Short answer
Shanghai has two airports on opposite sides of the city. Pudong International (PVG) is the far one, out east toward the coast, and handles most long-haul international flights. Hongqiao International (SHA) is the close one, about 13 km west of the centre, handling domestic flights, a few short regional routes, and sharing a complex with Hongqiao Railway Station — China's busiest high-speed rail hub.
Check the airport code on your booking, not the city name. "Shanghai" tells you nothing useful, and the two airports are not interchangeable: they are a 40-minute train ride apart, so arriving at the wrong one is an expensive mistake. As a rough rule, long-haul international lands at PVG; a domestic hop within China, or a flight from Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong or Taipei, more often means SHA.
Hongqiao is the simpler airport — metro Lines 2 and 10 run under the terminals and reach People's Square in about 35–40 minutes. Pudong is the longer haul: Line 2 is cheap but takes over an hour, the Maglev is the fast, memorable option to Longyang Road, and a taxi or DiDi is the door-to-door choice with luggage.
PVG vs SHA at a glance
| Pudong International (PVG) | Hongqiao International (SHA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Far east of the city, toward the coast | About 13 km west of the centre |
| Mostly used for | Long-haul international, most international carriers | Domestic flights plus short regional routes (Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei) |
| Terminals | T1 and T2 | T1 and T2 — separate buildings, not walkable between them |
| Metro | Line 2 (direct, slow); Maglev to Longyang Road | Lines 2 and 10 at T2; Line 10 at T1 |
| Rail hub attached | No | Yes — Hongqiao Railway Station, walkable from T2 |
| Time to People's Square | 75–90 min by metro; 45–70 min by road | 35–40 min by metro; 20–40 min by road |
| Best for | International arrivals and departures | Connecting to high-speed rail, or a domestic flight |
Pudong (PVG): your options into the city
Five options cover almost everyone. Prices and times shift with traffic and your exact hotel, so treat these as planning ranges.
| Option | Approx. cost, one way | Approx. time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maglev + Metro Line 2 | Maglev ticket plus a metro fare | ~60 min door to door | Speed plus the novelty; Pudong-side hotels |
| Metro Line 2 only | Roughly ¥7–8 | 75–90 min | Tightest budget, light bags |
| Taxi (metered) | Roughly ¥160–250 | 45–70 min | Heavy luggage, groups, late arrivals |
| DiDi (ride-hailing) | Roughly ¥150–230 | 45–70 min | App users wanting a tracked, fixed-price ride |
| Airport shuttle bus | Low fares, varies by route | 60–90 min | Hotels near a bus drop-off point |
The Maglev, honestly assessed
The Maglev runs between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road in about 7–8 minutes at up to 431 km/h — the fastest commercial train in the world. Two things to know: Longyang Road is not the city centre, so you still change to Lines 2, 7, 16 or 18; and the Maglev only wins if your destination is near Longyang Road or on the Pudong side. Heading to People's Square, the total trip comes out around 50–60 minutes, only marginally ahead of riding Line 2 the whole way. Take it for the experience, but note it stops running well before midnight, so a late landing rules it out.
Line 2 to the city, and the Guanglan Road catch
Metro Line 2 is the cheapest way in and terminates at the airport, but it is long and often crowded with luggage. Not every train runs the full route: some turn back at Guanglan Road, where you cross the platform to the next train, and late-evening services may terminate there rather than continuing to the airport. Catching an early flight, check the destination board before boarding.
Airport buses are the other budget option: several numbered routes run to fixed drop-off points such as Jing'an Temple, the Hongqiao area and the two main railway stations. Routes and fares are revised periodically and sources do not agree on the current numbering, so check the airport's own bus information on arrival. A night bus runs after the regular services stop.
Hongqiao (SHA): the easy airport, with one trap
Hongqiao is close, connected and small enough to cross without panic. The metro runs directly under Terminal 2, and Hongqiao Railway Station is part of the same complex — which is why it is the natural airport for anyone continuing into China by high-speed rail. Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Beijing trains all leave from next door.
T1 or T2?
The two terminals are separate buildings with different metro stations:
- T2, the modern terminal inside the Hongqiao transport hub, with Metro Lines 2 and 10 and the indoor walk to the railway station.
- T1, the older terminal, served by Metro Line 10 only.
Between them: a free shuttle bus every 8–15 minutes, or Metro Line 10, which covers the same hop in about one stop. Sources disagree on the actual distance, you will see everything from 1.5 km to 5 km quoted, but they agree on what matters: there is no walkable connection, and a terminal change means exiting, crossing and clearing security again.
Into the city from Hongqiao
Metro Lines 2 and 10 both reach the centre. Line 2 is more direct for People's Square and the Bund area at roughly 35–40 minutes; Line 10 runs through the old city and the former concession and is often less crowded. Fares are about ¥4–5 to central stops. A taxi or DiDi is roughly ¥50–80 and 20–40 minutes depending on traffic, worth it with luggage, since it avoids stairs and crowds at the interchanges.
Moving between the two airports
This used to be a nightmare: Metro Line 2 took 90 minutes or more with a change. Since December 2024 there is a proper rail link.
| Airport Link Line (机场联络线) | Details |
|---|---|
| Route | Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 ↔ Pudong Airport Terminal 1&T2 |
| Journey time | About 40 minutes, no changes |
| Fare | Starts at ¥4; the full airport-to-airport trip is ¥26 |
| Frequency | Roughly every 15 minutes |
| Speed | Up to 160 km/h |
| Stations | Seven, including the Disney resort area |
| Important limits | Does not serve Hongqiao T1, and does not go into the city centre |
Pay for it the same way as the metro, a transport QR code, a transit card or a contactless bank card. Look for Airport Link Line or 机场联络线 signage rather than just "Metro", because it is a separate service with its own entrance and platform. It runs roughly from early morning to a little after 22:00, and the exact first and last departures have been revised more than once, check the live timetable before building a tight connection around it. There are also both four-car and eight-car trains in rotation, so match the platform door markings or you may end up walking down the platform to reach your carriage.
Late arrivals and other edge cases
- Landing after about 22:00 at Pudong: the Maglev and the Airport Link Line are both out, and Line 2 may not run much longer. Plan on a taxi, DiDi or the night bus.
- Landing late at Hongqiao: you are 13 km from the centre, so even an expensive taxi is a short one, a much easier airport to arrive at after midnight.
- Tight connection between airports: the Airport Link Line is the only rail option that reliably works. Under three hours between an international arrival and a domestic departure at the other airport, a car is worth the money.
- Connecting to high-speed rail: fly into Hongqiao, not Pudong, the railway station is a walk from T2.
What to set up before you land
- Alipay or WeChat Pay, with a foreign card linkedThis is how you pay for metro tickets, DiDi rides and almost everything else. Identity verification takes time, so do it at home.
- A working SIM or eSIMYou need data at the airport for maps, ride-hailing and the transit QR code. Google Maps is blocked in mainland China; Apple Maps works.
- Your hotel's name and address in Chinese, saved offlineEssential for showing a taxi driver. A screenshot beats a chat message you cannot open without data.
- A little cash, and your arrival card filled inMobile payment covers nearly everything, but a small amount of cash removes a category of stress. Have your first night's address ready for immigration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PVG and SHA?
PVG is Pudong International, far east of the city, handling most long-haul international flights. SHA is Hongqiao International, about 13 km west of the centre, handling domestic flights plus short regional routes, and sharing a complex with the main high-speed railway station.
How do I know which Shanghai airport my flight uses?
Look at the three-letter code on your booking: PVG is Pudong, SHA is Hongqiao. The city name alone tells you nothing. If your itinerary arrives at one and departs from the other, note it before booking anything else.
How do I get from Pudong Airport to the city centre?
Metro Line 2 is the cheapest at roughly ¥7–8 and takes 75–90 minutes. The Maglev to Longyang Road plus a metro connection takes about an hour in total. A taxi or DiDi is ¥150–250 and 45–70 minutes depending on traffic.
How do I get from Hongqiao Airport to the city centre?
Metro Lines 2 and 10 run from Terminal 2, reaching People's Square in roughly 35–40 minutes for ¥4–5. Terminal 1 is served by Line 10 only. A taxi to the centre is roughly ¥50–80 and takes 20–40 minutes.
How do I transfer between Pudong and Hongqiao airports?
Take the Airport Link Line. It runs directly between Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Pudong Airport Terminal 1&T2 in about 40 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes, for ¥26 end to end. It does not serve Hongqiao T1 or the city centre.
Is the Maglev worth taking?
For the experience, yes, 431 km/h between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road in about 7–8 minutes is remarkable. Practically it only saves time if your destination is near Longyang Road or on the Pudong side, because you still change to a metro line.
Which airport is better for connecting to high-speed trains?
Hongqiao, without question. Hongqiao Railway Station is in the same complex as Terminal 2 and walkable from it. From Pudong you would need the Airport Link Line to Hongqiao T2 first, adding about 40 minutes.
Can I get to the city if I land after midnight?
Yes, but plan for a taxi or DiDi. The Maglev and the Airport Link Line stop running in the evening, and metro services end at different times per line and direction. From Hongqiao the drive is short; from Pudong it is longer and dearer.
Related reading
Airport Link Line route, 40-minute journey time, ¥4–¥26 fare band, 15-minute frequency, 160 km/h line speed and seven-station list follow the Shanghai Municipal Government's official English guidance and the Hongqiao business district authority's launch announcements. Metro fare bands and payment methods follow the same municipal guidance. Hongqiao's position about 13 km west of the centre and the Airport Link Line's exclusion of Terminal 1 are consistent across multiple trip-planning sources. Terminal-to-terminal distance at Hongqiao and which terminal carries international flights are reported inconsistently and are flagged as such above. Fares, timetables and bus routes change, confirm on the operator's own channel.