Shanghai Car Service's Blogs

5 Options For Your Shanghai Airport Transfer

With two airports, multiple train stations, and a population of over 24 million inhabitants, it is important for travelers coming to Shanghai to understand where they are arriving into and how they are going to get to their final destination in Shanghai. Below is a list of the top 5 options for your Shanghai airport transfer.

Where Are You Departing From?

Shanghai is serviced by two airports and the first consideration for any traveler to the city should be to decide which apart to arrive into. The airports are located on opposite sides of Shanghai so travelers should be mindful of where they need to be based during their trip.

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport – Out of the two airports in Shanghai, international passengers are most likely to arrive into Pudong. The airport is located 30 kilometers east of downtown at a site next to the coastline.
   
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport – Meanwhile, Hongqiao Airport predominantly services domestic flights so business travelers coming from others parts of China can expect to arrive here. Hongqiao Airport is located in the town of the same name in the west of Shanghai and is situated just 13 kilometers from downtown.

Where Are You Headed?

As well as two airports, the city also has three main railway stations. The travel time between the two airports to the stations can vary a great deal, so it is recommended to check the below information before confirming which airport you will arrive in Shanghai. With 24 million people living in the urban area and 34 million in the metropolitan area, Shanghai can be a difficult city to navigate and travelers should be fully aware of where they are arriving and where they are heading once they arrive.
 

• Downtown – The downtown area of Shanghai can be defined as The Bund, which is the historic waterfront area on the western bank of the Huangpu River and overlooks the modern skyscrapers on the eastern bank. The Bund occupies a section of Zhongshan Road and is located in Huangpu District.
   
• Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station – Hongqiao Railway Station is the largest train station in all of Asia and many of Shanghai's high-speed trains depart and arrive from this station. Travelers can easily transfer to the station to Hongqiao Airport and the Shanghai subway.
   
• Shanghai Railway Station – The Shanghai Railway Station is located in Jing’an District, north of downtown. The station services routes to Beijing, Nanjing, and Kunming.
   
• Shanghai South Railway Station - Shanghai South Railway Station is situated in the south of the southern district of Xuhui. The station services most trains to the other cities in Zhejiang including Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Wenzhou.

1. Shanghai Airport Transfer By Maglev Train

• Cost: RMB50
• Comfort & Convenience: 4/10

• Journey Time To Downtown: From Pudong Airport = Further Connection Required / Hongqiao Airport = Not Available
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = Further Connection Required / Hongqiao Airport = Not Available
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = Further Connection Required / Hongqiao Airport = Not Available
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai South Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = Further Connection Required / Hongqiao Airport = Not Available

Visitors have the option of traveling from Pudong Airport to the city by riding on the world’s first and only commercial Maglev train. Capable of reaching speeds of 437 kilometers per hour, the Maglev train has become a tourist attraction in itself.

Advantages:

• The Maglev Train is truly a unique travel experience in the world. It is the only magnetic levitation train in the world that passengers can ride and is also the fastest train in the world. There is little surprise that the train has become a tourist attraction all of its own and train enthusiasts are recommended to use the service for the experience alone.

Disadvantages:

• The issue is that, beyond the touristic value, the Maglev train is really not a practical option for a Shanghai airport transfer. The train only stops at Longyang Road station, which is not even located near the city center. Those who do ride the Maglev train will be required to find further transport to take them the rest of the way to their final destination.
   
• At RMB50, the Maglev Train is expensive by the standards of public transport, especially when considering travelers will certainly have to carry on to take further transport.

2. Shanghai Airport Transfer By Subway

• Cost: RMB3-8
• Comfort & Convenience: 6/10

• Journey Time To Downtown: From Pudong Airport = 1 Hour / Hongqiao Airport = 36 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 1 Hour 30 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 2 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 40 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 38 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai South Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 1 Hour 27 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 36 Mins

While it may not be as unique as the Maglev train, the Shanghai subway system is certainly more convenient. The network of 637 kilometers consists of 15 lines and 387 stations, making it the world’s longest subway system.

Advantages:

• With the longest subway line in the world, most visitors are able to reach where they need to be in Shanghai, or at the very least, the general vicinity.
   
• All signs are posted and all announcements are made in both Chinese and English on the Shanghai subway. For visitors who are unfamiliar with the local language, it makes traveling around slightly less daunting.

Disadvantages:

• Although the Shanghai subway system may be the longest in the world, it is not necessarily the fastest way to transfer from either Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport. One such example is that it takes 1 hour and 27 minutes to ride the subway from Pudong Airport to Shanghai South Railway Station, while by car it only takes 45 minutes.
   
• In addition, it is important for travelers to be aware that most transfers by subway from either airport will involve at least one change before they will reach their destination. Successfully navigating these changes is never easy for newcomers to Shanghai and a number of the stations require long walks when changing lines.
   
• There are no real quiet times of the day or of the week on the Shanghai subway, but during the rush hours in the morning and evening it is especially overcrowded, and at times dangerous. At such times, it is strongly advised against transferring from the airport. After what is often a long-haul flight, passengers do not want to be squeezed into the subway while clinging on to their heavy luggage.
   
• The subway is also a popular hunting ground for thieves and unfortunately, the Shanghai subway is no different. Visitors unfamiliar with the city and carrying luggage are prime targets for pickpockets on the subway.

3. Shanghai Airport Transfer By Bus

• Cost: RMB5-50
• Comfort & Convenience: 5/10

• Journey Time To Downtown: From Pudong Airport = 2 Hour 30 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 2 Hours
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 2 Hours 30 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = Not Available
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 2 Hours 30 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 1 Hour 20 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai South Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 2 Hours / Hongqiao Airport = 1 Hour 20 Mins

Shanghai also boasts an equally extensive network of buses, which are popular amongst locals. Although not as commonly used by international visitors, travelers are welcome to ride the public buses to reach their destination.

Advantages:

• Riding the bus is the ideal option for those looking for a cheap optionwhen considering a Shanghai airport transfer. The price varies a great deal depending on whether you are leaving from Hongqiao or Pudong Airport and where you are going, but prices generally range from RMB5-50.
   
• Both Hongqiao Airport and Pudong Airport have buses operating to throughout Shanghai so most travelers will be able to find a service that suits their airport transfer.

Disadvantages:

• Although it is certainly true that most areas of Shanghai can be reached by bus from Hongqiao and Pudong airport, part of the reason for this is due to the large number of stops every bus makes. Journeys that would usually take one hour by private car can almost double in journey time due to the frequency of stops.
   
• Unlike the Shanghai subway system, the network of buses in the city does not boast the same high level of English. Travelers unfamiliar with the language may find it hard to understand where the services are heading and those brave enough to get on a bus may soon regret it as it difficult to know which stop is which.
   
• Travelers who have heavy luggage are advised to avoid the buses during busy periods. There may be limited luggage space available and travelers could be left holding on to their own suitcases.  A seat is not always guaranteed and the bus can be so crowded it can be hard to disembark in time due to the sheer number of people.

4. Shanghai Airport Transfer By Taxi

• Cost: RMB50-300
• Comfort & Convenience: 7/10

• Journey Time To Downtown: From Pudong Airport = 50 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 40 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 1 Hour / Hongqiao Airport = 15 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 50 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 30 Mins
   
• Journey Time To Shanghai South Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 45 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 25 Mins

For travelers short on time to make a connection or for tourists who wish to avoid the rush of public transport, there is always the option to hail a local taxi at the airport.

Advantages:

• By choosing to travel by car, travelers will have a degree of privacy in a taxi. After a long flight surrounded by other people, it can be a relief to complete your airport transfer alone.
   
• Avoiding the hustle and bustle of Shanghai’s public transport system will save you time and, more importantly, from feeling more stress. With a taxi, you can simply load the boot with your luggage and relax in the back seat. There is no reason to worry, even if outside the city is experiencing rush hour.

Disadvantages:

• One of the biggest issues with choosing a taxi for your Shanghai airport transfer is that by relying on such a mode of transport, you can find yourself stuck in a line waiting for it. At both Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport, the taxi ranks are known to become long. After having already spent as much as a day queuing to go through customs, to board flights, to disembark, and to enter the country, the last thing many travelers want to see is another line.
   
• Using a taxi for a Shanghai airport transfer can be extremely problematic, as most drivers in the city do not speak any English. So if a traveler does not know how to speak Chinese, an instruction as simple as telling the driver the address can suddenly feel impossible. Even if you have an address to show the driver, any number of issues may come up on the route and there is no way for the traveler to communicate with the driver.
   
• One disadvantage that deters more travelers than not are the taxi scams facing visitors in China. This is an issue that affects all of Mainland China badly, which makes a Shanghai airport transfer by taxi particularly fraught with risk and danger. Travelers are highly advised to watch out for drivers who refuse to use their meter, meters that are rigged, and for drivers who intentionally drive the long way around to drive up the meter. The problem is that by the time the second scam is happening it’s already too late and the third scam is extremely hard to notice if you are new to Shanghai.

5. Shanghai Airport Transfer By Private Car

• Cost: Check Online For Competitive Rates
• Comfort & Convenience: 9/10

• Journey Time To Downtown: From Pudong Airport = 50 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 40 Mins
• Journey Time To Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 1 Hour / Hongqiao Airport = 15 Mins
• Journey Time To Shanghai Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 50 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 30 Mins
• Journey Time To Shanghai South Railway Station: From Pudong Airport = 45 Mins / Hongqiao Airport = 25 Mins

Travelers who book a private car service in advance will be greeted at the airport by their own English speaking driver and travel in comfort and style to wherever they need to be in Shanghai.

Advantages:

• Traveling to China can be a daunting and tiring experience for first-time visitors, so it can be of great relief when you use a Shanghai VIP meet & assist service and are greeted at the airport by a driver who speaks English and takes you in your private car to exactly where you need to go.
   
• Whether you are in a group and in need of a minivan or if you are traveling alone for a trip and looking for something more like a Mercedes S-Class, you can find a private car service in the Shanghai area with a large fleet of carswhen you book your airport pickup in Shanghai. Book a car in Shanghai beforehand and forget about all the stress usually associated with an airport transfer.
   
• A customs fast-track service in Shanghai helps travelers get through the airport as quickly as possible and avoid the usual stress associated with immigration and customs in China. When travelers rent a car with a driver in Shanghai, they can also make the most of the benefits of a VIP fast-track service at Shanghai Airport. You will be greeted at the gate by a professional and English speaking concierge, who will assist you through immigration, customs and to your private car.
   
• When you rent a car in Shanghai, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of the taxi scams that happen to other visitors in Shanghai. Travelers can also talk freely with their English speaking driver so there are no communication issues if there are any changes to the travel schedule.

Disadvantages:

• A car with a driver in Shanghai is not the cheapest airport transfer option on this list, but it is the fastest and least stressful way to get from either Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport to your final destination. By choosing a car rental in Shanghai, you can save hours in your schedule and avoid significant amounts of stress.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Take advantage of online discount on your 1st service with our company and book your private car and driver now! Click the image below or contact our 24/7 team at  Bookings@ShanghaiCarService.com. Use this promo code: 10CARBLOG.

► Shanghai Pudong Airport Transfer & Hongqiao Airport Transfer

► Shanghai Car Rental With Driver Limo Service

► Shanghai To Suzhou/Hangzhou/Ningbo Inter-City Transfer Service

► Shanghai Airport VIP Meet & Assist Service

► Shanghai Private Tours

► Executive Security Services

► Shanghai Events, Functions and Roadshows 

► Professional Translators & English Speaking Guides