Shanghai airport arrival guide for foreigners
Use this guide to confirm your Shanghai airport and terminal, choose an airport-to-city transport category, and keep a verified fallback before leaving arrivals.
Quick answer
First confirm whether you landed at Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA), then confirm the terminal. Choose a transport category from the constraints below and verify live operating information before leaving arrivals. Official Shanghai information identifies Metro Line 2, the maglev and official taxis at PVG; at SHA it identifies Metro Line 10 at T1, Lines 10 and 2 at T2, and official taxi pickup points at both terminals.
Operating times, departure times, routes and traffic conditions can change. This page is planning guidance, not live service information. Check the Shanghai Airport Authority page, current station or terminal displays, and airport staff directions before committing to a route.
Choose by airport and constraint
Use the first row that matches your situation. A category is suitable only after you confirm that it is operating and that its endpoint or transfer works for your destination.
PVG: Pudong International Airport
| Your constraint | Choose this category | Check before leaving arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| You can manage your luggage, make transfers, and Metro Line 2 serves your route. | Metro Line 2 | Confirm live service and the transfer path. The official airport page says both PVG terminals are served by Line 2, which connects to Hongqiao Airport T2. |
| You specifically want Longyang Road and can continue by another mode. | Maglev + onward connection | Confirm maglev service and your next step. The official city guide says the maglev ends at Longyang Road, where passengers can transfer to Metro Line 2. |
| You need a direct trip, have difficult luggage, or rail service is unavailable or unclear. | Official taxi queue | Use the signed queue: outside Arrival Gate 12 at T1 or Arrival Gate 25 at T2, according to the official city guide. |
SHA: Hongqiao International Airport
| Your constraint | Choose this category | Check before leaving arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| You are at T1 and Metro Line 10 serves your route. | Metro Line 10 | Confirm live service and your transfer path. The official airport page says Line 10 connects Hongqiao T1 and T2. |
| You are at T2 and either Line 10 or Line 2 serves your route. | Metro Line 10 or Line 2 | Confirm which line fits the destination and is operating. The official airport page lists both lines at T2. |
| You need a direct trip, have difficult luggage, or rail service is unavailable or unclear. | Official taxi queue | Use the signed pickup point: outside Gate 1 on the T1 arrivals floor or Gate 4 on the T2 arrivals floor, according to the official city guide. |
Before leaving arrivals
Check PVG or SHA and the terminal on your arrival information and airport signs.
Have the hotel or destination name and full address in Chinese, plus your booking details.
Check the official airport transport page and current terminal or station information for operation, endpoint and transfers.
China's official payment guide lists mobile payment, bank cards and cash for overseas visitors. Do not depend on only one method.
Know the signed official taxi pickup point for your terminal before you leave the arrivals area.
Do not assume that a rail option is still operating. Stay inside the terminal while you confirm live service and the correct pickup direction. If rail is unavailable or you cannot verify the route, use the signed official taxi queue for your terminal; do not follow unsolicited drivers.
Common arrival mistakes
- Following unofficial drivers in the arrivals hall instead of the official taxi queue.
- Leaving the airport before mobile payment and data are working.
- Showing a hotel name in English only; drivers may need the Chinese address.
- Using metro too late at night without checking last-train times.
- Forgetting that large luggage makes line changes more painful than the map suggests.
Useful phrase cards
What to do next
- Write down PVG or SHA, your terminal, and the destination in Chinese.
- Pick a primary category and one fallback from the table.
- Immediately before leaving arrivals, recheck live service and follow only official airport signs and pickup directions.
FAQ
Should I take metro or taxi from PVG?
Choose Metro Line 2 when you have manageable luggage, can make the needed connections, and have confirmed live service. Choose the official taxi queue when you need a direct trip or rail service is unavailable or unclear.
Can I pay taxi by mobile payment?
Do not assume one payment method will work. China's official payment guide lists mobile payment, bank cards, and cash as options for overseas visitors, so keep a backup method ready.
Is the maglev enough to get downtown?
The maglev takes you to Longyang Road, where you still need Metro Line 2, a taxi, or another onward connection for most destinations.
Official sources
Prepare before leaving arrivals
Confirm your connection while a staffed fallback is nearby. Prepare mobile internet, check the first-train workflow, prepare city transport and a Chinese destination, and build your arrival plan before the onward journey.