Shanghai airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Two airports serve Shanghai. Pudong (PVG) handles most long-haul flights and sits about 30 km east of the centre; Hongqiao (SHA) is the domestic and short-haul airport, about 13 km west, and is attached to Hongqiao Railway Station. Distances and times below are approximate — check your terminal before you land.

The metro is the default for anyone with light luggage and a working phone. The Maglev is a short, fast link from Pudong to Longyang Road, not a door-to-door service. Taxis and DiDi are the easy choice after the metro stops running, with heavy bags, or for groups of three or four.

Metro line 2 runs from Pudong airport into the city and is the cheapest way in. It is also the slowest and the most crowded at rush hour, and you may need to change trains at Guanglan Road depending on the service — check the signs on the platform.

The Maglev covers the first leg to Longyang Road in about 7–8 minutes at up to 300 km/h, then you continue by metro line 2 or by taxi. It is a novelty as much as a transfer, and it only helps if your hotel is on the east side or near a line 2 station. A taxi from Longyang Road to People's Square is another ¥30–50 (check).

Metered taxis wait at the official ranks outside arrivals on each terminal level. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the hall. DiDi, including the version inside Alipay, works at both airports and translates messages, which removes the language problem. Airport buses run to several city points and to Hangzhou and other nearby cities; they are cheap but slow and stop running earlier than the metro.

Hongqiao is close to the city and connected by metro lines 2 and 10, so most travellers reach downtown in well under an hour for a few yuan. Terminal 2 has the metro and the railway station next door; terminal 1 is on line 10. Check which terminal your flight uses before choosing a line.

Because Hongqiao Railway Station is in the same complex, this is also where you arrive if you come from Beijing or another city by high-speed rail. Allow 15–20 minutes to walk between the rail platforms and the metro, more with luggage.

Prices below are 2026 estimates in yuan. The metro is fixed-fare and by far the cheapest; taxis are metered with a flag fall and a small airport surcharge, and the total depends on traffic and your exact address. DiDi quotes a price before you accept, which makes budgeting simpler.

Payment matters more than price. Foreign cards are not accepted in most taxis, so set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly, or carry small notes. The parent China guide covers this in more detail.

Landing times decide the plan. Before about 22:30 the metro is fine; after that, take a taxi or DiDi. If you arrive on a late long-haul flight, book a hotel near a line 2 station or budget for the taxi.

Traffic in Shanghai is heavy from roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30. Add 20–30 minutes to any road transfer in those windows, and more on rainy days.

If you are heading straight on to another city, Hongqiao Railway Station is the departure point for most high-speed trains. Pudong and Hongqiao are on opposite sides of the city; crossing between them by road takes 60–90 minutes, so do not book a tight connection.