Shanghai Airports Explained: PVG vs SHA, Airport Link and City Transfers
Compare PVG and SHA, Airport Link, Line 2, maglev and taxis for central Shanghai, Hongqiao and late arrivals.
Choose the flight first, but understand the geography: Pudong (上海浦东国际机场, PVG) is the main long-haul gateway east of the city; Hongqiao (上海虹桥国际机场, SHA) is west, beside Hongqiao’s railway hub. SHA is much easier for Jing’an, Xuhui and a same-day high-speed train. PVG is farther from central Shanghai, but the Airport Link Line now makes PVG–Hongqiao a practical rail transfer rather than a two-hour Metro Line 2 endurance test.
For the Bund or Jing’an from PVG, Metro Line 2 is cheapest; taxi/DiDi is simplest with luggage; the maglev is useful only if a Longyang Road transfer suits the destination. The Airport Link is best for Hongqiao Airport/Station. From SHA Terminal 2, metro and railway connections are integrated. Always check the terminal: SHA T1 and T2 are not interchangeable on a tight schedule.
A late arrival changes the answer. Rail operating hours end before the airport does, and an international landing time is not the time you reach the arrivals hall. Keep the hotel’s Chinese name, address and phone number offline. Use signed taxi ranks or the designated ride-hailing area, and ignore drivers soliciting inside the terminal.
Quick Decision
| Best for | Airport and self-transfer decisions |
| Time needed | SHA–centre 30–50 min; PVG–centre 60–90 min |
| Booking pressure | Low; road queues rise late at night |
| Main risk | Using maglev without counting the Longyang transfer |
| Recommended choice | Airport Link for PVG–Hongqiao; direct taxi for late city arrivals |
| Last verified | 13 September 2026 |
Scenario table
| Trip | Best default |
|---|---|
| PVG → Bund | Line 2 for budget; taxi/DiDi with bags or late arrival |
| PVG → Jing’an | Line 2 or taxi; maglev only if Longyang transfer helps |
| PVG → Hongqiao Station | Airport Link Line |
| SHA T2 → Bund | Metro Line 2/10 or taxi |
| PVG → SHA self-transfer | Airport Link to Hongqiao T2, then follow terminal signs |
| Arrival after rail closes | Official taxi rank or airport night bus |
The Airport Link has seven stations, runs about every 15 minutes, and the official timetable checked in 2026 lists the last PVG departure for Hongqiao at 22:15. Treat that as a checked detail, not a permanent promise.
For separate-flight PVG–SHA transfers, allow at least five hours and more after international arrival. Baggage, immigration, the terminal change and re-check remain even when the train is fast.
China Travel Pulse’s judgement: the maglev is an experience, not the universal fastest route. Airport Link wins for Hongqiao; Line 2 or a car usually wins for a central hotel.
Operational sources
- Airport transport overview: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20231214/649e06ea38f74aaeb573fa2debbe97d3.html
- Airport Link guide: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20241231/f66f14bbd4b549ab88e6f3aec375790c.html
Transport details checked on 13 September 2026. Verify the day’s last train and terminal before travel.