Shanghai has two airports: Pudong (PVG) for most international and some domestic flights, and Hongqiao (SHA) primarily for domestic routes and short-haul regional flights. The two are on opposite sides of the city and require completely different transport strategies. Getting this right before you land saves significant time and frustration.
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) → City Center
Option 1: Maglev Train (World’s Fastest Commercial Train)
The Shanghai Maglev (磁浮列车) holds the record for the fastest commercial passenger rail service in operation: 430 km/h at peak speed, covering the 30 km between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road in just 7 minutes and 20 seconds.
Cost: ¥55 standard; ¥40 with same-day air ticket shown; ¥20 after 21:00
Operating hours: 08:30–21:30 (from airport); 08:00–21:00 (from Longyang Road)
Frequency: Every 15–20 minutes
Longyang Road connection: From Longyang Road, connect to Line 2 (to People’s Square, Jing’an Temple, Hongqiao Railway Station), Line 7 (to Lujiazui, Jing’an Temple) or Line 16 (to Dishui Lake area). Effective for reaching most tourist areas.
Experience: Genuinely thrilling for a few minutes. The acceleration is dramatic and the passing scenery is a blur. First-time visitors often do the return journey just for the experience.
Practical note: The maglev is fastest to Longyang Road but then you add metro time. For hotels near People’s Square or Lujiazui, it’s comparable in total time to the metro.
Option 2: Metro Line 2 (Best Value Overall)
Metro Line 2 runs from Pudong Airport through the city center to Hongqiao Airport — a single line connecting Shanghai’s two airports.
Key stops:
- Pudong Airport (eastern terminal)
- Long Yang Road (interchange with maglev and Lines 7, 16)
- Century Avenue (interchange with Lines 4, 6, 9)
- Lujiazui (Pudong financial district, Oriental Pearl Tower)
- People’s Square (city center interchange with Lines 1 and 8)
- Jing’an Temple (midtown, French Concession area)
- Hongqiao Railway Station (western end, connection to HSR)
Journey time to People’s Square: 65–75 minutes
Cost: ¥7 from airport to People’s Square area
Operating hours: First train from airport ~06:30; last train ~23:00 (verify current times)
Luggage: Overhead racks and end-of-carriage spaces. Not ideal for oversized bags in peak hours.
Option 3: Taxi
Journey time to city center: 40–60 minutes in normal traffic; can be 90+ minutes at peak hours (07:30–09:30, 17:00–19:30)
Cost estimates:
- To Bund/Huangpu: ¥130–160 including toll
- To Jing’an/Xintiandi area: ¥120–150
- To Hongqiao area (far west): ¥200–250
- Toll: ¥25–40 on expressway
Use the metered taxi rank: Exit arrivals, follow “Taxi” signs to the outdoor metered queue. Don’t accept any offer from someone approaching inside the terminal.
Option 4: Didi
Order from the Didi designated pickup zone (signposted in arrivals hall). Prices: 10–15% below taxi typically. English app navigation avoids communication issues.
Option 5: Airport Shuttle Bus
Multiple routes from Pudong Airport to different Shanghai districts. Ticket: ¥25–35. Journey: 60–90 minutes.
Key routes:
- Line 1: Airport → Lu Jia Zui → People’s Square → Shanghai Railway Station
- Line 2: Airport → Zhong Shan Park → Jing’an → Changning
- Line 5: Airport → Bund (Waitan) area → Shanghai Museum
Bus every 15–30 minutes from the arrivals hall bus station.
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) → City Center
Hongqiao Airport is much closer to the city center and much simpler to navigate from.
Metro (Recommended)
Line 2 and Line 10 both serve Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2.
From Hongqiao Airport, Line 2 reaches:
- Zhongshan Park: 15 minutes
- Jing’an Temple: 25 minutes
- People’s Square: 35 minutes
Cost: ¥4–6 depending on destination
Hongqiao Railway Station (high-speed rail to Hangzhou, Nanjing, etc.) is directly connected to Hongqiao Airport by a 5-minute covered walkway.
Taxi
Journey time to Jing’an/Bund area: 25–45 minutes depending on traffic. Cost: ¥55–90.
Direct Connection: Pudong ↔ Hongqiao
If you’re arriving at Pudong and need to catch a flight or high-speed train from Hongqiao (or vice versa), the direct route is:
By Metro Line 2: Full line run takes approximately 90 minutes. Recommended for passengers without heavy time pressure.
By Taxi/Didi: 40–60 minutes in normal traffic; ¥130–170. Recommended if you’re short on time or have heavy luggage.
Maglev + Taxi: Fastest option — take the maglev to Longyang Road (7 minutes), then taxi to Hongqiao (30–40 minutes, ~¥90). Total: approximately 45–55 minutes.
Choosing Between the Maglev and Metro Line 2
| Factor | Maglev + Metro 7/16 | Metro Line 2 Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Speed to Longyang Road | 7 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Total journey to People’s Square | ~40 min (maglev + metro change) | ~65 min (direct) |
| Cost | ¥55 + ¥5 | ¥7 |
| Hassle | Change at Longyang Road | No change |
| Experience | Extraordinary | Standard |
Verdict: Take the maglev at least once — the experience alone is worth the ¥48 premium. For routine use, Line 2 direct is more practical.
Practical Tips
Clear customs before rushing to transport: Don’t try to sprint to the maglev immediately after landing. Clear immigration and customs at your pace, then take any transport — the maglev runs until 21:30 and if you miss it, Line 2 is always available.
Luggage: The maglev has tight spaces for large bags. If you’re traveling with ski bags or oversized luggage, take a taxi.
Late night arrival: Maglev closes at 21:30. For flights arriving after 22:00, take Line 2 metro (runs until approximately 23:00) or a taxi/Didi.
SIM and money: Before exiting arrivals, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom counters sell tourist SIM cards (¥50–200); Bank of China ATMs offer the best foreign card rates.
Pre-loaded map: Download an offline version of Shanghai in Maps.me or Google Maps (download within the app) before arrival so navigation works even while your SIM activates.
Shanghai’s transport infrastructure from both airports is excellent. The Pudong → Longyang Road → Line 2 combination, though requiring a change, gets you to any point in the city economically and reliably. The maglev is genuinely one of the great urban transport experiences in the world — at 430 km/h, it’s the fastest you’ll ever travel at ground level.