Transportation Guide, Study in Shanghai

As an important financial and commercial center of China and of the world, Shanghai has highly developed infrastructure, including a convenient public transportation network connecting to other parts of the country. The airports, railways, ports, highways of Shanghai connect it with different countries and regions in the world.

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Upon Arrival in Shanghai
Shanghai is the only Chinese city owning two international airports - Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. Both airports are equipped with very advanced facilities. Every day, about 1,000 flights travel through the two airports, linking Shanghai with many domestic and international cities. From the airport, you can take Airport Shuttle Bus to Shanghai downtown or nearby cities.

Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is located in Pudong New District, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Shanghai's downtown area and about 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) from Hongqiao International Airport. Covering an area of more than 40 square kilometers (15.4 square miles), Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of China's most famous and important airports. The more than 800,000 square meters (197.7 acres) of parking aprons along with 76 gate positions provide evidence of the airport's importance. Pudong International Airport also consists of a main terminal building and two terminal concourses both of which are connected by two passageways for easy access. Thirteen baggage transfer belts for arrivals and twenty-eight boarding bridges and other attached service, such as shopping areas and restaurants are also available to provide travelers with more convenience and comfort during their stay at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Currently airlines flying in and out of Pudong International Airport provide service to 62 domestic cities and 73 international areas.

There are two terminal buildings in Pudong International Airport and the below is a list of airline companies in each of the two terminals:
 

Terminal 1: Air France (AF), China Express Air (G5), Juneyao Airlines (HO), Hainan Airlines (HU), Japan Airlines (JL), Korean Air (KE), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), China Eastern Airlines (MU), Shenzhen Airlines (4G), Sichuan Airlines (3U), East Star Air (8C), Spring Air (9C)

Terminal 2:  Air India (AI), Alitalia (AZ), British Airways (BA), Shanghai Airlines (FM), Garuda-Indonesia Airline (GA), Malaysia Airlines (MH), Northwest Airlines of America (NW), Philippine Airlines (PR), Qantas (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Nepal Airlines (RA), Transaero Airlines (UN), Virgin Atlantic (VS), Air Ukraine (VV), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), Air Canada (AC), Finnair (AY), Royal Brunei Air (BI), Air China (CA), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Emirates Airlines (EK), Dragon Air (KA), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), All Nippon Airways (NH), Air Macau (NX), Air New Zealand (NZ), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Russian Airlines (SU), Thai Airways (TG), Turkish Airlines (TK), American Delta Airlines (DL), American United Airlines (UA), American Airlines (AA).

SICAS Reminder: Please make sure you go to the right terminal building. Special roadway and buses are accessible for the convenience of shuttling between T1 and T2. Passenger can go through the three long corridors between them. These regular buses depart every 10 minute and take about 5 minutes from one building to the other. They can be found at Exit 1 of the domestic and Exit 8 of the international departure levels in T1 and Exit 23 of the international and Exit 27 of the domestic departure levels in T2. Operating hours range from 06:00 to 21:00. In addition, passengers can get into T2 via the connecting porch for Maglev trains.

Arrival Procedure

The flow chart shows how you should do while you arrive in Pudong International Airport 

Airport Guide

Click to view the larger version                                  Click to view the larger version

Hongqiao Airport

Hongqiao International Airport is situated in the western outskirts of Shanghai, about 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) from downtown area and about 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) from Pudong International Airport. Being the first civilian airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao International Airport is more than eighty years old. After a series of renovations it has become one of the three international air transit centers in China. 91 airlines currently fly from the airport to both domestic and international cities.
Terminal 1 is comprised of Zone A and Zone B cover about 82,000 square meters (about 20.3 acres) with 15 waiting halls, 18 VIP lounges and 15 baggage transfer belts. Terminal 2 is completed and opens into public use on March 16, 2010, which is a support to Shanghai Expo. After extension of Hongqiao Airport, in addition to a new terminal, there is a new runway of 3300 meters and a new set of assistant facilities. The newly built runway is applicable for the largest aircrafts, including A380.

How to Get to My University from Pudong Airport                                                                                                                                                             Top

SICAS Airport Pickup Service

If you arrive in Pudong International Airport, you can book an airport pick-up service with SICAS in advance (Contact us)

Airport Shuttle Bus

There are 10 airport bus lines in total handling transfers from Pudong International Airport to the city center of Shanghai, including eight airport lines (Airport Line 1 -8). Except those bus routes to the city area of Shanghai, there are also long-distance shuttle bus lines to nearby cities, like Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yiwu, etc. You can learn more about each route by click here

By Maglev

Connecting Longyang Road and Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Maglev Train provides passengers with much convenience in traveling around Shanghai. There are diverse transportation means near the maglev stations to extend your trip. You can easily transfer to subway lines, buses and planes taking off at Pudong International Airport.

Subway Line 2
Shanghai Subway Line 2 is a long and busy line connecting Pudong and Puxi. After extentions, now, it has stretched to Pudong Airport, led to Hongqiao Airport either. Passengers have to get off the 4-car metro train at Guanglan Road Station (between Longyang Road Station and Pudong Airport) and then change another  8-car metro train to go ahead. Vice versa, passengers get off at the same subway station from a 8-car train and get on a 4-car train to enter Pudong Airport. It costs CNY9 for the whole trip and CNY8 from Pudong to Hongqiao airport. It needs more than one hour between the two airports.

By Taxi

Taking a taxi is a fast, reasonably cheap and convenient way to get around Shanghai. Shanghai has the best-managed taxi service in China. In Shanghai over 150 taxi companies operate approximately 45,000 taxis, which are colorful--cyan, yellow, white, green, blue, red, dark blue and dark red are the main colors of the taxis in Shanghai and the colors denote different taxi companies. When taking the taxi, please try to avoid the peak hours of 7 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm. The start price is RMB10 for 3 km and RMB2 for following each 1 km. At night (23:00-5:00) the start price is RMB13 for 3 km and RMB2.6 for following each 1 km. Once exceeding 10 kilometers' journey, it would be RMB3.9 for each kilometer. The bargain is permitted, and also, you could take the taxi to travel in a group.

Tip: A taxi costs approximately CNY 150 from Pudong International Airport to People's Square, the center of Shanghai, and it takes about 50 minutes.

Daily Transportation Guide                                                                                                             Top

Urban traffic system in Shanghai is very advanced. As one of the cities with the most routes in the world, Shanghai has more than 1,000 bus routes and over 1.8 million operating vehicles, serving about 780 million daily average passenger volume and 65% of urban public passenger traffic volume. Taxies play a great part in urban public transportation. Over 270 taxi companies in Shanghai, with nearly 10 million employees, operate approximately 43,000 taxis and over 7000 traveling cars and rental cars. The whole industry serves daily average of more than 300 million passengers, which accounts for about 25 % of the whole Shanghai passenger traffic volume.

In addition, Shanghai has altogether 13 rail transit systems with China’s longest mileage, including subway, elevated light rail, maglev, etc. A network pattern has been preliminarily formed with over 400 kilometers operation mileage which occupies the national first place. The daily average passenger volume is about 500 million, accounting for most of the urban public passenger volume.

By Subway
Shanghai has the longest metro system in the world with a total length of over 400 kilometers. There are eleven subway lines in Shanghai with connections all over the city and stops at or nearby the main attractions and commercial areas. The new system with air-conditioned trains, clean walkways will generally get you around the city faster than any other means.

 
Click (Shanghai metro map.png) to see the larger map of Shanghai metro system

By Highway

Currently, four national highways, four expressways and over 1,000 routes served by 40 long-distance bus stations in Shanghai make travel to nearby provinces convenient. The main long distance bus station is near the train station on Qiujiang Road. Buses from here head to Nanjing (4 hours), Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou and other destinations. There is also a new bus station servicing Shaoxing, Ningbo, Yangzhou and Hangzhou.

By Bus

Public buses in Shanghai are a convenient way of transport, with about 1,100 bus lines covering all over the city. The ticket prices are classified into several kinds according to the length of the routes and the condition of the bus: RMB1 for the routes less than 13 km long, RMB1.5 for the over-13 km long routes, and RMB2 for air-con buses.

Sightseeing buses are a particularly convenient means for you to tour Shanghai. Jinjiang and Dazhong Sightseeing Buses will take you to the well-known tourist attractions. The double-decker sightseeing bus on Huaihai Road and the special sightseeing bus on Nanjing Road provide you with views of the bustling commercial streets of Shanghai.

Water Transportation

Located on the shore of Huangpu River as well as being estuary of Yangtze River, Shanghai features a tradition of water transportation. Floating on the Huangpu River with fabulous nightscape of the Bund and cruise down the Yangtze River has become tourists’ favorite route of sightseeing in the region. 

By Steamer

Situated on the estuary of Yangtze River and midpoint of China's north-south coastline, Shanghai has developed into China's largest port. The growing quantity of goods and passengers moved in and out has promoted the development of economy and tourism of Shanghai and its adjacent cities.  The great number of domestic and international passenger liners will easily meet your travel needs as you journey to and around Shanghai. 

By Ferry

Pudong New District and Puxi Area are connected by Nanpu Bridge, Yangpu Bridge, Xupu Bridge, Lupu Bridge and various tunnels across the Huangpu River. Convenient shuttle service across the Huangpu River offered by more than 20 ferry lines allows you to avoid the crowded bridges and tunnels while appreciating the river scenery. In addition, ferryboats are available between the mainland of Shanghai and its three islands of Chongming, Changqing and Hengsha.