

Getting from Pudong (PVG) to the city

Pudong gives you the widest range of options. Here's how they actually compare.

The Maglev (磁悬浮, cíxuánfú)

This is the fast magnetic-levitation train connecting Pudong Airport to Longyang Road (龙阳路) metro station. It covers roughly 30km in about 8 minutes, reaching a top operating speed of 300 km/h. It's genuinely fun and a Shanghai experience in its own right, but it doesn't take you all the way downtown — at Longyang Road you transfer to Metro Line 2 or Line 16 to finish the trip.

According to the operator, the Shanghai Airport Authority, fares are 50 yuan one-way and 80 yuan round-trip for a regular seat (VIP is 100/160). If you show a same-day flight ticket you get 20% off a one-way regular ticket (one discounted ticket per boarding pass), which brings it to 40 yuan. There's also a combined maglev-plus-metro ticket: 55 yuan gets you a one-way maglev regular seat plus a 24-hour metro day pass.

Operating hours run roughly 07:02-21:42 from the airport toward Longyang Road, and 06:45-21:40 in the other direction. Confirm the current schedule on the official site before you travel, especially for early or late flights.

Metro Line 2

Metro Line 2 (地铁2号线) is the backbone that links both airports to the center. From Pudong it runs west through Lujiazui, People's Square, and onward, eventually reaching Hongqiao. It's cheap — Shanghai metro fares start at 3 yuan for the first 6km, then add 1 yuan roughly every 10km — but it's also the slowest option from Pudong because the airport sits at the far end of a very long line.

One quirk to know: on the eastern section near Pudong, you may need to change trains at Guanglan Road (广兰路) station, where short and long train formations meet. Signs and announcements cover it, but don't be surprised if you're asked to switch to the train across the platform. Trains from Pudong toward the city run roughly 06:00-22:30; check live times on the official metro app for your travel day.

The Airport Link Line

The newer Airport Link Line (市域机场线) directly connects Hongqiao and Pudong airports, with the full Hongqiao T2-to-Pudong run taking about 40 minutes. It opened for initial service and is the fastest rail link between the two airports. Fares start at 4 yuan, and the full Hongqiao-to-Pudong fare is 26 yuan. From Pudong, the first train is around 06:00 and the last around 22:15, with trains roughly every 15 minutes. Schedules have been adjusted since launch, so verify current times on the Shanghai Airport Authority page before relying on it.

Taxis

Official taxis line up at clearly marked ranks outside the arrivals halls. Always use the official queue — ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride. Shanghai's metered fare starts at 14 yuan for the first 3km (16 yuan for certain electric and van models), then 2.7 yuan per kilometer. A few rules raise the final number:

• Distance beyond 15km adds a 50% surcharge on the per-km rate.
• Between 23:00 and 05:00, the base fare and per-km rate go up 30%.
• Major holidays add a per-trip surcharge (10 yuan during Spring Festival; 5 yuan during May and National Day holidays).

Because Pudong is far out, a taxi downtown is not cheap and varies a lot with traffic. We'd budget generously and treat any quoted flat fee with suspicion — insist on the meter. If you prefer booking through an app, ride-hailing works well in Shanghai once you're set up.

Airport buses and night buses

Pudong runs several airport bus lines into the city and to Hongqiao. The cross-airport line to Hongqiao Terminal 2 costs 30 yuan and runs roughly 06:00-23:00. Another useful line heads to Shanghai Railway Station's north square (2-28 yuan, about 80 minutes end to end). After the metro and maglev stop, overnight "night watch" buses operate from after 23:00 until about 45 minutes after the last flight, reaching Longyang Road, the city, and Hongqiao, with fares around 16-30 yuan. Check current routes at the official ground transport page.

Getting from Hongqiao (SHA) to the city

Hongqiao is closer in and very well connected, so the choices are simpler.

• Metro: Terminal 2 is served by Line 2 and Line 10; Terminal 1 connects via Line 10. Line 2 runs east toward People's Square and Lujiazui; Line 10 reaches Xintiandi and the former French Concession area. For most travelers heading downtown, the metro from Hongqiao is fast and cheap.
• Taxi: The official rank gets you downtown in about 30 minutes for roughly 100-150 yuan depending on traffic, per Shanghai's official transport information. Same meter rules as above.
• Airport Link Line: If you're connecting to Pudong, this is the direct rail link (about 40 minutes, 26 yuan).
• High-speed rail: Because T2 shares the Hongqiao hub with the railway station, you can walk to your train. This is a big reason to prefer Hongqiao when your itinerary continues by rail.

For planning metro routes and a day-by-day itinerary once you land, the WaysChina app has offline metro maps and a built-in trip planner for Shanghai and other major cities.

Transferring between PVG and Hongqiao

The two airports are about 40km apart, so a transfer is a real journey, not a quick hop. Your main options:

If you're transferring between flights at different airports, give yourself a generous cushion — we'd want at least 3-4 hours between landing and your next departure, more during rush hour or holidays.

Moving around inside the airports

At Pudong, a free shuttle bus connects T1 and T2, running 24 hours, every 10-15 minutes. At Hongqiao, the two terminals are linked by a free shuttle bus or by Metro Line 10. In both cases, don't assume the terminals are within walking distance — check which terminal your flight uses and allow time to move between them.

The 240-hour visa-free transit rule

If you're just passing through, Shanghai is one of China's transit visa-free entry points, and the policy is now generous. Since late 2024, eligible travelers from 54 qualifying countries can stay up to 240 hours (10 days) visa-free when transiting through China to a third country or region. Both Pudong and Hongqiao are designated entry points.

The key requirement: you need a confirmed onward ticket (with date and seat) to a third country or region within the 240-hour window. The eligible country list and the exact areas you're allowed to travel within do change, so confirm the current rules with an official source before you fly. The Shanghai government's official visa page and the China visa service center FAQ are the places to check. For questions, Shanghai's entry-exit hotline is +86-21-12367.

A few rules that catch travelers out

• Power banks: Since mid-2025, civil aviation rules ban power banks without a clear 3C marking, or recalled models, from domestic flights. If you bought a cheap power bank abroad without Chinese certification markings, it may be confiscated at security on domestic legs.
• Payments: Maglev, metro, and bus tickets are easy to buy, but some metro vending machines don't reliably accept foreign cards. Set up a mobile payment app before you arrive, or carry some cash for ticket machines.
• Security hours: Pudong's domestic departure security operates 24 hours across T1 and T2, which helps for very early flights — but always confirm your specific check-in counter's hours.

Airport hotels

If you have a red-eye, an early connection, or a long layover, sleeping near the airport beats a late-night trip into the city. Both airports have hotels within or beside the terminals, plus more options a short shuttle ride away. Booking ahead is worth it during peak travel and around holidays, when airport-area rooms fill up. You can compare airport-area properties on Booking Com to find something matched to your terminal and budget.

Getting online after you land

Mobile data makes everything here easier — maps, ride-hailing, translation, payments. Many travelers buy a China eSIM before flying so they're connected the moment they land at PVG or SHA, without hunting for a SIM counter. Providers like Airalo offer China data plans you can install in advance. Whatever you choose, sort out connectivity before you need a taxi or a metro route.

Quick reference: which option for which traveler

Useful contacts

• Shanghai Airport service hotline (Pudong and Hongqiao): 021-96990
• Feedback email: [email protected] (Pudong), [email protected] (Hongqiao)
• Maglev service hotline: 021-64370000
• Entry-exit policy questions: +86-21-12367
• Major taxi dispatch lines: Dazhong 96822, Qiangsheng 62580000, Jinjiang 96961, Haibo 96933

The short version

Check your airport code first — Pudong (PVG) for international, Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic and regional, and they're 40km apart. From Pudong, the maglev plus Metro Line 2 is the classic combo, Line 2 alone is cheapest, and a taxi is easiest with luggage. From Hongqiao, the metro handles most trips and you can walk to high-speed trains. The Airport Link Line ties the two airports together in about 40 minutes. Set up mobile payments and data before you land, keep an eye on the power-bank rule, and if you're transiting, check whether the 240-hour visa-free policy applies to you. Confirm prices and schedules on official sources close to your travel date, since they do change.

Related reading

• Metro Systems Guide
• Taxis & Ride-Hailing in China
• Visa-Free & Transit Policies
• Shanghai Complete Guide
• High-Speed Train Complete Guide

Last updated: June 2026