How to Get to the Shanghai Pudong Airport (and what not to do)
Getting to the Shanghai Pudong Airport from the city center of Shanghai is pretty straight forward. You can take the metro, Maglev Train, taxis, buses, and more! Let’s take a look at the details and then how I managed to screw up this simple journey.
Getting to the Shanghai Pudong Airport: The Official Way
The Shanghai Pudong Airport sits just about 43km outside of the city center of Shanghai. Fortunately, there are a number of easy ways to get from Shanghai to the Pudong Airport.
Metro: Shanghai to Pudong Airport
The Shanghai Pudong Airport is at the end of Metro Line 2, also known as the Green Line. It will take about 60 minutes to make the journey from the city center, and is one of the most economical choices at only ¥7 for a one-way trip. The route typically runs every 8 – 10 minutes from 6am – 10pm. If your end destination does not sit on the Green Line, you can easily transfer to other Metro Lines.
The Shanghai Airport Metro Station is located in Terminal Two of Shanghai Pudong Airport. If you need to be at Terminal 1, there is a free inter-terminal shuttle.
Learn more about the Shanghai Metro.
Maglev Train: Shanghai to Pudong Airport
My new favorite way to get into the city is the Maglev Train. Costing just ¥50 one way, ¥80 roundtrip, the Maglev Train is the fastest train journey in the world. Running at a speed of 430 km per hour, it will get you from the city center on Longyang Road to the Pudong Airport in less than 8 minutes.
Simply buy your ticket at the Longyang Road Station and catch the train which runs on regular intervals of 15 or 20 minutes depending on the time of day. You’ll arrive at the Pudong International Airport Station which is located between Terminal 1 and 2 of the airport.
Taxi: Shanghai to Pudong Airport
Taking a taxi from Shanghai to Pudong Airport is one of the most direct routes possible. It will take about 40 minutes and will cost right around ¥180 one way. Many taxi drivers don’t speak English, so if possible, have the airport written down in Chinese to help ensure a smooth transition.
Bus: Shanghai to Pudong Airport
Buses tend to not be the fastest or most economic choice, but they do provide additional options. To get from the city center to the Shanghai Pudong Airport, you can take city buses, shuttle buses, or even hotel shuttles. As the city buses run regularly on a number of different routes, you’ll need to check where you’re coming from to see if there is a routes that’s right for you.
If you are headed to destinations near one of the key shuttle bus stops, it may be the right option for you: People’s Square, Hongqiao, Lujiazui, Jing’an Temple, North Bund, Xujiahui. They run every 30 minutes and cost ¥68.
Find full bus routes for the Shanghai Pudong Airport.
How I Got to the Shanghai Pudong Airport
After exploring the watertown of Zhujiajiao for my last day in China, I had about ¥47 left. This was carefully budgeted for dinner, a snack on the plane, and my ¥7 metro ride to the Shanghai Pudong Airport. I enjoyed a late dinner with friends which ended up only costing ¥48 for the 5 of us, so one of the guys picked it up and refused to accept money. Here I had saved money to eat and didn’t need it.
Anyway, dinner ran late (10:30pm) and I ended up rushing back to my hostel to get things in order for my flight at 1:20am. That morning the hostel had told me it takes thirty minutes by metro to get to the airport, so I figured if I left by 10:45pm I should get there with about two hours to spare. Good plan, right?
Taking the Metro to the Shanghai Pudong Airport
Having parted from the group and rushed back down a dark side street to pick up my bag, change, and head to the airport, it was still closer to 11pm by the time I entered the metro. I bought my ticket and boarded the first train going in the right direction, but it was only going part way. Of course, I figured I could get off and catch the next one to make it to the end of the line where Pudong International Airport sits.
As I disembarked, I was pleased to see other people also waiting for the next train. Eventually it arrived, and I boarded, but it was only going to another station further down the line, not all of the way to the airport. This made me a bit nervous as I watched the time tick by and wondered when the last train was. Unfortunately, I soon found out. I was on the last train, and it was not taking me all the way to the airport.
Stranded between Shanghai and the Pudong Airport
By this point, we were about halfway to the airport, stranded between Shanghai and the Pudong Airport. A guy on the train noticed my bag and tried to offer me a minibus to the airport for ¥100 claiming a taxi would be ¥150. I doubted this since all the way from the hostel was supposed to cost ¥180 at night.
However, seeing as it was around 11:45pm at that point, and I had to have my passport verified at the check-in desk by 12:20am, I was starting to sweat it. Particularly since I had bought a drink and my metro ticket so I only had ¥33 left – not enough for the “minibus” or a taxi to the airport.
I tried to explain my financial limitations, but he did not understand and led me to a car, not a minibus. I turned around and walked to the taxis lined up to try to find out about how much it would cost. Of course, I was swarmed by eager drivers, none of whom spoke English. They pretty much all laughed at me when I produced what money I had left.
Oh what a predicament! It’s also very difficult to think clearly when surrounded by taxi drivers all talking and laughing in a foreign language around you.
Hitching a Ride to the Shanghai Pudong Airport
As each painful moment ticked by, a motorbike rider nearby expressed interest. I was trying to discuss destination and cost based on pointing at my map and the money in my hand, when a tiny Chinese man pulled his small SUV over, said “Airport?”, and waved frantically to me.
In a hurry and fed up with all of the taxis who were not in a hurry, I followed this tiny Chinese man to his SUV where there were two other Chinese guys, probably around 20 years old. I asked “Airport?”, and the one guy said, “He’ll take you to the airport.”. With that, I weighed my options, closed the door, pulled up my map on my phone, said a quick prayer, and followed along on the map as we got closer and closer to the airport.
We stopped once and the guy in the front seat jumped out. A few miles later, the other guy jumped out, handing the driver a ¥20 bill and receiving change that looked like a ¥10 bill. At this moment, I realized I might be able to pay for my ride! The driver asked Terminal One or Terminal Two, and tada the airport appeared in front of me! It was just passing 12:20am.
Paying for My Unofficial Taxi Ride
We pulled up to the airport, and I poured all of my leftover Chinese money into the driver’s hand (removing my grandmother’s guardian angel token from the pile), all ¥33. I repeated thank you profusely in English and my no doubt mispronounced Chinese, and he burst into a giant grin returning a string of thank yous.
Not only had he gotten me to the airport safely, but it was as close to on time as I could get. And, he seemed extremely happy in what I was able to pay him, which we had not originally discussed or agreed upon. This typically goes against everything I believe in with taxis that have no meter, but at the moment I was more concerned that I wouldn’t make my flight than having to hit the ATM.
Who knew that this tiny Chinese man who saw me stranded at the side of the road would solve my problems so flawlessly and happily? Getting into a taxi I find intimidating enough, but getting into an unmarked car with three Chinese guys is incredibly insane. Especially since every self-defense class I’ve ever taken says that once you’re in a car with someone with ill intent your odds decrease significantly. (I’m sorry mom and dad!)
Making My Flight Out of Shanghai
Upon arrival, I rushed into the airport and read the board. The check-in desk was closed. At that moment my heart sank, but I ran around to the desk and there was still one person checking in, so I got in line at 12:24am. They stamped my boarding card, I ran through security, immigration, and customs and was on to my boarding gate.
My hour and a half rush to the “half hour away” airport left me feeling both extremely concerned and extremely fortunate for the way things worked out. With all that panic, I made my flight and was off to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Melbourne, Australia!
Exploring More of China
How to get to the Shanghai Pudong Airport is just one small part of a trip to China. You’ll want to explore some of the bucket list adventures like:
