Pudong Airport (PVG)
Tel: (21) 3848 4500.
Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

Pudong Airport is located 30km (19 miles) southeast of Shanghai. Officially opened on 1 October 1999 and growing at a rapid pace, the airport is Shanghai’s international hub as well as serving some domestic routes and all Hong Kong and Macau flights. A second runway opened in 2005 and a second terminal with the third runway opened at the end of 2007. Current airport plans will see a third terminal and a further five runways being built by 2015. The penalty for this modernity is that Pudong is about a 45-minute drive from downtown (traffic permitting). In early 2004, a prestigious flagship infrastructure project, the 431km/hour magnetic levitation shuttle train, was opened, which covers the 30km distance between the airport and Longyang Lu metro station in Pudong in just short of 8 minutes.

Airport facilities: Facilities include banks, ATMs, bureaux de change, post offices, car hire, restaurants and tourist information. Most of the major city hotels have reservation desks, left-luggage, souvenir stalls and other shops, cafés and public telephones. Business facilities, including fax, internet and long-distance calls, are available between the international and domestic arrival halls. Fully-equipped meeting and conference rooms are provided by the Jinjiang Inn Pudong Airport Hotel (tel: (21) 6835 3568) and the Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai Hotel (tel: (21) 3849 4949; website: www.ramadaairportpd.com).

Transport to the city: Shanghai Airport Bus Co. and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation shuttle buses depart every 30 minutes 0600-2100 (journey time – 60-90 minutes) from outside the arrivals hall, between doors 7 to 15. Routes are well distributed across the city and detailed on Traffic Guide boards at each arrivals lounge exit door. One-way fares cost between RMB19 and RMB30. Buses take eight routes into the city, with only route five going to Pudong itself. Other routes include a dedicated hotel shuttle, People’s Square and Hongkou in the city’s northwest district. Transfer buses to Hongqiao Airport cost about RMB30 and depart regularly 0720-2300. Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645).

The magnetic levitation (Maglev) train (tel: (21) 2890 7777; website: www.smtdc.com) runs daily every 15 minutes between 0700-2100, linking the airport with Longyang Lu metro station in Pudong, from where you will need to catch a connecting cab or Line 2 metro train to your final destination.

Metered taxis are available at the official stand outside the arrivals hall (ignore the touts) – the fare to downtown Puxi/Pudong is about RMB120/RMB150 (journey time – 45-60 minutes).

Hongqiao Airport (SHA)
Tel: (21) 6268 8918 or 8899.
Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

Formerly the principal airport, Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport is now used for domestic departures and arrivals (NB: Hong Kong and Macau flights are considered to be ‘international’ and use Pudong International Airport). The airport is situated 13km (9 miles) southwest of central Shanghai, about a half-hour taxi ride away.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, post office, luggage lockers, car hire, duty-free and other shops, cafés, restaurants and tourist information. There are also hotel reservation services.

Transport to the city: A number of public bus routes run from Hongqiao to central Shanghai (see Public Transport section in Getting Around). There is also a blue and white airport shuttle bus that leaves from outside the domestic arrivals. Shanghai Airport Bus Co. and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation operate regular shuttle buses, between 0600-2100 (journey time – 30-45 minutes). Luggage space is limited. Tickets are sold on the bus. Transfer buses to Pudong Airport leave from outside domestic arrivals every 30 minutes 0600-2100 (journey time – 60 minutes). Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645). A metro line 2 extension linking the airport and a new bus terminus is due to be completed in time for the 2010 World Expo.

Metered taxis are available from outside the arrivals hall,. The fare is about RMB70 to downtown Puxi, and RMB100 to Pudong, including toll fees (journey time – 30-50 minutes). It is best for tourists either to have the destination written in Chinese or a map handy.