Shanghai First Day: Airport to hotel
From Pudong, compare Line 2, Maglev plus an onward connection, the Airport Link Line for the Hongqiao corridor, or a taxi to the door. From Hongqiao, choose by terminal and hotel station. Check the full route after baggage claim, especially at night.
Updated · Editorial approach
What to do
- 1
First save the hotel’s exact Chinese address and branch. Use the hotel station and final walk to compare routes, not a single “city center” fare.
- 2
PVG → central areas: check Metro Line 2 against your hotel station. If considering Maglev, plan the onward leg from Longyang Road before buying; the fast train segment does not equal a fast door-to-door trip.
- 3
PVG → Hongqiao area: compare the Airport Link Line to Hongqiao T2 with your hotel’s onward connection. Check the timetable for your direction on the travel date.
- 4
SHA arrivals: Terminal 1 connects to Line 10; Terminal 2 connects to Lines 2 and 10. Match the station and direction to your hotel, and account for lifts, luggage and the final walk.
- 5
Late arrival: check every connecting line’s last service after allowing for immigration, baggage and walking. If the connection is uncertain, ask staff about the official taxi queue or use a pickup you have confirmed with the hotel.
- 6
For a taxi, follow 出租车 signs, show the address, confirm payment and check the local fare basis, tolls or night charges. Keep the receipt. For ride-hailing, use the app’s actual terminal, level and pickup zone.
- 7
Before leaving, check your payment backup, hotel contact and phone power. Save route details offline; do not depend on airport Wi-Fi once outside.
Double-check before you rely on this
You know where the first train ends and how to finish the journey.
You checked the last connection, not just the time your flight lands.
The hotel address, payment method and a fallback route are saved.