Shanghai Transportation

By Air

Shanghai is the only city in China to have two international airports-Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport, which operate direct flights to and from major cities in more than 20 countries and regions. More than 40 Chinese and foreign air companies have airlines to Shanghai, and some of them have established offices there.

Hongqiao International Airport is about 10km west of Shanghai. It still handles most of the domestic and international flights to Asia and Southeast Asia. The airline shuttle bus (6:30am-7: 30pm, RMB20) runs between the airport and Shanghai Exhibition Hall in central Shanghai. It costs RMB50-80 to take a taxi.

The Pudong International Airport is located 30km from downtown Shanghai. It's three times bigger than the Hongqiao International Airport. The passenger capacity amounts to 70,000,000 persons and the cargo 5,000,000 tons per year. The airline shuttle bus (6:30am-7: 30pm every 20-30min RMB30) runs between central Shanghai and Hongqiao International Airport. It costs RMB100-150 to take the taxi.

By Train

The main train station is located on Moling Road, north of Suzhou Creek. There are around 100 special railway lines in Shanghai. All major cities in China can be reached by train from Shanghai. Trains link Hong Kong and Macau to the south, Russia and Europe to the north, connecting overseas to the east and reaching Mid-Asia to the west.

By Subway

The Shanghai Metro offers clean, speedy trains, with three lines serving a limited part of the city. All stations have manned ticket booths. Announcements and most signs are in both Chinese and English. It's also possible to purchase ride cards from automatic ticket vending machines at every station. Line #1 runs south from the main train station, underneath People's Square and along Huaihai Zhong Rd., before terminating in Xinzhuang (open 5am-11pm). Line #2 runs from Hongqiao Airport to Pudong Airport (open 7am-8pm). The Pearl Line, or elevated line, partially circles central Shanghai and serves important stops such as the Shanghai train station, the stadium, and the west train station. Fares on all three lines range from RMB2-5; route maps at ticket vending machines show fares to specific stops. While it's possible to transfer from Line #1 to #2 with the same fare card, a new ticket is required for the Pearl Line.

By Taxi

Taxis in Shanghai are plentiful, metered, and easy to hail. Fares vary depending on the size of the vehicle. Generally most taxis charge a base fee of RMB10 during the day and RMB13 from 10pm-5am, with RMB2 (RMB3 from 10pm-5am) for each additional kilometer.

By Boat

Shanghai Port is the largest one in Mainland China, covering an area of 3,600 square kilometers. Since the 1980s, Shanghai has become a world-class port with a handling capacity of 100 million tons. Due to new construction Shanghai Port will turn into an inter-continental hub for container transportation. Shanghai has already established shipping business links with more than 1,100 ports in more than 200 countries and regions in the world. In terms of oceangoing lines, you can reach various destinations including Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, Israel, Mediterranean, Northwest Europe, South Africa, South America and East and West Coasts of U.S.A. In terms of coastal lines, you can reach the major harbors along the Chinese coast from north to south; in terms of the Yangtze River lines, you can directly reach the ports along the mid and lower reaches of Yangtze River; in terms of the inland water transportation, you can reach all the ports and harbors of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces via the waterway network in the south of Yangtze River Basin.

By Bicycle

Most hotels have bicycles for rent. It costs RMB15-30 per day. Deposit RMB200-400 or passport.