Shanghai has two airports serving very different catchment areas, and the right transfer option depends almost entirely on which one you land at. Pudong International (PVG) is the larger, further-out hub for most international flights; Hongqiao (SHA) is the compact inner-city airport for domestic routes and regional services. Each has a solid range of transfer choices — here is how they compare.
Pudong Airport (PVG): your transfer options
Pudong lies about 40 km east of the city centre, in a part of Shanghai that was farmland a generation ago. The airport is well connected, but distances are real and traffic can be punishing — so choosing the right mode matters more here than at almost any airport in the world.
The Maglev: the fastest ride in urban transit
Pudong is home to one of the world's only commercial magnetic levitation trains, and it is genuinely worth experiencing. The Shanghai Maglev covers the roughly 30 km between the airport terminal and Longyang Road station in about 7–8 minutes, reaching a top speed of around 430 km/h in normal operation. Fares are modest by any standard — around 50 CNY (roughly €6–7) in one direction, with a small discount if you show your airline boarding pass on the day. A discounted return ticket is also available.
The catch is that Longyang Road is not the city centre — it is a Metro interchange station on the eastern fringe of Puxi/Pudong, roughly 20 minutes further from People's Square by train. But it is a very good interchange: from Longyang Road you can pick up Metro Line 2, which runs across the centre of Shanghai through Nanjing East Road and People's Square, continuing all the way to Hongqiao Airport and Railway Station at the western end of the city. You can also change here for Line 7.
If your hotel is anywhere along the Line 2 corridor — and many visitors' hotels are — the Maglev + Metro combination is fast, affordable and avoids any traffic at all. Total time from Pudong arrivals hall to People's Square: roughly 35–45 minutes depending on your connections.
Metro Line 2: all the way from Pudong to the centre
If the Maglev's showmanship doesn't appeal, or your budget is very tight, you can take Metro Line 2 directly from Pudong Airport stations all the way into the city without changing. The airport has two stations on Line 2 — Pudong International Airport (Terminal 2) and the adjacent Terminal 1 area — and the line runs without interruption to People's Square, Nanjing West Road, Jing'an Temple and beyond to Hongqiao.
The full trip from Pudong Airport to People's Square by Metro takes around 55–70 minutes, depending on the time of day and how many stops you ride. Fares are calculated by distance and are very low — a single journey across this stretch typically comes to around 7–9 CNY (under €1.50). The Metro runs until roughly midnight, with reduced frequency late in the evening.
Seats can fill quickly on Line 2 during peak hours, especially when you are travelling with luggage. Shanghai's Metro carriages have racks near the doors but they are not huge. Trains run frequently — every 3–5 minutes at busy times — so you are rarely waiting long.
Taxi from Pudong Airport
Official metered taxis depart from a clearly signed rank on the arrivals level. Expect to pay roughly 160–220 CNY (about €20–28) to a central hotel, depending on the exact destination and whether you hit traffic. Journey time varies enormously: at midnight it might be under an hour; in late-afternoon congestion it can stretch to 90 minutes or beyond.
The taxi rank at Pudong is generally orderly and well-regulated. Avoid anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride — these are unofficial drivers and not subject to metering. Insist on a metered cab, or use a ride-hailing app.
Ride-hailing services — particularly DiDi, the dominant local app — are widely used in Shanghai and can be a convenient alternative to a street taxi, especially if you have a Chinese-language contact number or a local SIM. Prices are broadly similar to metered cabs, though surge pricing applies during busy periods.
Airport buses from Pudong
A network of airport shuttle buses serves various parts of the city from Pudong, numbered by route (for example, Lines 1 through to around Line 10 covering different corridors). Fares are very low — typically 20–30 CNY — and the buses stop at major hotels and transport hubs along each route. The downside is the same as any road-based transfer: susceptibility to traffic. In reasonable conditions a bus to People's Square or the Bund takes about an hour; in heavy congestion it can be significantly more. Buses are a good option late at night when taxis are scarce, or if you are staying near one of their stops.
Hongqiao Airport (SHA): a much simpler equation
Hongqiao sits only about 13 km west of the city centre and is directly served by two Metro lines, which makes the transfer almost effortless by comparison with Pudong.
Metro from Hongqiao: Line 2 and Line 10
Hongqiao Terminal 2 (the main domestic terminal) has direct Metro connections to Line 2, which runs east through the centre of Shanghai — the same line that continues all the way to Pudong Airport on the other side of the city. Journey time from Hongqiao Terminal 2 to People's Square is around 30–35 minutes with no changes needed, and fares are low.
The adjacent Hongqiao Railway Station — China's main high-speed rail hub for trains to Nanjing, Hangzhou, Beijing and beyond — is connected to both Metro Line 2 and Line 10, giving you additional routing options into Puxi (the older, western half of the city). If you are arriving into Hongqiao on a domestic flight before continuing by high-speed rail, the interchange is very convenient: the metro and railway station are physically linked under one roof. For more on travelling onward by rail, see our guide to getting around China by train.
Hongqiao Terminal 1 (used by some lower-cost carriers and certain domestic routes) is served by Line 10 only, so check which terminal you are using if connections matter.
Taxi from Hongqiao
Taxis from Hongqiao to the city centre are straightforward and shorter in distance than from Pudong — expect roughly 60–100 CNY and 25–50 minutes depending on traffic, which is lighter on this side of the city during non-peak hours. The same cautions apply: use the official metered rank and decline any approach inside the terminal.
Which transfer should you choose?
From Pudong, the Maglev to Longyang Road, then Line 2 is the fastest and most reliable option for most destinations in central Shanghai. The all-Metro option is perfectly good if you prefer simplicity or are travelling very light. Taxis are comfortable and practical at night or if your hotel is not near the Metro. From Hongqiao, Line 2 is so quick and direct that there is rarely a reason to take a taxi unless you are heading somewhere off the Metro network entirely.
If you want to compare how Shanghai's airport logistics stack up against another major Asian hub, see our guide to getting from Tokyo's airports to the city.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai?
By Maglev to Longyang Road and then Metro Line 2, allow around 35–45 minutes to People's Square. The all-Metro route takes around 55–70 minutes. By taxi, expect anywhere from 50 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic.
Is the Shanghai Maglev worth taking?
If you are arriving at Pudong and your destination is anywhere along the Metro Line 2 corridor, yes — it is the fastest, most reliable option and fares are low. It is also a genuinely remarkable engineering experience. The main caveat is that it only runs until around 21:40, so late arrivals will need the Metro or a taxi.
Can I use a single Metro card for both the Maglev and the Metro?
No. The Maglev uses a separate ticketing system and you need to buy a ticket specifically for that leg. Shanghai public transport cards (the Jiaotong Card) work on the Metro, buses and some other services, but not on the Maglev.
What is the difference between Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)?
Pudong is the main international airport, 40 km east of the city centre, handling the majority of long-haul and international flights. Hongqiao is a smaller, inner-city airport primarily for domestic routes and some regional flights, about 13 km west of the centre and much quicker to reach by Metro.
Sources and further reading:
- Shanghai Shentong Metro (地铁) official network maps and timetable information.
- Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co. — operational details and fares.
- Entry requirements for China: always check your own government's current travel advice before travelling.
- Onward rail travel: China by train on Viamo.