Arrival point choices
Shanghai has two airports (Pudong PVG and Hongqiao SHA) and several train stations. Pudong is far from downtown. Hongqiao is closer. Know which one you're landing at.
What to do
- 1
Pudong (PVG) is 30km east of city center — most international flights land here (T1 or T2, they're connected by shuttle). Hongqiao (SHA) is 13km west, mostly domestic + some Asian routes.
- 2
Hotels in Jing'an/Huangpu/Xuhui: 45-70min from Pudong, 15-25min from Hongqiao. Hotels in Pudong/Lujiazui: 20-30min from PVG.
- 3
Train stations: Shanghai Station (中心, north), Shanghai Hongqiao Station (west, connected to Hongqiao Airport), Shanghai South Station (south). High-speed from Beijing arrives at Hongqiao.
- 4
Don't add a Bund stop before check-in. You'll be back. First priority: get to your hotel.
Double-check before you rely on this
Both arrival point and hotel address are saved in Chinese.
You know if your luggage makes metro transfer painful (Pudong metro involves stairs and long walks).
You have a backup if the ride-hailing pickup point is confusing (it often is at Pudong).