Dynamic Tourism, China, Business

On more than one occasion I’ve been asked: “How do I get from the airport into downtown Shanghai?” While a simple Google search reveals ample suggestions, I will list the options for traveling from the airport to Shanghai and point to my preferred method (taxi).

From Pudong International Airport

1) The Best Way — Take a taxi. Go straight out of the airport, find the taxi queue, stand in it, then show the manager where you want to go. Have your hotel or destination address written in Chinese and English! It’ll cost about CNY160 ($24); make sure the driver turns on the meter.

2) The Most Expensive Way — Arrange ahead of time to have a car & driver (or minivan/bus if there are a lot of you with luggage) pick you up at the airport. Roughly $100 for a car. Similarly, organizing a private guided tour usually means the tour guide, car, and driver will pick you up at the airport.

3) The Cheapest Way — Take one of the airport buses. They range from CNY18-20 ($3) per person, depending on where you’re going. After you get off the bus, unless you’re familiar with the city or very adept at reading Chinese maps, you’ll need to hail a cab and let the driver take you to your final destination. Again, you’ll need the address in Chinese.
#1 - Between Pudong Int’l & Hongqiao Domestic Airports
#2 - Jing’an Temple
#3 - Xujiahui, last: Galaxy Hotel (Gubei/Hongqiao) (and others)
#4 - Hongkou Football Stadium (and others)
#5 - Pudong, Middle Yan’an Road, Shanghai (main) Railway Station
#6 - Many stops including Shimen Rd, Huashan Rd, ending at Zhongshan Park
#7 - Shanghai South Railway Station
Most buses run until 9pm.

4) The Most Exciting Way — Unless you consider the terror of riding a cab into downtown Shanghai during rush hour a thrill, the most exciting way to travel from the airport is to take the Maglev. This highspeed train (270mph) costs CNY50-100 ($7.50-15) per person and takes you to Longyang Subway station. From there you will need to grab a cab or transfer to Subway Line 2 and get off at the stop nearest your hotel. When you get off the subway at either Longyang (Pudong) or elsewhere, you’ll need to take a taxi to your hotel. Make sure you have the address in Chinese!

From Hongqiao Domestic (and in some cases international) Airport

1) The Best Way — Take a taxi. Supposedly the taxi queue at Hongqiao airport has been cut drastically: a waiting time of up to 3 hours has now been reduced to 10minutes (20 during rush hour). Depending on where in the city you’re going, the taxi should be less than CNY50 ($7.30). Have your destination written in Chinese.

2) The Most Expensive Way — If you’re in a hurry and can’t wait in the taxi queue, no matter how long it is, call ahead to have a car and driver pick you up. It’ll cost you about $70.

3) The Cheapest Way — Take the public bus. CNY4-30 depending on which bus you take. After you get off the bus, unless you’re familiar with the city or very adept at reading Chinese maps, you’ll need to hail a cab and let the driver take you to your final destination. Again, you’ll need the address in Chinese.
#1 - Pudong Airport
#2 - North Shaanxi Road
#806 - Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xujiahui, and more
#807 - Jinshajiang Rd, Meichuan Rd (and others)
#925 - W. Zhongshan Rd, Jiangsu Rd, N. Shaanxi Rd, N. Chongqing Rd, People’s Square
#938 - Xujiahui area, ending in Pudong
#941 - Hongxu Rd (Gubei), Zhongshan Park, Shanghai Railway Station

Bottom line is, regardless of which airport you come into or which method you plan to take, make sure you have your destination written in Chinese characters; you never know what might happen. Taxis are readily affordable, but drivers can’t read or speak English, so make sure you can show them something in Chinese. If it’s a small hotel or a hard to find place, have the phone number as well so the driver can call if he’s lost.