World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Pudong Airport (PVG)
Tel: (21) 3848 4500.
Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

Pudong Airport is located 30km (19 miles) southeast of Shanghai, on the East China Sea coast. Officially opened on 1 October 1999, Pudong Airport is Shanghai’s international hub and growing at a rapid pace. A second runway and terminal are due to open in 2005, with a third terminal also planned. The penalty for this modernity is that Pudong is about a 45-minute drive from downtown (traffic permitting). In May 2004, a prestigious flagship infrastructure project – the 431km/hour magnetic levitation shuttle train, running between the airport and Longyang Lu metro station in Pudong, was opened, which covers the 30km distance in just short of 8 minutes.

Airport facilities: Facilities include banks, ATMs, bureaux de change, post offices, car hire, restaurants and tourist information. Most of the major city hotels have reservation desks, left-luggage, souvenir stalls and other shops, cafs and public telephones. Business facilities are available at the Pudong Airport Hotel.

Transport to the city: Shanghai Airport Bus Co. and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation shuttle buses depart every 30 minutes 0600-2100 (journey time – 60-90 minutes) from outside the arrivals hall, between doors 7 to 15. Buses take five routes into the city, with only route five going to Pudong itself. The other routes are to Gongzhufen in western Shanghai and to Zhongguancun in the city’s northwest district. The fare is RMB15-20, with tickets sold on the bus. Transfer buses to Hongqiao Airport cost RMB40 and leave every half an hour 0600-2100. Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645).

The magnetic levitation (Maglev) train (tel: (21) 2890 7777) runs daily every 20 minutes between 0900-1730, linking the airport with Longyang Lu metro station in Pudong, from where you’ll need to catch a connecting cab to your final destination. Single maglev fare is RMB50, return RMB80.

Metered taxis are available at the official stand outside the arrivals hall (ignore the touts) – the fare to downtown Puxi/Pudong is approximately RMB150/RMB120 (journey time – 45-60 minutes).

Hongqiao Airport (SHA)
Tel: (21) 6268 8918 or 8899.
Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

Formerly the principal airport, Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport is now used for all domestic departures and arrivals (except Hong Kong and Macau, which depart/arrive from/at Pudong International Airport). The airport is situated 18km (11 miles) southwest of central Shanghai, approximately a half-hour taxi ride away.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, post office, luggage lockers, car hire, duty-free and other shops, cafs, restaurants and tourist information. There are also hotel reservation services.

Transport to the city: Four public bus routes run from Hongqiao to central Shanghai (see Public Transport section in Getting Around). There is also a blue and white airport shuttle bus that leaves from outside the domestic arrivals. Shanghai Airport Bus Co. and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation operate shuttle buses, which depart every 30 minutes 0600-2100 (journey time – 30-45 minutes). Luggage space is limited. The fare is RMB15-25, with tickets sold on the bus. Transfer buses to Pudong Airport leave from outside domestic arrivals every 30 minutes 0600-2100 (journey time – 60 minutes). The fare is RMB40. Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645).

Metered taxis are available from one of the two main taxi stands (one for short distances within Puxi, the other for longer journeys in Puxi and Pudong – make sure you choose the correct line) outside the domestic arrivals hall, thus avoiding touts. The fare is approximately RMB65-75 to downtown Puxi, and RMB85-100 to Pudong, including toll fees (journey time – 30-50 minutes). It is best for tourists either to have the destination written in Chinese or a map handy.