Shanghai Airports & Transfers: PVG, SHA and the City

Check the three-letter airport code before planning anything else. Pudong (PVG) lies east of the central city; Hongqiao (SHA) lies to the west. A flight connection across the two airports is a major transfer, not a terminal change. The municipal airport guide was updated in June 2026; its reference journey times need additional allowance for immigration, baggage and station access.

Arriving at Pudong (PVG)

Metro Line 2 reaches the central city directly but includes a long ride and a walk between the terminal and station. It is useful when the hotel is near that line and luggage is manageable. The municipal airport transport guide gives about an hour from the airport station to People’s Square as a reference; the door-to-door journey is longer.

Maglev runs between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road. It does not finish at the Bund or People’s Square: add a metro or road connection and the associated walking. Choose it for the particular route or the train experience, not because its short train ride is the total journey to your hotel.

Arriving at Hongqiao (SHA)

Terminal 1 is served by Metro Line 10; Terminal 2 has Lines 2 and 10. Hongqiao Railway Station is a separate stop and facility within the wider hub. Allow time to find the right building and entrance, especially when connecting to a reserved intercity train.

For a Puxi hotel, Hongqiao can be convenient, but the actual route depends on the arrival terminal and neighbourhood. A flight that looks closer on the map can still require a transfer. Save the hotel’s Chinese address and the terminal number before boarding your first flight.

Compare the Actual Journeys

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Airport Link Line connects the Hongqiao and Pudong airport areas in about 40 minutes of train travel according to the municipal guides. The metro and ticketing page lists a separate fare structure. That train time does not include immigration, baggage, reaching the platform or walking to another terminal.

Use the same distinction when comparing a taxi with rail: compare door to door, party size and luggage rather than one advertised ride segment. A family may value avoiding several lifts and long passages more than shaving a few minutes from train time.

Late Arrivals and Disrupted Journeys

Do not assume rail operates all night. Check the current last departure for the relevant station and direction before relying on it. If baggage or immigration makes that connection uncertain, have an official taxi or independently confirmed transfer as the backup. Use the signed taxi queue and keep the destination available offline.

For a booked transfer, confirm whether waiting time, flight delays, child seats and the exact airport terminal are included. Do not agree to a different unmarked vehicle merely because someone approaches you inside arrivals. Retain a receipt or booking record.

Flight and Train Connections

A PVG–SHA connection involves entering China where required, baggage handling, ground transport and a second airport check-in. Separate tickets may not protect you if the first service is late. No single city-guide minimum can guarantee such a connection; use your airlines’ current rules and allow a generous margin.

If you are continuing by train, the name on the ticket and the passport need to match. Check the departure station: “Shanghai” and “Shanghai Hongqiao” are not the same station. Getting Around handles local travel after arrival; China Getting Around covers the wider rail network.

Arrival Assistance and Accessibility

Shanghai’s payment guide identifies one-stop service centres in the international arrivals halls at PVG Terminals 1 and 2 and SHA Terminal 1, offering help with payment, communication and transport. Opening arrangements and the services you need should still be confirmed on arrival.

Request airline assistance before travelling if required, and confirm the handover between airline, airport and ground transport. Step-free station access does not by itself resolve every terminal passage or hotel entrance. Read Accessibility and check the full route.

The checked PVG transfer example serves the airport and Shanghai city centre, with address-based supplements outside the centre. Confirm the direction, terminal, flight, luggage capacity, waiting-time clock and final meeting instructions. Its advertised duration is not a guaranteed journey time. The link opens comparison results. Affiliate link: Photos4Travel may earn a commission from a qualifying booking.

Compare PVG transfers on GetYourGuide