Transport · Airports · PVG
上海浦东国际机场 · PVG / ZSPD. Shanghai's main international hub, served by the world's only commercial Maglev line and a 144-hour multi-province transit visa exemption.
About this airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport opened in 1999 on reclaimed land in the Pudong district, around 30 kilometres east of the Bund. It was built to relieve pressure on Hongqiao Airport, which had insufficient room to expand, and has grown into one of the busiest cargo and passenger airports in Asia.
The airport is notable for the Transrapid maglev link, which opened in 2004 and remains the only operational high-speed commercial magnetic levitation line in the world. The eight-minute journey at speeds up to 430 km/h is a curiosity worth experiencing at least once, though the connection at Longyang Road requires a second metro leg for most city-centre destinations.
Terminal 2, which opened in 2008 ahead of the World Expo, is a more comfortable facility than T1. The two terminals are not physically connected airside, so passengers transiting between airlines operating from different terminals must exit security, take the shuttle bus, and re-enter. When booking connections, verify both flights use the same terminal.
China Eastern is the dominant carrier at PVG. The 144-hour TWOV covering Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang is a practical option for travellers wanting a few days in the region between connecting flights.
Terminals
Two passenger terminals, T1 and T2, connected by a free shuttle bus running roughly every 15 minutes. T1 handles some international carriers; T2 is the newer and larger building used by airlines including China Eastern and several European carriers. A planned T3 expansion was under construction as of 2026.
Transit to the city
The Maglev train (430 km/h) links PVG to Longyang Road metro station in 8 minutes (CNY 50 single). From Longyang Road, Metro Line 2 continues to People's Square and the city centre. Total door-to-door journey from PVG to Nanjing Road is approximately 50–60 minutes. Taxis take 45–70 minutes and cost CNY 170–260. A metro-only option via Line 2 (extended into the airport) takes about 60 minutes and costs CNY 8.
Priority Pass lounges
Food
PVG has Shanghai's best airside food offering of any mainland airport. T2 houses Din Tai Fung (limited menu), several Shanghainese noodle shops, a good dim sum counter, and standard international chains. T1 is more limited. Halal options are available in both terminals.
Sleep options
The Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai is connected to T1 via covered bridge. T2 has no direct hotel connection airside but the Novotel is a short shuttle ride away. Both terminals have 24-hour rest lounges available for a fee.
Transit visa-free rules
Shanghai participates in the 144-hour TWOV for a broad range of nationalities, allowing transit passengers to visit Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. This is one of the most generous TWOV schemes in China. The 72-hour scheme is also available. PVG and SHA (Hongqiao) can be used interchangeably for entry and exit within a single TWOV period.