Which airport should I fly into for Shanghai?

Foreigners traveling to Shanghai can choose to arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

1.  Pudong International Airport (PVG)

● Positioning: International hub primarily handling long-haul international flights

● Distance from city center: Approximately 40 kilometers, with a driving time of 40-60 minutes

● Transportation options:

Metro Line 2 / Maglev (8 minutes to Longyang Road, with transfer to the metro)

Airport shuttle buses (night lines available for late-night travel)

Taxi (approximately 150-200 RMB)

● International flight coverage: Over 90% of international flights (to Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, etc.)

● Transfer convenience: Requires reserving at least 2 hours for transfers to Hongqiao High-Speed Railway Station

● Terminal complexity: Ultra-large, with T1/T2/S1/S2 satellite concourses; sufficient time should be allocated

2.  Hongqiao International Airport

● Positioning: Handles domestic and short-haul international flights (e.g., to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia)

● Distance from city center: Approximately 15 kilometers, with a driving time of 20-30 minutes

● Transportation options:

Direct metro access to the city via Lines 2/10

Taxi (approximately 50-80 RMB)

● International flight coverage: A limited number of short-haul international flights to East Asia (e.g., Seoul, Tokyo)

● Transfer convenience: Walkable (10 minutes) connection to Hongqiao High-Speed Railway Station for high-speed rail transfers

● Terminal complexity: Smaller, with easy walking access between T1/T2