For most international arrivals, PVG is the airport you will use. Choose SHA when your flight is available there and you value proximity to Hongqiao Railway Station or west-side Shanghai. If the ticket price is similar, compare the airport-to-hotel journey rather than airport code alone.
Choose by your itinerary
Pudong is Shanghai’s main international gateway and has international-arrival support in both T1 and T2.
Hongqiao sits beside Hongqiao Railway Station and is usually the cleaner option for a rail-heavy itinerary.
PVG is farther east; SHA is geographically closer, but flight schedule and arrival time still matter.
Pudong’s official late-night bus operates after the final rail services, but live operations must be checked.
Shanghai’s Airport Link Line connects the two airports and links with Metro Lines 9 and 15.
What each airport is best at
Pudong · PVG
PVG is the usual entry point for long-haul international visitors. It has metro, maglev, Airport Link Line, buses, taxis and DiDi. International service centers at both terminals can help with payment, communications and transport after arrival.
Open the PVG arrival guide →Hongqiao · SHA
SHA is closely integrated with Hongqiao Railway Station, so it is especially useful when Shanghai is only the arrival point before a high-speed rail journey. Its city position can also be easier for western Shanghai hotels.
Open the Shanghai city guide →If you need to switch airports
Airport Link Line
Shanghai’s Airport Link Line connects PVG T1&2 with Hongqiao. Official city guidance describes an airport-to-airport journey of about 40 minutes, but that is the rail ride—not the entire connection.
Build a real connection buffer
Add immigration, baggage, station access, the Hongqiao terminal walk and security. If rail no longer fits or the margin is tight, a road transfer is usually safer than treating this as a casual city journey.
International visitor basics
Shanghai has added international-service centers at PVG T1 and T2 and SHA T1. Metro service centers at airport stations can sell tickets using major foreign cards, including access to the maglev at Pudong. Keep a payment fallback and working data before joining a transport queue.
Late arrivals and airport changes
For a late PVG arrival, the airport’s official transport page lists a late-night bus after the usual rail window; its exact departure timing is subject to traffic and operations. For an airport-to-airport transfer, allow a generous margin—the Airport Link Line is useful, but a checked bag, immigration delay or late flight can change the best answer.
Sources and review status
Last editorial review: 10 July 2026. Shanghai’s official sources confirm Airport Link Line connectivity, airport transport options and foreign-card support at airport metro service centers. Check live details before travel with the Shanghai Airport Link guidance, foreign-card guidance, and your airline.