> Full interactive guide: [Shanghai airports — PVG vs SHA](https://chinatravelradar.com/en/shanghai-airports/)
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“Shanghai airport” is not a destination you can safely type into a taxi app. The city has two large airports on opposite sides of the urban area. A cheap flight can become an expensive mistake if your train, hotel or onward flight is beside the other one.
## PVG and SHA at a glance
| Question | Pudong, PVG | Hongqiao, SHA |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Long-haul international plus domestic | Domestic plus selected East Asian routes |
| Position | East of central Shanghai | West of central Shanghai |
| Distance from downtown | About 30 km | About 13 km |
| Rail to the city | Metro Line 2, Maglev, Airport Link Line | Metro Lines 2 and 10; Airport Link Line at T2 |
| Best connection | International arrival or departure | Hongqiao Railway Station and western Shanghai |
Where the two airports sit. Hongqiao (SHA) is west of the center; Pudong (PVG) is on the eastern coast. The Airport Link Line joins Hongqiao T2 and Pudong T1 & T2 in about 40 minutes. Use a live map for navigation and operating times.
The official Shanghai airport transport guide describes Pudong as roughly 30 km from downtown and Hongqiao as 13 km away. That difference matters, but your exact destination matters more. Lujiazui is on the Pudong side; Hongqiao Railway Station is effectively part of the Hongqiao transport complex.
## Read the three-letter code, not the city name
Look for **PVG** or **SHA** on the booking confirmation. Do this again before ordering a car. Pudong Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 share one metro station name, while Hongqiao Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have separate metro stops.
Save the airport and terminal in Chinese:
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport: 上海浦东国际机场
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport: 上海虹桥国际机场
- Terminal 1: 1号航站楼
- Terminal 2: 2号航站楼
## Official terminal maps for PVG and SHA
The orientation map above answers **where the airports are in Shanghai**. Once you know your airport and terminal, use Shanghai Airport Authority’s floor maps for check-in, arrivals, baggage claim, transfers and the satellite terminals.
These are the airport operator’s live map pages, so they are safer than saving an old terminal diagram. Check the airline and terminal on your booking before opening a floor map.
## When Pudong is the sensible choice
PVG is normally the answer for an intercontinental flight. It also works well for hotels in Pudong, Disneyland and the east side of Shanghai. The trade-off is a longer trip to the Bund, People’s Square, the former French Concession or Hongqiao.
Pudong has two passenger terminals. A free terminal shuttle operates around the clock, according to Shanghai Airport Authority, with buses about every 10–15 minutes. Still, leave time for walking, security and check-in; “same airport” does not mean “same hall.”
## When Hongqiao saves time
SHA is usually better for a domestic flight paired with a high-speed train. Hongqiao Terminal 2, Hongqiao Railway Station and the metro are connected within one huge transport hub. The walk is signed, but it is not short.
Terminal 1 is served by Metro Line 10. Terminal 2 is served by Lines 2 and 10. If your flight uses T1, do not get off at the railway station simply because the map shows the airport nearby.
## Getting from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai
| Method | Typical official reference | Best when | Watch for |
|---|---:|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | About RMB 7 to People’s Square; about 1 hour | Lowest cost, light luggage | Last train and a long ride |
| Maglev + metro | Fast airport rail to Longyang Road | Destination is near eastern metro lines | A transfer with bags |
| Taxi / DiDi | Around RMB 180 to People’s Square; about 50 minutes | Door-to-door or late arrival | Traffic and legal pickup point |
| Airport bus | Route-dependent | Hotel is near a listed stop | Timetable changes |
These are planning figures, not guarantees. Traffic, queue length and final walking time can change the result. For a detailed decision tree, use our [Pudong Airport to city guide](/en/shanghai-pudong-airport-to-city/).
## Getting from Hongqiao Airport to the city
Metro Line 2 is useful for People’s Square, East Nanjing Road and Lujiazui. Line 10 is useful for Xintiandi, Yuyuan Garden and parts of the former French Concession. A taxi to central Shanghai is often quicker than from Pudong; the city’s official guide gives roughly 30 minutes and RMB 100–150, depending on traffic.
At Hongqiao T2, confirm whether your hotel is easier from Line 2 or Line 10 before entering. Changing lines inside a large station can erase the time saved by choosing the theoretically fastest route.
## Moving between PVG and SHA
The Airport Link Line is the cleanest rail answer. It connects Pudong Airport T1 & T2 with Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 in about 40 minutes. The full journey costs RMB 26, trains are scheduled about every 15 minutes, and the line reaches speeds around 160 km/h.
The Airport Link is not a 24-hour service. Shanghai’s published timetable lists the first train from Hongqiao at 5:45 am and the last departure from Pudong at 10:15 pm. Check again on the travel date; maintenance and holiday schedules can change.
## How much connection time to allow
Do not build a self-transfer around the 40-minute train time alone. You may need to collect baggage, clear immigration, change terminals, buy or validate a ticket, re-check bags and pass security again.
For separate tickets, a conservative plan is at least **five hours** between airports, with more for an international departure or an unfamiliar passport/visa process. This is a planning buffer, not an airline-protected minimum. If a delay would ruin the trip, stay overnight instead.
## Late-night arrival plan
Before landing, save the hotel name and address in Chinese, the legal taxi queue location and one working payment backup. Pudong taxi stands are outside Arrival Gate 12 at T1 and Arrival Gate 25 at T2 in the city’s current guide. Hongqiao taxi pickup is outside Gate 1 at T1 and Gate 4 at T2.
Ignore drivers soliciting passengers inside arrivals. Join the signed taxi line or use the pickup point shown in DiDi. If you have an early flight, an [airport-area hotel](/en/shanghai-pudong-airport-hotels/) can be safer than relying on a pre-dawn cross-city ride.
## Payment, SIM cards and help after landing
Shanghai now operates one-stop service centers in the international arrival halls at Pudong T1, Pudong T2 and Hongqiao T1. The centers provide help with payment, transport, tourist maps and mobile service. The city states that they operate around the clock.
Carry one contactless international card and some RMB cash. Shanghai Metro accepts eligible UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB contactless cards at marked gates, but an issuer can still decline a transaction.
## A booking check that prevents most airport mistakes
Run this check before paying:
1. Match the airport code on every flight segment.
2. Match the terminal when the airline has assigned one.
3. Map the airport to the first or final hotel.
4. Check the rail operating hours against the real landing time.
5. If connecting to a train, verify the station name—Shanghai has several major stations.
6. Screenshot the Chinese airport and hotel names.
## Official sources checked
- [Shanghai Airport Authority transport guide](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20231214/649e06ea38f74aaeb573fa2debbe97d3.html) — updated June 4, 2026. It states: “the Airport Link Line is now in operation, reducing the travel time between the two airports to just 40 minutes.”
- [How to take the Airport Link Line](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20241231/f66f14bbd4b549ab88e6f3aec375790c.html)
- [One-stop service centers at Shanghai airports](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-LatestNews/20260319/526f61df226649a58acf4b174d18f8aa.html)
