Arriving in Shanghai: airports, rail stations, payments and planning your days

Updated 2026-10-24

Shanghai has two airports and several large rail stations, and they sit far apart. The first decisions — which terminal, which station, which hotel district, how you will pay for a metro ticket or a taxi — shape the first day more than any sight on the list. This page is an overview for first-time arrivals. Detailed pickup briefs live on separate pages linked below. China On Call matches private car · tour guide · interpreter services through WhatsApp; it does not sell flights, rail tickets or hotel rooms, and no prices appear on this page.

Two airports: Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)

Pudong International (PVG) is east of the city, past the Lujiazui riverside. Most long-haul international flights land here. It has more than one terminal, so read the terminal on your boarding pass before you plan the onward leg.

Ways into the city from PVG:

Metro Line 2 runs from the airport toward central Shanghai and on to Hongqiao. It is the lowest-effort rail option if your bags are light, but it is a long ride with stops.
Maglev links PVG with Longyang Road station in Pudong, where you change to the metro or a taxi. It is fast for that segment, but it does not reach the city centre on its own. Operating hours are limited; check the current timetable before you count on it for a late landing.
Taxi ranks are signposted outside arrivals. Use the official queue rather than offers inside the hall. Have your hotel name and address in Chinese ready to show.
Pre-booked private car: a driver meets you with your flight number and drives to your hotel area. Briefing method: Shanghai airport-to-hotel transfer.

Hongqiao (SHA) is west of the centre and handles mostly domestic and some regional flights. It sits inside the Hongqiao transport hub, next to Shanghai Hongqiao railway station.

Metro Lines 2 and 10 serve the Hongqiao terminals and run toward the centre.
Taxi ranks are signposted at each terminal.
Pre-booked private car: see Shanghai airport-to-hotel transfer, which covers both PVG and SHA.

PVG and SHA are not interchangeable. A driver waiting at one is not at the other. Write the airport code you actually land at in any pickup request. General field list for any China airport meet: airport private-car pickup.

Rail stations: Hongqiao, Shanghai Station and Shanghai South

Arriving by high-speed rail from Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing or elsewhere, your ticket names the station. Check it — the three main stations are in different parts of the city.

Shanghai Hongqiao railway station handles most high-speed trains. It shares the hub with SHA airport. Metro Lines 2, 10 and 17 connect here. The hub is large; allow walking time between platforms, metro and taxi ranks.
Shanghai Railway Station is north of the centre and connected to Metro Lines 1, 3 and 4. Some high-speed and conventional trains use it.
Shanghai South railway station is in the south-west, connected to Metro Lines 1, 3 and 15, and handles mainly conventional services.

At any of them you can take the metro, queue for a taxi, or book a driver to meet you. A rail meet needs the train number and station name, not flight details: train-station private-car pickup.

How many days to plan

These are planning shapes, not fixed itineraries. Adjust for arrival time, jet lag and who is travelling.

2 days. Day one: arrive, check in, then an evening on the Bund riverside and a short walk nearby. Day two: Yu Garden and the old town in the morning, the Former French Concession in the afternoon. Keep the two areas as separate blocks rather than one long walk. City overview: Shanghai guides. Guide request: /en/tour-guide/?city=shanghai.

3 days. The two-day shape plus one day for museums, Lujiazui viewpoints, or a slower neighbourhood day. A third day also gives room for a delayed flight or a business meeting without dropping the core sights.

4–5 days. Add one or two day trips by rail or private car: Suzhou gardens, a water town, Hangzhou's West Lake, or Nanjing. Each usually needs its own full day. Shanghai Disneyland is also a full day with its own transfer. Related: Shanghai to Hangzhou day, Hangzhou guides, multi-city private car brief.

Payments and apps: what to set up before you land

Most daily payments in Shanghai go through mobile wallets. Card terminals exist in hotels and larger shops, but many small restaurants, taxis and kiosks expect a QR code.

Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both accept many foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards. Install the app, verify your phone number, and add your card before departure, while you can still receive bank verification messages easily. Make a small test payment once you arrive. Some cards are declined; carry a second card from a different bank. More: WeChat Pay and Alipay for foreigners.

Cash. Keep some Chinese yuan as a backup for places where a wallet fails. Airport and bank ATMs accept many foreign cards; try more than one machine if the first declines.

Metro tickets. Ticket machines at stations sell single journeys. Wallet apps can also generate metro QR codes once set up.

Maps and ride-hailing. International map apps can be thin in China. Many visitors install a local map app with English search, and use DiDi (in English) or the ride-hailing mini-programme inside Alipay. Save your hotel address in Chinese characters for drivers. Comparison: private car vs taxi and DiDi.

Network and eSIM. Decide before you fly: an international roaming plan, a travel eSIM bought in advance, or a local SIM bought after arrival with your passport. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Some foreign services are restricted on mainland networks; test the apps you rely on for work and messaging on your chosen plan.

When a private car · tour guide · interpreter helps

These are three different roles. A driver drives; the driver is not a guide and does not interpret for you. A tour guide walks with you, handles pacing and context at sights. An interpreter works in meetings, factories and fair halls. Role split: how to choose between a tour guide and an interpreter.

Private car makes sense when:

you land late, travel with children, older relatives or a lot of luggage;
the onward leg is PVG to a hotel on the far side of the city;
you plan a day trip to Suzhou, a water town or Hangzhou;
you have several meetings in different districts on the same day.

Start: /en/private-car/?city=shanghai.

Tour guide makes sense when it is your first visit, time is short, or you want English context at the Bund, Yu Garden or the French Concession. Start: /en/tour-guide/?city=shanghai.

Interpreter makes sense for:

Business visits: supplier meetings, factory audits, negotiations in Shanghai or nearby cities. Share the agenda, technical terms and attendee roles in advance.
Trade fairs: many large exhibitions, including the China International Import Expo (CIIE), take place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), near the Hongqiao hub. Fair days are long and halls are large. Send the hall and booth numbers, opening hours and the languages you need. Traffic and hotels around the venue get busy during major fairs, so plan early.

Method: business interpreter day in China. Start: /en/interpreter/?city=shanghai.

You can also combine them — for example a driver for the airport and fair days, and an interpreter at the booth.

Sample WhatsApp message

Hello China On Call — first trip to Shanghai.
Arrival: flight [number], PVG Terminal [x], landing [date, local time].
Hotel area: [district, e.g. Jing'an].
Party: [adults / children], [number] large bags.
Days: [dates]. Plan: 2 sightseeing days, 1 day at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Need: private car for arrival and fair day · English–Chinese interpreter at the fair · tour guide for one half-day.
Language: English.

Tips on writing a brief: brief a guide on WhatsApp.

Questions

Which airport should I fly into?

Long-haul international flights mostly use PVG. SHA suits domestic and some regional flights, and is next to Hongqiao railway station if you continue by train. Check the airport code on your ticket.

Is the Maglev the fastest way to the city centre?

It is fast between PVG and Longyang Road, but you still need the metro or a taxi from there. Check its current operating hours, especially for late arrivals.

Can I pay with my foreign card in Shanghai?

Larger hotels and shops often accept cards. For everyday purchases, link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you travel and carry some cash as backup.

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

Not always. Roaming or a travel eSIM covers most needs. Some apps and services work more smoothly with a local number; decide based on how long you stay.

Is a driver the same as a guide?

No. A driver handles transport only. If you want commentary at sights or help at a fair, name the tour guide · interpreter you need in the same message.

Can I get an interpreter for CIIE or another fair?

Yes, ask on WhatsApp with the fair name, dates, hall and booth, and working languages. Earlier requests give more options during major fair weeks.

Can China On Call arrange services outside Shanghai?

Yes. Name the city on WhatsApp — day trips from Shanghai and other cities in China can be briefed in the same thread.

CTA

More on the city: Shanghai guides. Ready to plan? Send your dates, arrival details and hotel area on WhatsApp, and say which you need: private car · tour guide · interpreter.

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