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Shanghai Transportation - By Air

Shanghai has two international airports: Pudong and Hongqiao International Airport. Pudong International Airport handles 60% of flights, while the remaining 40% use Hongqiao International Airport. As one of the main Chinese airline hubs, the city has opened connections with nearly two hundred cities, half domestic ones and half international and regional ones. Direct flights provide the city with connections to dozens of international air terminals such as San Francisco, Seattle, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo, Bangkok, Madrid, Paris, Singapore, London, Moscow, Rome as well as regional links with Hong Kong and Macau. Domestic flights link the city with Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang and others.

Pudong International Airport

Overlook the Pudong Airport

Pudong International Airport

Situated on the south bank of the Yangtze River estuary in east of the city, Pudong International Airport, completed in 1999, is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away from the city center and 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Hongqiao International Airport. It has two terminal buildings and the Termial 2 (T2) was newly completed in 2008. There are buses and other means to shuttle between the termials.

Pudong Airport Transportation

Pudong Airport Shuttle Bus

Pudong International Airport enjoys very convenient transportation to the urban area. Visitors can transfer to the city center by various vehicles.

Pudong Airport Shuttle Bus: There are 8 shuttle bus lines handling transfers from Pudong Airport to the city center.

Maglev: The speedy Maglev Train (SMT) will be a wise choice for visitors to transfer to downtown. When getting off the maglev at Longyang Rd. Station, metro line 2 is right there to take visitors to the city center.

Metro: Metro Line 2 has been extended to Pudong Airport. The Metro Station is between the two terminal buildings. Passengers can use this line to get to Pudong, Nanjing Road and further to Hongqiao Airport.

Taxi: Taking a taxi costs approximately CNY 180 from Pudong Airport to People's Square, the center of the city, and it takes about 50 minutes.

Shanghai Pudong Airport Bus to Nearby Cities: Here are long-distance shuttle bus routes from Pudong Airport to neaby cities, such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yiwu, Kunshan, etc. Also, time and pick-up point from those cities are shown.

See more:
What to Do in Shanghai Airport - Pudong Airport

Hongqiao International Airport

Located in the west of the city, Hongqiao International Airport is only 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the city center. It mainly handles the domestic flights. There are two terminals with two runways. Terminal 2 (T2) is open into public use on March 16, 2010. Thirteen airlines are in Terminal 2 (T2) and another fifteen airlines are in T1. Passengers should make sure to get to the right terminal.

Hongqiao Airport

Hongqiao Airport Transportation

Hongqiao International Airport has convenient transportation to the downtown area.

Hongqiao Airport Shuttle Bus: At Hongqiao Airport, 9 bus lines provide transfers to the city center and one bus line to Pudong Airport.

Taxi: The taxi fare from Hongqiao Airport to People's Square in the city center is approximately CNY80 and it takes about half an hour.

Metro: Line 2 and Line 10 are extended to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2. Passengers can take subway to downtown area and Pudong Airport.

See more: 6 Things to Do in Shanghai Airport - Hongqiao Airport

Shanghai Airport Transfer

The two airports enjoy convenient transportation links with the center of the city.
Airport Shuttle Bus: The most convenient way is to take direct Hongqiao shuttle bus line 1 or Pudong Airport shuttle bus line 1, taking 1 hour.
Metro Line 2: Metro line 2 connects T2 of Hongqiao Airport and Pudong Airport. The journey takes about 1h 40min.
Metro Line 2 + Maglev Line: Take metro line 10 at T2 of Hongqiao Airport, transfer to line 2 at East Nanjing Rd., then take the maglev train at Longyang Rd. to Pudong Airport, taking about one hour.

Hongqiao Railway Station can be reached from T2 of Hongqiao Airport by line 10, only one stop.
See more: How to Get from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Pudong Airport

- Last updated on Aug. 17, 2023 by Catherine He -

Questions & Answers on Shanghai Transportation by Air

Asked by kathleensturgen from UNITED KINGDOM | Jul. 21, 2023 12:22

How much is taxi fare from Honggiao airport to Pu Dong airport

Answers (1)

Answered by Rita | Jul. 23, 2023 20:13

It costs around CNY150.

Asked by Mary from USA | Oct. 26, 2019 06:47

Shanghai Pudong airport to grand kempinski using maglev and metro

What metro line to take and how much is the fare from airport to grand kempinski by oriental pearl tv

Answers (1)

Answered by Kevin from USA | Oct. 28, 2019 18:24

You can take maglev to Longyang Rd station, then transfer to metro line 2 to Lujiazui station (Exit 3), and walk north of 900m to your hotel. It takes around 50 minutes with CNY54.

Asked by HalDusen from USA | Oct. 22, 2019 13:47

I have a cruise that ends in Shanghai, only stop in China. Am I eligible for a China Transit Visa?

Answers (1)

Answered by Claire from UNITED KINGDOM | Oct. 22, 2019 23:13

If your start and destination countries are different, then you are eligible for the 144 hours visa free policy.

Asked by Lisa Chen from USA | Sep. 18, 2019 17:12

is there any public transportation to take from Pudong airport to Hongqiao railway station?

Thanks

Answers (1)

Answered by Carson from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 18, 2019 18:20

You can take airport shuttle bus line 1 to Hongqiao Railway Station directly. Or you can also take subway line 2.

Asked by Cha from PHILIPPINES | Jun. 06, 2019 02:00

Hi. Can you direct me the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to Shanghai Theatre at 3 in the morning?

Answers (1)

Answered by Beatrice from USA | Jun. 10, 2019 18:37

For your information, there is no public transport at 3am in the morning. If you are not in a hurry, you can wait till 6:30, then you can take subway Line 2 from the airport to Rinmin Square Station, and walk northwest of 800m to your destination. It only costs CNY7. If you take taxi, it costs about CNY200.