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PVG · SHA · arrival routes

ShanghaiAirport to city

Shanghai has two airports: Pudong (PVG) for most long-haul international flights, and Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic and short regional routes. From PVG, the Maglev plus Metro Line 2 is the fastest cheap combo; taxi and Didi are the easier door-to-door options.

Route options

MA
Maglev (PVG → Longyang Rd)
Fastest from PVG; transfer to Metro Line 2 for city center.
≈ 7 min (operator)
Operator-published — same-day boarding pass discount available; confirm fare at the counter
ME
Metro Line 2
Direct to People’s Square, Nanjing East Rd, Jing’an. Check the last-train cutoff at the station.
PVG ~60–70 min · SHA ~45 min (operator estimate)
Distance-based metro fare — confirm at the station
TA
Taxi (official queue)
Use the official taxi stand outside arrivals. Avoid anyone soliciting inside the terminal.
PVG 50–80 min · SHA 25–40 min (estimate)
Metered — PVG → Lujiazui is typically in the low ¥100s range, varies with traffic
DI
Didi (via Alipay)
Foreigners book through the Didi mini-program inside Alipay. Pickup at designated rideshare bay.
Similar to taxi
Comparable to taxi; surge pricing varies by time and demand

Practical notes

  • Activate your eSIM before landing — Metro QR gates, Didi, and maps all need data.
  • Carry a small amount of yuan in cash as backup. Most lanes accept Alipay or WeChat Pay QR, but a small fallback helps.
  • Hongqiao (SHA) shares a building with the Hongqiao high-speed rail station — convenient if you continue to another city.
  • Maglev and Metro Line 2 have operator-published last-train cutoffs in the evening — late arrivals should plan on Didi or taxi.

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Sources

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