Shanghai is served by two international airports. Pudong (PVG) is the city's main global gateway, 30 km east of downtown, and Hongqiao (SHA) sits 13 km west beside the high-speed rail hub. This guide covers terminals, airlines, transport, parking and services at both.
Pudong has two main terminals plus the huge S1 and S2 satellite concourses, which handle 60–70% of flights. Hongqiao has two terminals 2 km apart, with Terminal 2 four times the size of Terminal 1.
Metro Line 2 links both airports. The maglev reaches Pudong from Longyang Road in 8 minutes, and the Airport Link Line connects Pudong with Hongqiao T2 and the high-speed rail hub.
Free Wi-Fi, information desks, left luggage, banks, pharmacies, prayer rooms, mother-and-baby rooms, business lounges and an airport hotel inside Pudong Terminal 2.
Pudong is 30 km east of the city centre and Hongqiao is 13 km west. Between them, Shanghai has one of the most complete airport transport networks in the world.
Line 2 runs from Pudong through Longyang Road, Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People's Square to Hongqiao International Airport. Fares run from 3 to 10 CNY.
The maglev covers 30 km from Longyang Road to Pudong in under 8 minutes. The Airport Link Line, opened in December 2024, connects Pudong T1 and T2 with Hongqiao T2 and the high-speed rail hub.
Multi-storey car parks sit beside both Pudong terminals and on Level 1 of Hongqiao Terminal 2, all connected directly to the terminal buildings.
Pudong opened in 1999 and has grown into one of the world's busiest airports, with five runways and satellite halls handling 60–70% of flights. Hongqiao opened in 1923, was rebuilt for civilian use in 1964, and received Skytrax's 5-Star airport rating in 2025.
Always check the airport code on your ticket. PVG and SHA are separate airports roughly 57 km apart, and Pudong's Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are separate buildings with no airside link. Getting the wrong one can cost you a missed flight.
