Getting to Shanghai

Visitors to Shanghai are most likely to arrive by air. The international airport has good connections with many cities around the world. It is also possible to arrive by train, road or boat.

By rail

Many parts of China can be reached by direct train from Shanghai. If you are travelling to or from Beijing, there is a convenient overnight express that leaves at 18:00 and arrives the following morning. The express train for Hong Kong departs at noon and takes approximately 24 hours.

The main train station is to the north of Suzhou Creek and can be reached by taking the new underground metro. It is not a particularly safe area, so take care. There is another station in the northwest of Shanghai that has a few long-distance routes, such as the train for Inner Mongolia. A new station is also due to open in the southwest of the city.

By bus

In the past, few visitors have used the bus service for long distance travel due to there being too many small bus stations scattered around the city, making it confusing for tourists. An excellent new terminal has recently opened next to the main railway station, which should make things much easier. It's the largest long-distance bus station in Asia and has the capacity to handle 20,000 passengers every day. There are also plans to open more than 200 bus ticket kiosks around the city.

By air

Shanghai has one main airport that handles all international flights and a separate airport that serves domestic routes. Both airports have buses and taxis for the transfer to the city centre, and car hire is also available. The terminal buildings have the normal range of facilities including ATMs, bureaux de change and information desks.

By ferry

Travelling by boat is a pleasant and relatively cheap option. There are a number of domestic and international routes and they are generally fast and well run. Ships and ferries to Korea and Japan depart from the International Passenger Quay, about five minutes walk east from the Pujiang Hotel. Most domestic boats leave from the Shiliupu Passenger Terminal. Destinations include towns located on the Yangzi River and a number of coastal cities such as Nantong, Dalian and Ningbo. 

Shanghai Airport

The majority of international flights arrive at the new and ultramodern Pudong International Airport, 20 miles east of the city. Domestic flights are usually handled by the smaller and older Hongqiao Airport, 11 miles to the west of the city centre. It also handles some arrivals from other Asian countries. Allow plenty of time if you need to travel between the two airports, as it can take up to 90 minutes by taxi and considerably longer by bus.

Shanghai airport transportation

The pride of Shanghai is the world's first maglev train (magnetic levitation) that runs from the international airport to the city. The driverless train speeds along at up to 270mph, covering the 19 miles to Longyang Lu metro station in just eight minutes. Unfortunately, it's then a train ride or a 20-minute taxi to the downtown area.

Shuttle buses make the 90-minute journey between the airport and a number of hotels and major sites in the city centre. There are lots of taxis available from outside both the international and domestic terminals of both airports. Ignore the touts at the terminals, as their cars don't have meters and they will charge you a much higher price.