--- title: "Shanghai Maglev: tickets, times and how to ride" url: https://popularinchina.com/trip/shanghai-maglev section: "Travel tools" type: answer updated: 2026-10-29 next_review: 2027-01-27 status: checked author: "The Popular in China desk" publisher: Popular in China (https://popularinchina.com) license: Quote with attribution and a link to https://popularinchina.com/trip/shanghai-maglev --- # Shanghai Maglev: tickets, times and how to ride _Eight minutes from Pudong Airport to the edge of the city at up to 300 km/h. What it costs, when it runs, how to pay with a foreign card, and where to change for the metro._ **Verdict: ¥50 one-way** (磁浮) — Pudong Airport to Longyang Road, up to 300 km/h ## Short answer The Shanghai Maglev runs between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road in about 8 minutes, at up to 300 km/h, from about 6:45 am to 9:40 pm. A one-way ticket is ¥50, or ¥40 with a same-day flight ticket. Tap a Visa, Mastercard, Amex or JCB card at the gate, then change to Metro Line 2, 7, 16 or 18. ## At a glance - **Route:** Pudong Airport (T1 and T2) – Longyang Road, 30 km, no stops in between - **Ride:** About 8 minutes, up to 300 km/h - **Hours:** About 6:45 am – 9:40 pm - **One-way:** ¥50 standard, ¥40 with a same-day flight ticket, ¥100 VIP - **Pay:** Tap Visa, Mastercard, Amex or JCB at the gate, or buy a ticket - **Then:** Metro Line 2, 7, 16 or 18 at Longyang Road (separate fare) ## Maglev fares Prices from the operator’s published fares, as reported below. Check the counter: fares can change. [1][2][3] | Ticket | Price | Good to know | | --- | --- | --- | | Standard one-way | ¥50 | Valid on the day you buy it | | Standard one-way with a same-day flight ticket | ¥40 | Show your flight ticket or boarding pass at the ticket counter; one Maglev ticket per flight ticket | | Standard return | ¥80 | Valid for 7 days | | VIP one-way / return | ¥100 / ¥160 | Return valid for 7 days | | Shanghai public transport card | ¥40 | Charged for a standard one-way ride | | Children | Free | Up to two children 130 cm or shorter per paying adult | ## How to ride from Pudong Airport 1. **Follow the signs for Maglev 磁浮** — The Maglev station, Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 (浦东1号2号航站楼), serves both terminals. Metro Line 2 and the Airport Link Line stop there too. 2. **Pay at the gate or buy a ticket** — Tap a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB card at the gate; turn on contactless (small-amount, no-PIN) payments first. Or buy a ticket at the counter or machine. For the ¥40 fare, show your flight ticket at the counter. 3. **Ride for about 8 minutes** — Trains run nonstop to Longyang Road, every 15 to 20 minutes for most of the day. 4. **Change to the metro at Longyang Road** — Longyang Road (龙阳路) is a metro interchange for Lines 2, 7, 16 and 18. The Maglev ticket does not cover the metro, so tap your card again or buy a metro ticket. Plan the rest of the trip with our [Shanghai metro route finder](/tools/metro/shanghai). Sources: [3][4][1][5] ## Maglev or Metro Line 2? From Pudong Airport, by our route finder’s estimates (times include about 5 minutes for the change). [5] | To | Maglev + Line 2 | Line 2 all the way | | --- | --- | --- | | People’s Square (人民广场) | About 35 min: ¥50 + metro fare | 18 stops, well over an hour, about ¥7 | | East Nanjing Road, for the Bund (南京东路) | About 35 min: ¥50 + metro fare | 17 stops, well over an hour, about ¥7 | | Lujiazui (陆家嘴) | About 30 min: ¥50 + metro fare | 16 stops, well over an hour, about ¥7 | | Hongqiao Airport or railway station | Not the best choice | Take the Airport Link Line instead: no change, about 45 min | Estimates from distance; trains, walking and queues vary. By our estimate the metro fare from Longyang Road to Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road or People’s Square is about ¥4. > **Note: Is it worth it?** > > Yes if your hotel is in Pudong or along Metro Line 2, or you simply want the ride: it saves well over half an hour compared with Line 2 all the way. If you are heading to Hongqiao, take the Airport Link Line. If you land after about 9:30 pm, the last Maglev may have gone: use Metro Line 2 or a taxi. Sources: [3][5] ## How fast is it? The line was built for 430 km/h and once ran at 431 km/h at set times of day. Since May 2021 trains have run at up to 300 km/h, so the trip takes about 8 minutes for the 30 km. It is still the world’s first commercial high-speed maglev line. Sources: [2][5][4] ## Questions **How much is the Shanghai Maglev?** ¥50 one-way in standard class, ¥40 if you show a same-day flight ticket at the counter, ¥80 for a 7-day return, and ¥100 one-way in VIP class. Up to two children 130 cm or shorter ride free with each paying adult. **How fast does the Shanghai Maglev go today?** Up to 300 km/h. It was built for 430 km/h, but trains have been limited to 300 km/h since May 2021. The 30 km trip takes about 8 minutes. **What time does the Maglev run?** From about 6:45 am to 9:40 pm. The first train leaves Longyang Road at 6:45 and Pudong Airport at 7:02; the last trains leave at 9:40 and 9:42 pm. Check the board at the station on the day. **Can I pay for the Maglev with a foreign credit card?** Yes. Since June 2025 the gates take Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards: tap the card, with contactless small-amount payments turned on. You can also buy a ticket at the counter or machine. **Does the Maglev go to the city centre?** No. It ends at Longyang Road in Pudong. Change there to Metro Line 2 for Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People’s Square; the metro is a separate fare. **Maglev or taxi from Pudong Airport?** The Maglev plus Line 2 is much faster than the metro alone. A taxi or DiDi is easier with heavy luggage, in a group, or after the last Maglev. ## Sources 1. [The Paper (government account): Shanghai Maglev fares and same-day flight discount (Apr 2024)](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_27047923) — accessed 2026-10-29 2. [The Paper (Changning District government account): Maglev fares, children and the 30 km line (Jul 2023)](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23892376) — accessed 2026-10-29 3. [Shanghai Bendibao: Shanghai Maglev timetable and fares](http://sh.bendibao.com/traffic/202151/239415.shtm) — accessed 2026-10-29 4. [Shanghai government: Shanghai Maglev now accepts bank cards (Jun 2025)](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250614/a5c7bac93f024324ace770d3275d28b6.html) — accessed 2026-10-29 5. [China for Travelers: Shanghai Maglev guide, speed cap since May 2021 and hours (Jul 2026)](https://chinafortravelers.com/guides/shanghai-maglev/) — accessed 2026-10-29 ## Related - https://popularinchina.com/cities/shanghai - https://popularinchina.com/trip/google-maps-in-china - https://popularinchina.com/trip/alipay-wechat-pay-for-foreigners --- Canonical page: https://popularinchina.com/trip/shanghai-maglev