Shanghai Pudong International Airport

机About this airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport opened in October 1999 on reclaimed land in the Pudong district, approximately 30 kilometres east of the Bund. The project was conceived in the 1980s as part of the broader plan to develop Pudong — then largely agricultural land east of the Huangpu River — into Shanghai's financial and commercial centrepiece. Hongqiao, the original airport, was constrained by its urban location and had no room to expand; Pudong was intended to handle all future growth.

Terminal 1 dates from the 1999 opening. Terminal 2 opened in 2008, designed to handle traffic for the 2010 World Expo, and is the larger and more comfortable of the two buildings. A third terminal expansion was under construction as of 2026. T1 and T2 are not connected airside, which has consequences for connecting passengers: if your two flights operate from different terminals, you must exit security, take the free inter-terminal shuttle (running approximately every 15 minutes), and re-enter through security screening at the other terminal. This process takes 45–60 minutes under smooth conditions. When booking codeshares or connections through PVG, verify that all segments use the same terminal.

The maglev train link opened in 2004 and remains the only commercial high-speed magnetic levitation railway in the world. The Transrapid system reaches 430 km/h on a good day — a figure displayed on a speed indicator visible to passengers — though the practical journey time from the airport to Longyang Road station is about eight minutes. The experience is worth doing at least once. The catch is that Longyang Road is not a particularly central destination, and most passengers then take Metro Line 2 for another 30–40 minutes to reach the commercial districts. Total journey time from PVG arrivals to Nanjing Road area: around 50–60 minutes. Fare for the maglev: CNY 50 single, CNY 80 return. [VERIFY: current fares — May 2026].

Metro Line 2 alone connects directly from PVG into the city (with dedicated airport stops), running to People's Square and Jing'an Temple in approximately 60 minutes. The fare is CNY 8 versus CNY 50 for the maglev — if speed is not the priority, the metro is the economical choice. Taxis from PVG to the city centre cost approximately CNY 170–260 depending on destination and take 45–70 minutes with reasonable traffic. During rainy weather or peak periods, taxi queues can be substantial. DiDi is available at designated pickup zones; the app is in Chinese but English-interface versions are widely available.

Immigration at PVG processes a large volume of international arrivals across both terminals. T2, with its more modern configuration, generally has more booths open and faster throughput. The standard process involves ten-finger fingerprint capture at a side station, followed by the primary officer check with face recognition. Expected wait times: 20–50 minutes during morning European arrivals banks, shorter during afternoon East Asian peaks. [VERIFY: current typical wait times — May 2026]. The e-channel lanes for residence permit holders and pre-registered biometrics move faster. China's 144-hour TWOV applies here; the scheme covers Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang province, and is one of the most practical in the country for multi-city transit.

SIM cards from China Mobile and China Unicom are available in both terminals at dedicated counters in the arrivals areas. Tourist packages covering 30 days with data are priced at approximately CNY 50–150 depending on data volume. [VERIFY: current pricing — May 2026]. Staff at both counters typically have basic English. eSIM activation is possible for compatible devices but requires an existing Chinese number for SMS verification in most flows; for first-time visitors the physical SIM counter remains the path of least resistance. Note that the 144-hour TWOV exemption does not automatically grant access to Chinese mobile internet restrictions — Chinese network rules apply regardless of your visa status.

The most common arrival scam at PVG involves unlicensed drivers approaching passengers in the arrivals hall before they reach the official taxi rank. They will offer rides at prices that sound reasonable but are either fake-meter situations (the meter runs fast) or fixed-price arrangements inflated well above metered rates. The official taxi queue is outside the building, well-signed, and marshalled; walk straight out and ignore any interior solicitation. Currency exchange booths in arrivals vary in spread; Bank of China counters in the terminal offer standard rates.

Priority Pass access at PVG is best through the No. 1 Lounge by Plaza Premium, which has locations in both T1 and T2. The T2 location is the more recently renovated and offers hot food, showers, a reasonable beverage selection, and stable Wi-Fi. China Eastern operates its own lounges in T2 at multiple locations, accessible to their premium passengers. The SATS Premier Lounge in T2 covers some airlines' business class passengers and offers similar facilities. Lounge quality at PVG is above the Chinese average but below Hong Kong or Singapore standards.

Wi-Fi at PVG requires passport scan registration at a kiosk or through a phone-based process. Connection speeds in T2 are adequate; T1 infrastructure is older and can be slower. The usual restrictions apply — foreign social media, Google services, and international news sites are unavailable on Chinese domestic networks without a VPN configured before arrival.

Food at PVG is, by Chinese airport standards, reasonably good. T2 contains Din Tai Fung (limited menu, worth noting they use a fast-casual format here rather than full service), several Shanghainese noodle shops, a good dim sum counter, and a range of international chains. T1 is more limited and primarily caters to domestic traffic. Halal options exist in both terminals. Prices are airport-level — 30–50% above city equivalents. Late-night coverage is maintained by fast food counters; full-service restaurants typically close by 22:00.

Smoking areas are designated outside the main terminal buildings. Airside, there are smoking rooms in some piers; check current locations on the airport map as these are subject to relocation during expansion works. No smoking is permitted in the main concourses or departure halls.

Accessibility provision at PVG is reasonable across both terminals, with lifts, tactile paving, and wheelchair assistance available. The shuttle between T1 and T2 is accessible by ramp. Request wheelchair assistance through your airline at check-in or at least 48 hours before travel. The maglev station within the terminal is accessible by lift. T1's older infrastructure means some areas are less consistently equipped than T2; if you have specific accessibility requirements, T2 is the better terminal when a choice exists.