Pudong International Airport is the bigger of the two airports in Shanghai, the other one being Hongqiao International Airport. It doesn’t matter if you are passing by, coming to Shanghai, or planning to go to some other city. Knowing your way around this place can benefit you a lot. We are sharing the complete guide on everything that you need to know about the airport including routes, timings, facilities, residence services and more.

Official Name in Chinese: 上海浦东国际机场
Official Name in English: Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Address in Chinese: 上海市浦东新区迎宾大道6000号
Address in English: No. 6000 Yingbin Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

The airport is also referred to by two other names, Shanghai Airport, and PVG Airport. However, do keep in mind that the first name is only because it is bigger of the two airports. The official names for both airports start with Shanghai.

Transport to and from the Airport

There are different transport options that you can choose from to come to Pudong Airport if you are traveling locally. All the necessary details regarding each transport type are provided here.

Shuttle Bus

Pudong Airport has two terminals and they are half a kilometer apart. While people do move between them on foot, there is a shuttle service available as well. This is especially useful for passengers who have heavy luggage with them. The shuttle runs every 10 minutes and the timings are from 06:00 in the morning till midnight. The stops for the bus at each terminal are as follows:

• Terminal 1: Gate 23 of Domestic Departure and Gate 27 of International Departure
• Terminal 2: Gate 1 of Domestic Departure and Gate 8 of International Departure

The shuttle service runs at the courtesy of the Pudong Airport and so, it does not cost any money. The journey between the terminals is about 5 minutes.

Metro

Metro is a major transportation service in Shanghai, and it provides transport to Pudong Airport as well. To get to the airport, you have to go on Line 2 which comes and goes from Guanglan Road Station. Keep in mind that the line from the airport ends at this station. If you want to go further on this line you will need to change the train.

Depending on where you start your journey to Pudong Airport, you are looking at about CNY 7-10 in ticket expense with a travel time of 1-2 hours. Line 2 is also a popular line for tourists as it goes through several key tourist locations.

Maglev

The maglev train is a fast-paced travel option that travels between PVG airport (another name for Pudong Airport) and Longyang Road station. However, the journey on maglev only goes this far and if you want to go deeper into Shanghai then you need to switch to the metro from here. Metro lines 2, 7, and 16 operate from this station. It travels at about 430km/h and is, therefore, a great way to save time as well.

The maglev train does not operate throughout the day and only runs from 7:00 in the morning till 9:30 at night. The first train from the airport to Gunaglan Road Station leaves at 6:00 AM and the final train leaves at 10:00 PM. For an economy class ticket, you will be paying CNY 50 for a one-way trip and CNY 80 for a round trip. For VIP class passengers, the fare is CNY 100 for a one-way trip and CNY 160 for a round trip.

Taxi

Taxis are present outside both terminals and you can easily hire them to go wherever you want in Shanghai. The same is the case for coming to Pudong Airport as there are plenty of taxis present across the city. To hire a taxi from the airport at Terminal 1, you can go to Gate 12 on 1F. For Terminal 2, you will be using Gate 26 on 1F. The average cost of traveling between the PVG airport and key destinations and tourist spots in Shanghai ranges between CNY 150 and CNY 250. Keep in mind that there is a fixed starting charge for all rides which is around CNY 14-18 which covers up to 3 km of distance. Any distance beyond that is charged additional as per the tables below.

Downtown Shanghai

Shanghai Suburbs

Please keep in mind to go only for taxis that have running meters in them. A lot of privately owned taxis operate in Shanghai, so many of them do not have any functioning meter installed in them. Going in taxis without meters could cause issues over fare which you should avoid at all costs. You should also take the receipt for your taxi ride in case there is any problem, or you leave something behind. This can help you retrieve your items safely and resolve other issues as well. If you intend to travel during rush hours or in rain, then get an advance reservation as taxis can be hard to find on the streets.

City Bus & Intercity Coaches

Shanghai airport has eight different bus lines that operate specifically for the airport. In addition to that, there is a dedicated night line as well that keeps running till 45 minutes after the last flight of the night. There are a lot of bus lines (over a thousand) operating in Shanghai, so it is best to know your route in advance. The following timetable provides information regarding the bus lines that bring passengers to the airport from different parts of the city. The terminal where you will find each of these buses along with the fare you would have to pay is also provided.

Another bus operates from Disneyland Theme Park as well from the Disney West Bus Terminal. The cost is around 30 CNY and the bus takes about 30 minutes to reach the Pudong Airport. However, as of the latest development, it is not in operation so you should not count on that if you are in that area.

If you are arriving in Shanghai and want to travel to some other city from the airport directly, you can easily purchase the tickets directly from the airport. They have dedicated stalls in the airport’s arrivals hall so you can book your ticket directly. Most of the stalls are between Gates 7,8 & 9. The stalls start opening as early as around 08:00 AM and stay open till 11:00 PM.

Transit Visa

Both airports in Shanghai have a special Transit Without Visa policy for nationals of 53 different countries who can stay in Shanghai for up to 6 days without having to get a visa if they are traveling to another country within that time. You can find the complete list of countries here.

Pudong Airport Hotels

For some people, especially those who are in transit, leaving the airport can be a bit scary. So, if you are planning on staying at or close to the hotel, Pudong Airport offers a decent range of options to choose from. The table below shares some key details on each hotel.

There are many other options as well if you want to choose a hotel close to the airport. You can also book your hotel room online since many sites do provide this service for many Shanghai airport hotels.

Internet Services

Pudong Airport offers Wi-Fi services for all visitors free of cost. To access the internet, you need to have a Chinese phone number. However, even if you don’t have that, you can get an access code print out from one of the many machines installed in the Security area of the airport. All you need is your passport which the machine will scan before providing a code.

Facilities & Activities

Pudong Airport provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself while you are at the airport.

• Restaurants: Shanghai Pudong International Airport has different restaurants and chains that provide a decent dining experience to visitors. However, there aren’t many special places as most of them are outlets of the same few local chains including Chatime, Yonghe King, Hope Kaweh, Ajisen Ramen, and Chez Choux. There are many cafes as well, so if you just want to grab a coffee and snack. Most of these operate limited hours during the day but you can find global chains like Burger King and Starbucks as well which operate 24-hours.
• Lounging: The airport has several different lounges ranging with different classes and some good quality paid entry options as well. This is especially useful for people who are traveling economy class and want some luxury before going into the plane. The lounges offer free internet access, unlimited food and drinks, rest areas and an overall comfortable environment. You can enter the lounges either through your ticket, through a lounge membership, or by paying them at the entrance.
• Business Center: If you want to spend your time working then there is a dedicated business center present near Gate 7 of Terminal 1 and B Island departure counter of Terminal 2. Both business centers provide decent facilities to work in a peaceful environment. You can use them from 06:00 AM till 11:00 PM.
• Money Exchange: For people coming from outside China, one of the biggest requirements is local currency. A lot of things are done in cash, so you need to convert your currency to Chinese Yuan. There are a number of money exchange stalls and bank branches that you can locate in the airport. In T1, you will find two branches of Zhangjiang ICE, and 3 branches of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. They cover both the arrivals and departures areas of the terminal. For T2, you will find two branches each of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Travelex Exchange Company. You will also find one branch each of Geoswift Currency Exchange, Zhangjiang ICE, and Hang Seng United Currency Exchange. They cover both international departures and arrivals so you can find one no matter where you are.
• Banking Services: If you are looking for banking services then you can find multiple branches of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank across the airport. There is a branch of Bank of China as well which is located between Gate 8 and Gate 9 of the Departure Hall.
• Sleeping arrangements: if you are not opting for a lounge or transit hotel, your options to take a nap are limited. There is almost no seating at all in the outer area of the airport without security. Even the places with restaurants don’t really have benches for visitors to sit on. However, when you go inside, you will find plenty of benches across the whole area. The Pudong Airport security is quite relaxed about visitors sleeping on benches so you can nap wherever you want. However, actually taking a nap on one of the benches can be a challenge. They are generally cold and not without armrests so lying straight is not possible. The air conditioning runs cold year-round so keep a few layers for protection. It is a busy airport too so make sure you have earphones or a headset for noise reduction.
• Lockers and Storage: For people who have long transit times, baby sitting luggage can be quite tiresome. Pudong Airport offers its visitors the option to put their luggage in lockers for up to two months! The storage rates are also quite reasonable, especially if you want to use it for a long period. Storing a single bag could cost between 10 and 30 CNY for up to 4 hours. The maximum amount per bag for 24 hours is 45 CNY.
• Mobile Charging: There are dedicated charging stations in all areas of the airport where you can charge your phone securely for as long as you like. The rate is 1 CNY per 10 minutes which is quite reasonable. In addition to that, you will also find USB ports and power outlets spread all across the airport.
• Medical Station: In case of emergencies, Shanghai Airport has its own medical staff as well which is available between 06:30 in the morning till the last flight for the night leaves.
• Playing Area: Parents with young children can go to T2 where they can find a dedicated playing area for children that is open from 09:00 in the morning till 08:00 at night. It is located near terminal 81 of the international departures area.
• Duty-Free: Probably the most popular place to visit at any airport is the shopping area. Therefore, Pudong Airport has plenty of shops to keep you busy. You can find a lot of great shops for buying Chinese products and even get discounts on things like makeup and alcohol. For souvenir shopping, the Qitai Tea Shop is a very good option since you can find some great looking items here. There are many boutique shops here as well where you can enjoy some window shopping or spend money if you have a heavy pocket.
• Explore the city: While the airport can offer a lot of exploration, it may lose the appeal after a day or two. If you are in Shanghai on a long transit, leaving the airport and going out might be a great way of spending your time. With the visa-free entry option also open now, a lot of visitors can take full advantage of their transit in Shanghai.

The airport also has a lost and found center which we hope you don’t have to visit for any reason.

General Advice

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a good place to be at and while you are there, these tips can help make your stay comfortable:

• Always keep your belongings secure. Make sure you do not leave anything unlocked, especially if you are resting in a public area.
• Airport security is not very strict on people resting and camping in public areas of the airport. If you are planning to do so, make sure you do it in a place where other travelers are also resting. Avoid lonely corners, although the airport does not seem to have any security-related issues.
• The weather in Shanghai is relatively cold throughout the year so do keep something warm with you. This could make you a lot more comfortable if you are planning to spend the night in an open area of the airport
• If you are on a long transit, do take advantage of pay to use lounges at the airport at the very least. Being able to relax in a dedicated space and getting fresh with a shower can go a long way for weary travelers.
• If you need any help, don’t be afraid to go to the airport staff and ask for help. This applies not just here but for any destination that you may be traveling to.