Short answer: the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to downtown Shanghai is Metro Line 2 (about 7 yuan, about an hour to People’s Square). The most fun is the maglev to Longyang Road, about 8 minutes, then a transfer. The easiest after a long flight is an official taxi or DiDi (around 180 yuan and about 50 minutes to People’s Square, per the Shanghai government). I’d choose by arrival time, luggage and where your hotel is, not by the lowest price.
Checked November 2026. Fares and timetables change, so check them the day before you fly.
Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pudong is about 30 km from the centre. On the map it looks close, but Shanghai can stretch any distance, especially when you’re still looking for the right metro exit after a flight.
Pudong Airport to the city centre: which option to pick
| Option | Best for | Cost and time | Main downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | Solo, daytime, light luggage | About 7 yuan, about 1 hour to People’s Square | Slow and crowded at rush hour |
| Maglev + metro or taxi | Anyone who wants to ride the maglev | About 8 minutes to Longyang Road, then a transfer | You still need to get from Longyang Road to your hotel |
| Taxi or DiDi | Two or three people, kids, suitcases, night arrivals | Around 180 yuan, about 50 minutes to People’s Square | Pricier, depends on traffic |
| Airport Link Line | Going on to Hongqiao airport or station | About 40 minutes between the airports | Doesn’t reach most hotels |
Metro, taxi and Airport Link figures are from the Shanghai government’s airport transport page (updated June 2026).
My rule of thumb:
- Light luggage and a daytime arrival: Metro Line 2.
- You want to ride the maglev: maglev to Longyang Road, then metro or taxi.
- Two or three people with suitcases: an official taxi or DiDi is often the sensible choice.
- Night arrival: check the last services in advance and keep your hotel address in Chinese.
Metro Line 2: the budget option
The airport station, Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2, is on Line 2, one of the most useful lines for visitors. It runs through Longyang Road, Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People’s Square. If your hotel is near this line, the route is very simple.
The downsides show after a long flight: the ride takes time, the train can be packed, and a transfer with a big suitcase feels like a sightseeing activity of its own. Before you go, plan the route in Amap and check not only the station but the exit number.
You can pay with a single ticket or the transport QR code in Alipay. For the QR code, set up Alipay at home: see Alipay for foreigners.
The maglev: fast, but not to your hotel
The Shanghai maglev runs from the airport to Longyang Road station in about 8 minutes. That’s not a stop in the centre, so you then change to the metro or take a taxi. People ride it as much for the experience as for the time saved. It is a magnetic levitation train, after all.
Travel guides list the standard fare as 50 yuan one way (40 yuan if you show a same-day air ticket), with the last trains leaving around 21:40. Check the current fare and timetable at the station or on the operator’s site.
If your hotel is near Nanjing Road, the Bund or People’s Square, add time for the transfer. With heavy luggage, «maglev + metro» can turn out less pleasant than one taxi from the terminal.
Taxi and DiDi: when paying more makes sense
After a night flight, with a child or two suitcases, I wouldn’t try to be a hero. The official airport taxi queue is easier than trying to explain a meeting point to a driver. The Shanghai government says the Terminal 1 taxi stand is outside Arrival Gate 12, and the Terminal 2 stand is outside Arrival Gate 25.
DiDi is convenient if Alipay already works and you have mobile data. Ignore drivers offering rides in the arrivals hall. Both official taxis and DiDi drivers should take you on a normal metered or app fare. Save your hotel’s name, full address and phone number in Chinese, because the English name doesn’t always help.
If you’d rather have everything arranged before landing, you can book an airport transfer in advance. It costs more than a taxi, but it takes care of the meeting point and the connection question after a night flight.
Compare airport transfers on Trip.com →
Pudong to Hongqiao: the Airport Link Line
Since the end of 2024 the two airports are connected by the Airport Link Line. The Shanghai government says it takes about 40 minutes between the airports. It’s especially useful if you land at Pudong and your next flight or train leaves from Hongqiao.
Don’t book a tight connection, though. Add passport control, baggage claim, walking to the station and finding the right terminal.
Arriving at night
Timetables change, so don’t memorise one «permanent» last train. The day before your flight, check the route in Amap and on the airport’s official site. If you land close to the end of metro service, treat a taxi as your main option, not a backup.
- Buy and install an eSIM before you fly.
- Save your hotel’s address in Chinese.
- Screenshot your booking.
- Check which terminal you arrive at.
- Keep your home SIM active if your bank sends codes to it.
See the eSIM I used on Trip.com →
More on getting online in best eSIM for China.
Where to stay: pick a hotel near the metro
The easiest arrival is a hotel near Line 2 or a short taxi ride from it. I go through areas and hotels in where to stay in Shanghai.
See hotels in Shanghai on Trip.com →
What I’d choose now
Alone with hand luggage and a daytime arrival: the metro. For the experience and with no rush: the maglev. After a long flight, two people with suitcases: a taxi straight to the hotel. Saving money should make the trip easier, not start it with an hour and a half of fighting your luggage.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to the city centre?
Metro Line 2. The Shanghai government puts the fare at about 7 yuan and the ride to People’s Square at about an hour.
How much is a taxi from Pudong Airport to downtown Shanghai?
Around 180 yuan to People’s Square, taking about 50 minutes, according to the Shanghai government. It depends on traffic and the exact address.
Does the maglev go to the Bund?
No. It runs from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road. From there you change to Metro Line 2 or take a taxi.
How do I get from Pudong to Hongqiao?
Take the Airport Link Line, about 40 minutes between the airports. Leave plenty of margin for passport control and baggage.
Can I use DiDi at Pudong Airport?
Yes, if Alipay or the DiDi app works and you have mobile data. Follow the app to the designated pickup area.
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