Shanghai has two major airports, and the best route into the city depends on the terminal, arrival time, luggage and final district. Pudong International Airport is east of central Shanghai and connects with Metro Line 2, the Maglev at Longyang Road, airport buses, taxis and the Airport Link Line. Hongqiao International Airport is west of the centre; Terminal 1 is served by Metro Line 10, while Terminal 2 is served by Lines 2 and 10 and sits within the larger Hongqiao transport hub. The Airport Link Line connects the two airport hubs.
This guide is a decision framework, not a timetable. Shanghai Airport Authority and the municipal transport portal warn that operating details can change, so check the airport, airline and transport operator again on your travel day. Confirm the airport code and terminal, then match the route to the exact hotel or railway station.
At a glance
Start here
- Confirm PVG or SHA and the terminal before comparing routes.
- Use rail for a predictable cross-city connection, but count transfers and walking.
- Choose an official taxi rank or published airport bus when door-to-door movement matters more.
- Recheck last departures, service changes and payment methods on the day of travel.
01
Identify your airport and terminal first
Start with the three-letter airport code. PVG is Pudong International Airport; SHA is Hongqiao International Airport. Pudong has two passenger terminals connected by an official shuttle, while Hongqiao has two terminals with different metro access.
Copy the hotel name, street address and nearest metro station into one note in English and Chinese. Then check whether the airline uses a different terminal for departure. For a return journey, work backwards from the airline's check-in requirement rather than using the time the inbound trip happened to take. Airport Authority pages provide terminal transport details, while the airline remains the authority for flight and check-in information.
- Record airport code, terminal and flight number.
- Save the destination address in Chinese characters.
- Check the departure terminal separately for the return.
02
Choose the Pudong rail route by transfer cost
Metro Line 2 is the straightforward rail option when the destination lies on that line or needs only one manageable transfer. The municipal airport guide also identifies the Maglev as a connection between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road, where passengers can transfer to Line 2. The Maglev is therefore not a direct train to every central hotel; its value depends on whether Longyang Road improves the rest of the journey.
Compare routes door to door. Count the airport walk, ticket or payment setup, transfer distance, station exit and final walk with luggage. A nominally faster first leg may lose its advantage after two interchanges. If the hotel is near People's Square, East Nanjing Road or another Line 2 area, a continuous metro journey may be simpler. If it is elsewhere, map both the all-metro and Maglev-plus-metro versions before choosing.
- Treat Longyang Road as a transfer point, not downtown's universal endpoint.
- Compare total transfers as well as travel time.
- Check the official airport page for current operating hours.
03
Use Hongqiao's hub connections deliberately
Hongqiao Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 do not have identical transport choices. Official guidance places Line 10 at both terminals, with Line 2 also serving Terminal 2. This makes Hongqiao useful for central destinations on those corridors, but a traveller landing at Terminal 1 should not copy directions written for Terminal 2 without checking the transfer involved.
Terminal 2 is integrated with the wider Hongqiao hub, which also includes Hongqiao Railway Station. Follow the signed route for the correct facility and allow for indoor walking, ticket checks and queues. If continuing by train, use the station name printed on the rail booking and keep the airport and railway departure procedures separate.
- Match metro directions to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
- Do not confuse Hongqiao Airport with Hongqiao Railway Station.
- Allow time to walk through the transport hub.
04
Compare the Airport Link Line for cross-airport trips
The Airport Link Line is the dedicated rail connection to examine when an itinerary requires movement between Pudong and Hongqiao. The municipal airport guide reports a roughly 40-minute airport-to-airport rail journey, but that figure is not the same as a workable flight connection. Terminal walks, baggage collection, immigration or security procedures, waiting time and airline deadlines sit outside the ride itself.
For an inter-airport itinerary, verify that the passenger is permitted to complete the required transfer formalities and confirm baggage handling directly with the airlines. Then build a buffer around the published rail journey. The SH MaaS airport guidance includes the Airport Link Line among its transport modes and can help with hub navigation, but neither an app nor a train ticket overrides the conditions attached to an international transit.
- Use the rail time only as one component of the connection.
- Confirm baggage and entry formalities with the relevant authorities.
- Avoid booking separate flights around a minimum-looking transfer.
05
Decide when bus or taxi is the better fit
Airport buses can reduce transfers when a published stop is close to the destination, especially outside the simplest metro corridors. Their routes, intervals and last departures are mutable. Use the Airport Authority transport page on the travel day, identify the precise stop, and plan the remaining walk or taxi connection before boarding. Do not rely on a timetable saved months earlier.
A taxi from the official rank can suit several passengers sharing luggage, a destination far from rail, or an arrival outside the chosen rail service. Official airport guidance identifies terminal-specific taxi pick-up points, including separate ranks at Hongqiao's terminals. Join the signed rank and show the complete destination address. Journey estimates and fares depend on traffic, time and distance, so this guide does not present a fixed quote.
- Check the bus destination and intermediate stops in the current table.
- Use the signed official taxi rank for the correct terminal.
- Keep the full street address available offline.
06
Prepare payment and use arrival help desks
Shanghai's municipal metro guide lists several payment routes, including single tickets, public transport cards, supported apps and international bank-card options. Availability and setup can evolve. Choose one intended method and one backup before leaving the arrivals hall rather than blocking the first station gate while installing an app.
Official one-stop service centres in Pudong's international arrival halls and Hongqiao Terminal 1 provide help with transport, payment, communications and visitor information. They can be a useful first stop if a SIM, transport card, map or mobile-payment setup is still unresolved. The service-centre page should be checked for current locations and scope, especially if arriving at a terminal not named on the page.
- Set up one primary and one backup payment method.
- Keep a screenshot of the hotel address, not of an old timetable.
- Use the official arrival centre when setup remains incomplete.
07
Build the return trip before sightseeing begins
A sound airport plan is reversible: it explains how to reach the accommodation and how to return to the correct departure terminal. On arrival day, save the station entrance or taxi pick-up method that worked, but do not assume the same service hours will suit an early departure. Check the operator again, then add the airline's required airport-arrival time and the walk from station or drop-off point to check-in.
If the flight leaves before the preferred rail route begins, select a documented alternative rather than hoping the first train has changed. If the departure follows a day in another district, return to the accommodation early enough to collect luggage without forcing a cross-city sprint. This is an editorial planning method; live operations and flight requirements remain with the airport, operator and airline.
- Recheck the chosen service on the departure date.
- Add terminal walking and airline deadlines.
- Keep a documented alternative for early or late travel.
Useful answers
Reader questions
Which Shanghai airport is closer to central districts?
Hongqiao is west of central Shanghai and is generally closer to central districts, while Pudong is farther east. The useful comparison is still terminal to exact address, because a direct rail line can matter more than straight-line distance.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's GovernmentDoes the Pudong Maglev go directly to the Bund?
No. Official guidance identifies Longyang Road as the city-end transfer point, with Metro Line 2 available there. Reaching the Bund area requires an onward metro, taxi or other connection.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's GovernmentCan I travel directly between Pudong and Hongqiao airports?
The Airport Link Line connects the airport hubs. Treat its published ride time as only part of an inter-airport transfer and confirm baggage, entry and airline procedures separately.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government; Shanghai Municipal Commission of TransportCan an international visitor pay for the Shanghai Metro?
Yes. The current municipal guide lists single tickets, transport cards, supported apps and international bank-card methods. Check the page before travel because supported payment arrangements can change.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's GovernmentRead the evidence
Sources and further reading
These sources support the relevant sections above. Plans and comparisons are editorial suggestions. Check operators for current arrangements.
- Transportation at Shanghai airports ↗Shanghai Municipal People's Government · Accessed 14 September 2026
Airport locations, terminal structure, Pudong Maglev and metro connections, Hongqiao metro lines, taxi ranks and Airport Link Line orientation; page updated June 4, 2026.
- Hongqiao International Airport Taxis ↗Shanghai Airport (Group) Co Ltd · Accessed 14 September 2026
Official taxi pick-up locations for Hongqiao Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and the need to consult current airport information.
- Suishenxing unveils guide videos for transport at Shanghai airports ↗Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport · Accessed 14 September 2026
English airport transport guidance and the SH MaaS Hub Connect coverage of metro, Airport Link Line, Maglev, buses and taxis.
- From plane to city: One-stop service centers at airports ↗Shanghai Municipal People's Government · Accessed 14 September 2026
Locations and service categories of international-arrival help centres at Pudong terminals and Hongqiao Terminal 1.
- How to take metro in Shanghai ↗Shanghai Municipal People's Government · Accessed 14 September 2026
Current metro payment choices for international visitors, including single tickets, transport cards, apps and supported bank cards.
