Pudong Airport to Downtown: Complete Transport Guide

Transport Options at a Glance

From Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to downtown, you have 4 main options:

Transport	Time	Fare	Best For
Maglev + Metro	~45 min	¥50-55	Speed, experience
Metro Line 2	~90 min	¥7-9	Budget
Airport Bus	60-90 min	¥20-36	Specific destinations
Taxi/DiDi	45-90 min	¥150-250	Convenience, luggage

Maglev (磁悬浮) - Fastest Option

The world’s only commercial high-speed maglev train! Reaches downtown in 8 minutes.

Basic Info

Detail	Info
Route	Pudong Airport ↔ Longyang Road (30km)
Travel Time	8 minutes
Top Speed	430km/h (peak), 301km/h (off-peak)
Frequency	Every 15-20 min

Operating Hours

Direction	First	Last
Airport → Longyang Road	07:02	21:42
Longyang Road → Airport	06:45	21:40

Fares

Type	Fare
Regular one-way	¥50
Regular round-trip	¥80 (valid 7 days)
VIP one-way	¥100
VIP round-trip	¥160

Discounts

Discount	Fare	Condition
Airline ticket discount	¥40	Show same-day boarding pass (counter only)
Transport card	¥40	Shanghai transport card
Student	¥25	With student ID

Combo Tickets (Best Value!)

Ticket	Fare	Includes
Maglev + 24hr Metro	¥55	Most popular!
Maglev RT + 24hr Metro	¥85	For round-trip travelers

💡 Pro tip: Combo ticket saves ¥13! (Maglev ¥50 + day pass ¥18 = ¥68, but combo is ¥55)

Payment Methods

Method	Accepted
Foreign card tap	✅ (since June 2025)
Alipay/WeChat Pay	✅
Cash	✅ (counter)
e-CNY	✅

Foreign card tap:

1. Have Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB contactless card ready
2. Tap at turnstile reader
3. Board, tap again on exit

⚠️ Note: Card tap doesn’t qualify for airline ticket discount (¥40)!

How to Ride

1. Follow 磁悬浮 Maglev signs from arrivals
2. Buy ticket or prepare card tap
3. Pass security screening
4. Through turnstile
5. 8 minutes ride
6. Arrive Longyang Road → transfer to Metro Lines 2/7/16/18

From Longyang Road to Key Destinations

Destination	Transfer	Time
People’s Square	Line 2	~25 min
Nanjing East Road (Bund)	Line 2	~20 min
Lujiazui	Line 2	~10 min
Xujiahui	Line 7	~30 min

Metro Line 2 - Cheapest Option

Direct to downtown at the lowest cost.

Basic Info

Detail	Info
First Train	05:30
Last Train	22:30
Frequency	8-10 min
To People’s Square	60-70 min

Fares

Destination	Fare
People’s Square	~¥7
Nanjing East Road	~¥7
Lujiazui	~¥6
Hongqiao Station/Airport	~¥9

Foreign Card Tap ✅

Since June 28, 2025, all Shanghai Metro lines accept foreign card tap!

Supported: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners Club

Important Note

⚠️ Guanglan Road transfer required: Some trains require transfer at Guanglan Road (广兰路). Same platform, just change trains.

How to Ride

1. Follow 地铁 Metro signs in terminal
2. Pass security
3. Tap card or scan QR
4. Board train toward 广兰路 (downtown)
5. Transfer at Guanglan Road (if needed)
6. Exit at destination, tap out

Airport Bus - Direct to Specific Destinations

Useful when heading to hotels or train stations.

Main Routes

Route	Destination	Fare	Time
No. 1	Hongqiao Transport Hub	¥36	70 min
No. 4	Shanghai Railway Station	¥28	80 min
No. 7	South Station (HSR)	¥20	80 min
No. 9	Xinzhuang Metro	¥28	60 min
Night Bus	Hongqiao Hub	¥36	70-90 min

Hours

Period	Time
Daytime	07:00 - 23:00
Night (Hongqiao)	23:00 - 05:30

Free Terminal Shuttle

Route	Section	Hours
Terminal Shuttle	T1 ↔ T2	06:00 - 00:00

Payment

Method	Accepted
Cash	✅ (have exact change)
Alipay/WeChat	✅
Foreign card tap	❌

Taxi / DiDi - Most Convenient

Best choice with heavy luggage or late-night arrivals.

Estimated Fares

Destination	Fare	Time
People’s Square	¥150-200	45-60 min
The Bund	¥150-200	50-70 min
Jing’an	¥180-230	50-70 min
Hongqiao Airport	¥200-250	60-90 min

⚠️ Late night (23:00-05:00) and rush hour add 30-50%

Official Taxi

1. Follow 出租车 TAXI signs in arrivals
2. Wait at official taxi stand
3. Confirm meter is running
4. Show destination address in Chinese

DiDi (China’s Uber)

Book via DiDi app for fixed price—no haggling.

Payment: Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards

💡 See DiDi Guide for details.

Scam Alert

Type	Description	Prevention
Touting	”Taxi?” approaching you	Ignore, use official stand
No meter	Overcharging	Demand meter
Long routing	Inflated fare	Track on maps app

Decision Guide

By Situation

Situation	Recommendation
Want speed	Maglev + Metro
Want to save money	Metro Line 2
Heavy luggage	Taxi/DiDi
Late night arrival	Night bus or taxi
Going to train station	Airport bus
Want the experience	Combo ticket ¥55

By Time

Time	Recommendation
06:00-07:00	Metro (Maglev not running)
07:00-21:40	Maglev + Metro
21:40-22:30	Metro
22:30-05:30	Night bus or taxi

Terminal Info

Detail	T1	T2
Airlines	China Eastern (some), foreign carriers	Most Chinese carriers
Maglev	✅	✅
Metro Line 2	✅	✅

Between terminals: Free shuttle (06:00-00:00) or 10-min walk

Useful Chinese

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Maglev	磁悬浮	Cí xuánfú
Metro	地铁	Dìtiě
Airport bus	机场大巴	Jīchǎng dàbā
Taxi	出租车	Chūzū chē
Longyang Road	龙阳路	Lóngyáng Lù
People’s Square	人民广场	Rénmín Guǎngchǎng

Emergency Contacts

Service	Number
Pudong Airport Info	+86-21-96990
Shanghai Metro	+86-21-6437-0000
Police	110
Taxi Complaints	12345

Best Recommendation

The winning combo:

1. Buy Maglev Combo Ticket ¥55
2. Ride Maglev to Longyang Road (8 minutes)
3. Transfer to Metro Line 2 to downtown (20-30 min)
4. Total: 45 min, ¥55

Fast, affordable, and a unique experience!

Other Guides

Shanghai Airport Link Guide: Hongqiao to Pudong in 40 Minutes

The new December 2024 express line connecting both airports in just 40 minutes. Fares, stations, and how to use it.

DiDi Complete Guide: China's Uber for Foreigners

How to use DiDi in China. App setup, payment linking, booking rides—all in English. Essential for getting around Shanghai.

Hongqiao Airport to Downtown: Complete Transport Guide

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