Shanghai airport transfer
PVG to SHA transfer: Pudong and Hongqiao airports
Plan a transfer between Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports: train direction, Hongqiao T1 connections, baggage questions and a flight-to-flight time budget.
PVG and SHA are different airports. The Airport Link Line connects Pudong Airport T1 & T2 with Hongqiao Airport T2 in about 40 minutes, with a published full-journey fare of RMB 26. That is the train journey, not the time between leaving one aircraft and boarding another.
Before choosing the train, check your arrival airport, departure airport and both terminals. If you are only comparing airports for a booking, use our Shanghai airport guide.
Cross-airport travel leaves the airside transit area. If you arrive internationally, check your entry or transit eligibility before booking the onward journey.
Save the route image (PNG). This is a connection diagram, not a map of walking distances.
PVG to SHA: choose your departure terminal
- Complete the arrival procedures that apply to your journey. Confirm with the airline whether you must collect your bags before leaving the airport.
- Find the rail-transfer corridor on Level 2. From T1 arrivals, take the lift to Level 2 and follow rail signs. From T2 Level 2 arrivals, follow Middle Wuzhou Road / 五洲中路; from T2 Level 1 arrivals, first take the lift to Level 2.
- Continue past the Metro Line 2 and Maglev entrances, following Airport Link Line / 市域机场线 signs to its lift and station hall. The Maglev does not take you directly to Hongqiao.
- Confirm a departure toward Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 / 虹桥2号航站楼 on the station display.
- At Hongqiao, follow signs to your flight terminal. Do not follow railway-station signs simply because your booking says “Hongqiao.”
The terminal approach above follows an October 2026 Pudong access guide. Allow time for lifts and queues; these are directions, not a measured walking-time promise.
Save the Pudong walking guide (PNG). With heavy bags, a stroller or reduced mobility, ask staff for the current lift route; do not assume every approach is step-free.
| Your onward flight | After leaving the Airport Link train |
|---|---|
| SHA Terminal 2 | Follow airport T2 departures signs and find your airline’s check-in area |
| SHA Terminal 1 | Allow a separate terminal connection; Metro Line 10 connects T2 and T1 when operating |
| A flight still departing from PVG | Recheck the itinerary before taking a cross-airport train |
The city’s official guide confirms the Line 10 connection between Hongqiao’s terminals. The Airport Link and metro interchange at Hongqiao is outside the paid area, so include walking and another gate or ticket check in your plan. Follow current station signs for the correct platform.
Sources: Shanghai transport guide, Airport Link passenger guide.
SHA to PVG: start from Hongqiao T2
If you arrive at SHA Terminal 1, use Metro Line 10 to Terminal 2 when it is operating, or ask the terminal desk for the current ground connection. If arriving by metro, leave its paid area at T2. From airport arrivals, follow Airport Link Line / 市域机场线 signs; you do not need to enter the metro first. Check that the train display shows Pudong Airport T1 & T2 / 浦东1号2号航站楼. On arrival at Pudong, use your flight booking to choose T1 or T2 before heading to check-in.
The airport’s English information places Hongqiao’s Airport Link access near departure Gates 11–12 and at B1 near Metro Lines 2 and 10. These are orientation references, not a measured walking route from your arrival gate. Use the signs and ask airport staff if an access point has changed.
Source: Hongqiao Airport information.
Buy a ticket without setting up another app
For a single airport-to-airport journey, select the opposite airport station at an Airport Link ticket machine. The published full fare is RMB 26. The transport authority lists cash and supported mobile payments for physical tickets; this gives you an option if an app login or bank-card setup fails.
Already have a working Shanghai transport card or Metro Daduhui ride code? The line also accepts the listed transit-card and ride-code options. A normal payment QR code is not automatically a transit ride code. If a gate rejects your card or code, ask at the service counter before trying a different payment method.
Do not assume every overseas bank card can be tapped at every gate. Check the card-network symbols and ask staff about the options at that station. Carry some RMB as a fallback. When connecting to Metro Line 10 for Hongqiao T1, account for a separate metro fare.
Source: Shanghai transport authority: fares and ticket options. Its launch timetable has since changed; use the current reference below.
First and last trains
The airport’s Chinese timetable and Shanghai’s October 2026 travel notice, checked on 28 October, list:
| From | First departure | Last departure |
|---|---|---|
| Pudong T1 & T2 | 06:00 | 22:15 |
| Hongqiao T2 | 05:45 | 22:00 |
The published interval is about 15 minutes. English airport pages do not all agree with this timetable. Check the operating service on your travel date before building a connection around the first or last train. A flight arriving before the last departure does not mean you can reach the platform in time.
Will there be enough time between flights?
Write down the onward airline’s check-in, baggage-drop and boarding deadlines. Then work backward through:
- Arrival procedures and any baggage collection.
- Walking to the station, obtaining a valid ticket and waiting for the train.
- The inter-airport journey.
- Any Hongqiao T1/T2 connection.
- Onward check-in, bag drop, security and walking to the gate.
- Extra time for delays or a missed train.
A positive time balance is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Ask the airline whether the itinerary is protected and what happens if the first flight is late. If the plan only works when every step is immediate, choose a later onward flight.
Do bags transfer automatically? Is the train free?
Do not assume so. Shanghai Airport published a China Eastern service for certain domestic arrivals at SHA connecting to same-day international departures from PVG. Eligibility depends on the itinerary. Ask the airline to confirm your booking and baggage destination; do not apply that announcement automatically to PVG→SHA or separate tickets.
Source: Shanghai Airport’s July 2025 announcement.
Ask about baggage before leaving the arrivals area. Tell the transfer desk both flight numbers and ask whether you must collect, recheck or hand over your bags. Keep the baggage receipt and confirm the final destination printed on it. A transfer counter being available does not mean your itinerary qualifies.
A free train voucher is a separate benefit. China Eastern’s February 2026 announcement describes Airport Link tickets for qualifying Eastern Miles members with 781-ticket-stock bookings, flights operated by China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines, and a cross-airport connection within 24 hours. Check the current offer in the airline app or at its transfer desk before buying a rail ticket. Do not assume a voucher also includes baggage transfer or that an old post guarantees eligibility today.
Source: China Eastern’s published transfer benefits.
After the last train: the two bus directions differ
| Direction | Published night service | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PVG → Hongqiao East Transport Center | Night bus from T1 23:00–05:30, T2 23:03–05:33; listed fare range RMB 18–34 | It stops in the city. Confirm the fare to the final stop and the onward route to your flight terminal |
| Hongqiao East Transport Center → PVG | Direct night departures at 22:30, 23:10, 23:40, 00:30 and 01:00; RMB 36 | Board from Waiting Room 2; confirm the Pudong terminal stop before boarding |
For the Pudong service, follow Airport Bus / 机场巴士 signs and show staff the final destination 虹桥枢纽东交通中心. The airport lists a maximum interval of 30 minutes, subject to passenger demand and traffic. Neither direction should be treated as a guaranteed flight connection, and the Hongqiao service is not an all-night hourly shuttle.
References: Pudong airport bus listing and Hongqiao airport bus listing. Recheck with the bus desk on the day, especially around holidays.
Taxi or overnight stay
Ask at the signed taxi queue or use the pickup location shown by your ride app. Confirm both the destination airport and terminal, and leave room for road traffic. A road journey is not a guaranteed 40-minute substitute for the train.
For a late arrival and an early onward flight, consider an overnight plan instead of waiting for a train that starts too late. Our Pudong airport hotel guide covers the PVG side; check the hotel’s exact terminal access before booking.
Save these names before landing
| What to show staff | Chinese name |
|---|---|
| Airport Link Line | 市域机场线 / 机场联络线 |
| Pudong Airport T1 & T2 station | 浦东1号2号航站楼站 |
| Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station | 虹桥2号航站楼站 |
| Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 | 虹桥机场1号航站楼 |
| Hongqiao East Transport Center | 虹桥枢纽东交通中心 |
Save your flight numbers, terminals, airline deadlines and destination names together. That is more useful at a transfer desk than a screenshot showing only “Shanghai.”
Transport sources checked on 28 October 2026. Route diagrams are original schematics based on the cited guidance. This is not a first-person walk-through or live service feed.