Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

As a crucial international air hub in China, Shanghai boasts two civilian airports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA code: PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (IATA code: SHA).

Shanghai Pudong International Airport handles a significant volume of international air traffic, with flights connecting to numerous countries and regions worldwide.

The Shanghai Pudong International Airport is located in the Pudong New District and is about 30 kilometers or 19 miles to the east of downtown Shanghai, the city center. It is also about 40 kilometers or 24.9 miles from the Hongqiao International Airport. The entire airport is 40 square kilometers or 15 square miles in size. Its location is directly adjacent to the eastern Pudong coastline.

Facts on Shanghai Pudong International Airport

• Chinese name: 上海浦东国际机场
• Address: the town of Zhuqiao in Pudong New Area, Shanghai.
• Website: www.shairport.com
• Airport code: PVG
• Telephone numbers: 021-68347575/021-32531090

Shanghai Pudong Airport Transportation

Transportation to Shanghai Pudong International Airport is exceptionally convenient, offering a variety of options.  

Metro Line 2

This line runs between Pudong Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stations and the National Exhibition and Convention Center, connecting to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2.

It passes key locations such as Longyang Road, Century Avenue, Lujiazui, People's Square, Jing'an Temple, and Zhongshan Park, with transfers available to over ten other Shanghai Metro lines. 

• Operational Hours: from Pudong International Airport toward Xujing East are 06:00-22:30, and from Xujing East to Pudong International Airport are 05:28-22:00.
• Fares from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road: 6 RMB, taking approximately 45 minutes;
• Fares from Pudong International Airport to People's Square: 7 RMB, around 63 minutes;
• Fares from Pudong International Airport to Hongqiao Terminal 2: 8 RMB, taking about 91 minutes.

Maglev Line

Connecting Pudong Airport Terminals 1 and 2 with Longyang Road Station, where transfers are available to Lines 2, 7, 16, and 18. The journey covers approximately 30 kilometers, with the fastest single trip taking about 8 minutes.

• Operational Hours: the first and last trains from Pudong International Airport run from 07:02 to 21:42, while from Longyang Road they operate from 06:45 to 21:40. 
• Fares: standard seats cost 50 yuan for a single trip and 80 yuan for a round trip. With a same-day flight ticket, the standard single fare is reduced to 40 yuan. VIP seats are priced at 100 yuan for a single trip and 160 yuan for a round trip.

City Airport Line

The operational route covers approximately 59 kilometers with 7 stations. The full journey from Hongqiao Terminal 2 to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 costs 26 yuan.

• Operational Hours: from 06:00 to 22:39, with the first train departing at 06:00 and the last at 22:00. It enables swift travel between the two major airports in under 40 minutes.

Airport Bus Lines

There are seven Pudong Airport Bus lines, which are specially used to pick up and drop off passengers to and from Pudong International Airport. 

Details regarding the shuttle bus routes and operation are as follows:

How to Purchase Tickets 

Bus tickets can be purchased at the ticket counters located within the airport. These counters are typically situated on the arrivals level or in the transportation center.

A service center is also available for manual ticket sales at Gates 6 and 9 of the arrival level in the Airport Bus T1 waiting area.

Within the airport, self-service ticket machines are available. Passengers can select their destination and pay for the tickets using cash or a bank card. 

Shuttle Buses

• P4 Parking Lot Shuttle: Departs approximately every 5 minutes and operates 24 hours a day.
• T1-T2 Terminal Shuttle: Departs approximately every 10 minutes and operates from 06:00 to 24:00.

Long-Distance Buses

The Pudong Airport Long-Distance Bus Terminal is located at the southern end of the bus parking area on the second floor of the terminal parking lot, between Terminals T1 and T2, near the domestic and international arrival halls.

Dozens of daily services connect to nearby counties and cities, such as Hangzhou and Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province, and Nantong, Kunshan, Suzhou, and Wuxi in Jiangsu Province. 

You can also take a taxi to Pudong International Airport. Taxi fare from the center of Shanghai to Pudong International Airport and vice versa costs around 150 yuan. The whole trip will take approximately 50 minutes.

Taxi

Pudong Airport provides dedicated passenger queuing channels and taxi queues.

• Pick-up Locations: Terminal 1 is outside Gate 11 on the first floor; Terminal 2 is outside Gate 25 on the first floor.
• Operating Hours: Available 24 hours a day.
• Fares: The base fare is 14 yuan for the first 3 kilometers. Beyond the initial distance, the rate is 2.7 yuan per kilometer. A low-speed waiting fee applies, calculated as 1.5 kilometers for every 4 minutes. For distances exceeding 15 kilometers (excluding the first 15), the fare increases by 50% per kilometer. 

How to Travel Between Shanghai Pudong Airport & City Center

There are several options for traveling from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the city center:  

• Metro: Take Metro Line 2 from Pudong International Airport Station to key city locations such as People's Square, East Nanjing Road, and Jing'an Temple. The journey takes approximately 1 hour, with fares ranging from 6 to 9 yuan, depending on the destination.
• Maglev Train: Ride the maglev train to Longyang Road Station in about 8 minutes. From there, transfer to Metro Line 2 to reach the city center. A standard single ticket costs 50 yuan, while a round-trip is 80 yuan. With a same-day flight ticket, a single ride is 40 yuan.
• Airport Bus: Multiple airport bus lines are available. For example, Airport Line 2 travels to Pu'an Road and Yan'an East Road near Jing'an Temple, with stops at Zhangyang Road Yunshan Road and Deping Road Pudong Avenue.  Airport Line 4 goes to Hongkou Football Stadium (Huayuan Road) with stops at Wujiaochang and Yunguang Xincun (Dabaishu).
• Taxis: Taxis offer convenient point-to-point service. The fare from Pudong Airport to the city center is approximately 200 to 300 yuan, subject to variations in distance and time.
• Ride-Hailing Services: Ride-hailing services are available at designated pick-up points such as P1 Parking Lot Level 1 or P2 Parking Lot Level B2. Costs vary by platform and time, generally similar to or slightly less than taxi fares. 

How to Travel Between Shanghai Pudong Airport & Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

• Metro: Take Metro Line 2 from the Pudong Airport Station directly to Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station. The journey takes around 90 minutes, with a fare of 8 yuan.
• Airport Line 1: connects the two airports. Board at the “Airport Bus” area outside Terminal 1 or below the arrivals corridor at Terminal 2 in Pudong. Operating from 7:00 to 23:00 with a 15-25 minute interval, the trip lasts 60-70 minutes, costing 36 yuan.
• Maglev + Metro: first, take the maglev train to Longyang Road Station, then transfer to Metro Line 2 to reach Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station. For Terminal 1, use Line 10. This method takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Maglev standard fare is 50 yuan, round-trip is 80 yuan, and with a same-day flight ticket, it’s 40 yuan. Metro fare varies by distance.
• Taxis/Ride-Hailing: taxis and ride-hailing services provide 24-hour point-to-point service, taking approximately 1 hour with fares starting at 130 yuan, subject to distance and time fluctuations..
• Inter-Airport Railway Line: this line runs from Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 to Hongqiao Terminal 2. Operating from 6:00 to 22:39, fares are 26 yuan, with a swift 40-minute travel time. Tickets are available via cash, third-party payments at vending machines, or through public transport cards and Metro apps. 
• Private Car Transfer: ideal for groups, this option takes about 60 minutes, with prices from 288 yuan. It offers comfort without transfers, including space for luggage. 

Airport Facilities and Services

There are two terminal buildings in Pudong International Airport. Here are the airlines operating in each terminal:

Terminal 1

Air France, China Express Air, Juneyao Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, East Star Air, and Spring Air

Terminal 2

Air India, Alitalia, British Airways, Shanghai Airlines, Garuda-Indonesia Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines of America, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Nepal Airlines, Transaero Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air Ukraine, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Canada, Finnair, Royal Brunei Air, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Dragon Air, Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways, Air Macau, Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Russian Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, American Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and American United Airlines

Commercial Facilities

Offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, and duty-free stores for diverse shopping and dining experiences. 

Additional Facilities

Currency exchange, banks, ATMs, medical centers, luggage storage, and a lost and found center. Accessibility services, nursing rooms, and other amenities are available for passengers with special needs. 

240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

The stay for transit visa-free travelers is 240 hours (10 days). 

• Eligible Countries: Applicable to nationals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the UK, the USA, and Canada. Click here to view more eligible countries.
• Conditions: For travelers transiting China to a third country (or region), entry is allowed through any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces or regions, with a maximum stay of 240 hours in designated areas.
• Required Documents: A valid passport or international travel document, a connecting ticket with a confirmed date and seat to a third country (or region) within 240 hours, filled temporary entry card, and compliance with border inspections. 

Starting from November 30, 2024, until December 31, 2025, a visa-free policy is being trialed for ordinary passport holders from nine countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan. Nationals from these and 38 other visa-free countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, or exchanges, with a transit duration of up to 30 days. 

Application Process at Shanghai Pudong Airport

• Fingerprint Collection: At Terminal 1 (near Gate 17) or Terminal 2 (near Gates 75 and 77), fingerprints can be collected in the self-service area.
• Entry Card Completion: Fill out the entry card in the designated area near the fingerprint zone, using samples in seven languages.
• Submission and Inspection: Proceed to the border inspection area to submit a valid travel document (such as a passport), a confirmed onward ticket within 240 hours, a completed entry card, and undergo questioning by officers.
• Approval and Permit Issuance: Upon successful verification, a temporary entry permit is issued, allowing a stay of up to 240 hours in specified areas. 

You Might Like to Read

• Shanghai Travel Guide
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)