Our answer
Check your terminal 虹桥机场
Terminal 1 for international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights; Terminal 2 for most domestic flights
The short answer
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA, 上海虹桥国际机场) is Shanghai’s city airport, about 13 km west of the centre. Terminal 2, next to Hongqiao Railway Station, handles most domestic flights; Terminal 1 handles flights to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei. Metro Line 10 serves both terminals, Line 2 serves Terminal 2.
| Codes | IATA SHA, ICAO ZSSS |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 上海虹桥国际机场 (Shànghǎi Hóngqiáo Guójì Jīchǎng) |
| Terminal 1 | International and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights, plus some domestic flights; Metro Line 10 |
| Terminal 2 | Most domestic flights; Metro Lines 2 and 10 and the Airport Link Line to Pudong |
| Taxi to the centre | About 30 min and ¥100–150 |
| Next door | Hongqiao Railway Station (from Terminal 2, about 10 min on foot) and the NECC |
Terminal 1 or Terminal 2?
The two terminals are a metro ride apart, so check your ticket before you set off.[1][2][3]
| Terminal | Flights | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (T1) | International and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights, including Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Gimpo, Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei Songshan; some domestic flights | Line 10, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 station |
| Terminal 2 (T2) | Most domestic flights | Lines 2 and 10 and the Airport Link Line, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station |
Airlines on the international routes from Terminal 1 include China Eastern, Air China, Japan Airlines, ANA, Korean Air, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Macau, China Airlines and EVA Air (as listed when the routes restarted in March 2023).
Hongqiao Airport to the city
| Option | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | Terminal 2 | East through People’s Square, East Nanjing Road and Lujiazui; west to Hongqiao Railway Station and the NECC |
| Metro Line 10 | Terminals 1 and 2 | To Xintiandi, Yu Garden and East Nanjing Road |
| Taxi | Terminal 1: outside Gate 1, arrivals floor. Terminal 2: outside Gate 4, arrivals floor | About 30 minutes and ¥100–150 to the centre, depending on traffic |
Tap a Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB or UnionPay card at the metro gates. Plan the rest of the trip with our Shanghai metro route finder, and compare both airports in our Shanghai airport to city guide.
Changing terminals, and on to Pudong
- 1
Terminal 1 ↔ Terminal 2
Take Metro Line 10: about 5 minutes and ¥3. Japan Airlines advises allowing about 2 hours 30 minutes to connect from its Terminal 1 flights to a domestic flight at Terminal 2, against about 1 hour 30 minutes within Terminal 1.
- 2
Hongqiao ↔ Pudong Airport
The Airport Link Line (机场联络线) leaves from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station: about 40 minutes to Pudong Airport, ¥26, every 15 minutes from 5:45 am. The last train from Pudong back to Hongqiao is at 10:15 pm. From Terminal 1, take Line 10 to Terminal 2 first.
On foot to the railway station and the NECC
Walked by our editor, who lives next to the Hongqiao hub. From Terminal 2 you can stay underground all the way.
- 1
To Hongqiao Railway Station
Follow the signs for the railway station (虹桥火车站) along the underground walkway: about 10 minutes. Trains leave from the departure hall on level 2. See our Hongqiao Railway Station guide.
- 2
To the National Exhibition and Convention Center
Keep going through the railway station towards the Hongqiao Business District (虹桥商务区) and follow the signs for the National Exhibition and Convention Center (国家会展中心): 25 to 30 minutes in all. During shows, shuttle buses wait past the security check at the end of the passage. Or take Line 2 west, or a taxi (about 6 km, 10 minutes). More in our NECC guide.
About Hongqiao Airport
Hongqiao is Shanghai’s older airport and much closer to the centre than Pudong. Its first international flight, a Pakistan International Airlines service from Dhaka via Guangzhou, landed on 29 April 1964. Terminal 2 opened with the 2010 expansion, the year the railway station next to it opened. In 2025 the airport handled more than 50 million passengers for the first time.
Hongqiao’s international flights were suspended in March 2020 and restarted on 26 March 2023.[8][1][9][2]
Questions readers ask
Which terminal at Hongqiao is international?
Terminal 1. Flights to Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Gimpo, Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei Songshan use Terminal 1. Most domestic flights use Terminal 2.
How do I get from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 to Terminal 2?
Take Metro Line 10: about 5 minutes and ¥3.
How far is Hongqiao Airport from the city centre?
About 13 km. A taxi takes about 30 minutes and costs ¥100–150; Metro Line 2 or 10 also goes to the centre.
Is Hongqiao Airport next to Hongqiao Railway Station?
Yes, Terminal 2 is. Walk about 10 minutes through the underground passage, or ride Line 2 or 10 one stop. From Terminal 1, take Line 10.
How do I get from Hongqiao Airport to Pudong Airport?
Take the Airport Link Line from Terminal 2: about 40 minutes, ¥26, every 15 minutes.
How do I get from Hongqiao Airport to the NECC?
From Terminal 2, take Metro Line 2 west, a taxi (about 6 km, 10 minutes), or walk 25 to 30 minutes underground through the railway station. During shows, shuttle buses also run.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- People’s Daily Overseas Edition: Hongqiao Airport international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan routes resume at Terminal 1 (27 March 2023, in Chinese) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- Japan Airlines: Shanghai Hongqiao Airport transit information · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- Shanghai government: Transportation at Shanghai airports (updated 4 June 2026) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- Shanghai government: Bank cards accepted at all metro gates (27 June 2025) · accessed 31 Oct 2026
- Shanghai government: How to take the Airport Link Line (updated 31 March 2026) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- China News Service: Hongqiao Airport foreign passenger trips up 27% in Q1 2025 (2 April 2025, in Chinese) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- Shanghai government: Hongqiao airport celebrates 60th anniversary of international flights (7 May 2024) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
- Guangming Online / China Communications News: CAAC 2025 airport statistics, Hongqiao passes 50 million (27 February 2026, in Chinese) · accessed 3 Nov 2026
Update log. 3 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 3 February 2027. Suggest a correction
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