Our answer
Metro or Maglev 机场进城
Rail from both airports; the Airport Link Line between them
The short answer
From Pudong (PVG), take the Maglev to Longyang Road in 8 minutes (¥50) and change to the metro, or ride Metro Line 2 to People’s Square in about an hour (about ¥7). A taxi costs about ¥180. From Hongqiao (SHA), take Metro Line 2 or 10. Between the two airports, the Airport Link Line takes 40 minutes (¥26).
| Pudong (PVG) by rail | Maglev 8 min to Longyang Road (¥50), or Metro Line 2, about 1 hour to People’s Square (about ¥7) |
|---|---|
| Pudong by taxi | About ¥180 and 50 minutes to People’s Square |
| Hongqiao (SHA) | Metro Line 2 or 10 from Terminal 2, Line 10 from Terminal 1; taxi ¥100–150, about 30 min |
| Between the airports | Airport Link Line, about 40 min, ¥26, every 15 min |
| Pay | Tap Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB or UnionPay at metro gates |
Pudong Airport (PVG) to the city
Pudong is Shanghai’s main international airport. Terminals 1 and 2 share one metro and Maglev station (浦东1号2号航站楼).[1][2]
| Option | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maglev + metro | About 8 min to Longyang Road, then the metro | ¥50 (¥40 with a same-day flight ticket) + metro fare | Fastest to Pudong and Lujiazui; runs about 6:45 am – 9:40 pm |
| Metro Line 2 | About 1 hour to People’s Square | About ¥7 | Cheapest; runs through Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People’s Square |
| Airport Link Line | About 40 min to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 | ¥26 | For Hongqiao Airport, Hongqiao Railway Station and Disneyland |
| Taxi | About 50 min to People’s Square | About ¥180 | Taxi ranks: Terminal 1 outside Arrivals Gate 12, Terminal 2 outside Gate 25 |
Pudong also runs five airport bus services into the city.
Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to the city
Hongqiao Airport is west of the centre, next to Hongqiao Railway Station, the high-speed rail hub.[1][12]
| Option | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | Terminal 2 | East through People’s Square, East Nanjing Road and Lujiazui; one stop west to Hongqiao Railway Station |
| Metro Line 10 | Terminals 1 and 2 | To Xintiandi, Yu Garden and East Nanjing Road |
| Taxi | Both terminals | About 30 minutes and ¥100–150 to the centre |
| Walk | Terminal 2 | About 10 minutes to Hongqiao Railway Station |
Plan the rest of your trip with our Shanghai metro map and route finder.
Hongqiao to Pudong: the Airport Link Line
The Airport Link Line (机场联络线), opened on 27 December 2024, runs 68.6 km between Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Pudong Airport Terminals 1 and 2 in about 40 minutes, at up to 160 km/h. It stops at Zhongchun Road, Jinghong Road, South Sanlin, East Kangqiao and Shanghai International Resort, the Disneyland stop.
Trains run every 15 minutes. The first train leaves Hongqiao at 5:45 am and the last leaves Pudong at 10:15 pm (from 1 April 2026). Four-car and eight-car trains alternate, so stand where the platform markings show. Fares start at ¥4 and the full trip is ¥26.
Only Zhongchun Road (Line 9) has a transfer inside the station. At Hongqiao Terminal 2 (Lines 2, 10 and 17), Jinghong Road (Line 15) and Pudong (Line 2 and the Maglev) you leave the gates to change.[2][3][4][5]
How to pay as a visitor
- 1
Tap your card at the metro gates
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay contactless cards work at the gates of all metro lines (since 28 June 2025). Turn on small-amount, no-PIN payments on your card first.
- 2
Or use an app or buy a ticket
The Metro Daduhui app takes international cards, and station staff and machines sell single tickets. The ride QR codes in Alipay and WeChat are set up for residents.
- 3
On the Maglev
Tap a bank card at the Maglev gate, or buy a ticket at the counter; show a same-day flight ticket for the ¥40 fare. See our Maglev guide.
Questions readers ask
What is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to the city?
Metro Line 2: about ¥7 and about an hour to People’s Square. Tap a contactless bank card at the gate.
What is the fastest way from Pudong Airport to the city?
The Maglev to Longyang Road takes about 8 minutes (¥50), then change to Metro Line 2, 7, 16 or 18. In total, People’s Square is about 35 minutes away.
How much is a taxi from Pudong Airport to the city centre?
About ¥180 and 50 minutes to People’s Square, more at night (30% surcharge). From Hongqiao Airport it is about ¥100–150 and 30 minutes.
How do I get from Hongqiao Airport to Pudong Airport?
Take the Airport Link Line from Hongqiao Terminal 2: about 40 minutes, ¥26, every 15 minutes from 5:45 am. The last train from Pudong to Hongqiao leaves at 10:15 pm.
Is Hongqiao Airport near Hongqiao Railway Station?
Yes. The railway station is one stop from Terminal 2 on Metro Line 2, or about a 10-minute walk.
Is Pudong Airport Terminal 3 open?
Not yet. Terminal 3 is part of Pudong Airport’s Phase 4 expansion, planned to be built and in use by the end of 2028.
Sources
- Shanghai government, Getting around: public transport from the airports (updated June 2026) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, Airport Link Line opens on 27 December (26 December 2024) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, Airport Link Line timetable and interchanges (updated 31 March 2026) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Guangming Online, Airport Link Line timetable change from 1 April 2026 (31 March 2026, in Chinese) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai Municipal Information Office, Airport Link Line fares and discounts (21 December 2024, in Chinese) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, Bank cards accepted at all metro gates (27 June 2025) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, Taxi fares and paying by card (19 September 2025) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- China Daily, How to take a taxi in China (15 August 2025) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- The Paper, Shanghai metro fare hearing (7 September 2026, in Chinese) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, Shanghai airports enhance inbound foreign passenger experience (6 May 2024) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Jiefang Daily via Shanghai government, Pudong Airport Phase 4 and Terminal 3 (15 October 2026, in Chinese) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- China Daily, Short trips from the Hongqiao transport hub (22 August 2024) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government, CIIE service guide: easy metro access (17 October 2025) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
Update log. 31 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 31 January 2027. Suggest a correction