The cheapest way from Pudong Airport to Shanghai city center is Metro Line 2 at about 7 RMB, taking around 60 minutes to People's Square; here are all the maglev, metro.
Shanghai has two airports that feel like different cities. Pudong (PVG) is the big international gateway, far out to the east; Hongqiao (SHA) is mostly domestic and sits much closer in. The cheapest way into town from Pudong is Metro Line 2 at around 7 RMB; the fastest single stretch is the maglev at 431 km/h. And the single most useful 2026 update, if you ever have to connect between the two airports, is that the new Airport Link Line finally joins them by rail. Here is every option, with real prices and times, so you can pick before you land.
Pudong Airport to the city: what are my options?
PVG is roughly 40 to 50 minutes from central Shanghai by road. Your realistic choices:
| Pudong to the city | Time | Price (RMB) |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 (direct, cheapest) | ~60 min to People's Square | 7 to 8 |
| Maglev to Longyang Rd, then Metro | 8 min + transfer | 40 to 50 |
| Taxi or DiDi (door to door) | 40 to 50 min | 180 (230 at night) |
In US dollars, that is roughly USD 1, USD 6 to 7, and USD 25 (about USD 32 at night). Converted at about 7.2 RMB to the dollar, August 2026, so treat the dollars as a ballpark.
The Maglev (fast, but only to Longyang Road)
- Route: Pudong Airport to Longyang Road station only. It does not reach the Bund or People's Square. At Longyang Road you change to Metro Line 2 or 16. This trips up a lot of first-timers.
- Time and speed: about 8 minutes for the 30 km run, topping out near 431 km/h in peak hours.
- Price: 50 RMB one-way in economy, 80 RMB round-trip, or 40 RMB if you show a same-day boarding pass or air ticket (paper or on your phone). Combo tickets pairing the maglev with a metro day pass run about 55 RMB.
- Hours: roughly 06:45 to 21:40, departures every 15 to 20 minutes.
Metro Line 2 (cheapest)
- Route and time: straight into Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road, People's Square and on to Hongqiao. To People's Square is about 60 to 65 minutes.
- Fare: 7 to 8 RMB depending on distance.
- Watch for the transfer: some trains still terminate at Guanglan Road, where you cross the platform to continue. First train from PVG is around 06:00, last around 22:00.
Taxi or DiDi
- Fare: roughly 180 RMB to People's Square by day, closer to 230 RMB late at night (a night surcharge applies from 23:00 to 05:00). About 40 to 50 minutes.
- Use the official taxi rank (ground level, signposted). Anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride is an unlicensed "black cab" with a rigged meter. Real drivers wait at the rank.
- DiDi through its own app or inside Alipay/WeChat is often cheaper and skips the queue. See our getting around Shanghai guide.
Hongqiao Airport to the city
Hongqiao is the easy one, much closer to town and wired into the metro:
- Metro Line 2 from Terminal 2 reaches People's Square in about 20 to 25 minutes for 4 to 5 RMB.
- Metro Line 10 serves both terminals and runs to East Nanjing Road, Yuyuan Garden and the Bund area in around 20 minutes.
- Taxi to central Shanghai is roughly 75 to 100 RMB and 30 to 45 minutes.
- Note: Line 17 also stops at Hongqiao but heads west toward Qingpu and the Zhujiajiao water town, not downtown.
How do I get between Pudong and Hongqiao airports?
This used to be a slow, painful cross-city slog. Since late 2024 there is a proper answer:
- Airport Link Line (机场联络线): direct rail between Hongqiao T2 and Pudong T1 and T2 in about 40 minutes for 26 RMB (a 20-ride electronic pass drops it to about 18 RMB a trip). Trains run roughly 06:00 to 22:40 at about 15-minute intervals. This is the option to use.
- Metro Line 2 technically links both airports on one line, but it takes around 90 minutes and may include the Guanglan Road change. Cheapest, slowest.
- Taxi is about an hour in good traffic and 200 RMB or more.
If you are connecting between airports, give yourself a three-hour minimum door to door: the ride is only 40 minutes, but you exit and re-enter at both ends and still have security and check-in. Relying on Line 2 or a taxi in traffic, allow four hours.
What if I land after the metro closes?
The metro shuts earlier than most flights arrive. Last trains from Pudong on Line 2 are around 22:00 to 22:30, so if you land later, treat the metro as gone. Your options:
- Official taxi or DiDi at the rank, running 24 hours. Expect the night fare, around 230 to 240 RMB from Pudong to central Shanghai.
- Late-night airport bus from Pudong departs around 23:00, stopping at Longyang Road, Century Avenue, and the Hongqiao hub.
- Book your ride before you reach baggage claim, not after, so you walk straight to it.
How do I pay for the metro and taxis as an expat?
- Metro: open the Shanghai Metro service inside Alipay or WeChat (or the "Metro Metropolitan" app), and scan the QR code at the gate. No separate ticket needed. Our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide shows how to link a foreign card.
- Contactless cards: since mid-2025 the maglev and Metro Line 11 accept foreign Visa and Mastercard contactless directly at the gate, and other stations increasingly do too.
- Taxi: DiDi has an English mode; street and airport taxis take Alipay/WeChat QR or cash. One scam to know: if anyone says the app fare is "per person", it is not. DiDi is priced per car.
Arriving on a short trip? Our 240-hour visa-free transit guide covers whether you can skip the visa entirely.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai?
Metro Line 2, at 7 to 8 RMB, in about 60 minutes to People's Square.
Does the maglev go to downtown Shanghai or the Bund?
No. It only runs to Longyang Road, where you transfer to Metro Line 2 or 16. It is a fast shuttle, not a door-to-downtown line.
How long does it take to get between the two airports?
About 40 minutes on the Airport Link Line for 26 RMB. Leave a three-hour buffer for a connecting flight.
Can I take the metro if I land at 11pm?
Usually not. The last trains leave around 22:00 to 22:30. After that, take an official taxi or DiDi, or the late-night airport bus.
Do I need cash for Shanghai airport transport?
Not really. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly and you can scan for the metro, maglev and taxis. Keep a little cash as backup.
How do I get from PVG airport to Shanghai city center?
From Pudong Airport, you can take the maglev to Longyang Road (8 minutes, 50 RMB) then transfer to Metro Line 2, or take Metro Line 2 directly all the way to People's Square (about 60 minutes, 7-8 RMB). A taxi costs about 180 RMB by day and takes 40-50 minutes.
What is the cheapest way from PVG to the city center?
Metro Line 2 is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai, costing 7 to 8 RMB and taking about 60 minutes to People's Square.
Sort your route out on the plane, not at the arrivals hall. For Hongqiao, walk to the metro. For Pudong, decide between the 7 RMB Line 2, the 40 RMB maglev-plus-metro, or a taxi, and if you are connecting airports, the Airport Link Line is the one to remember.
