Choose your transport by arrival time
Best for visitors arriving before the final service, with manageable luggage and a hotel near a useful station.
Best after public transport closes, in rain, with jet lag, or when the metro requires awkward changes.
Worth considering for a very late first arrival, large groups or travellers who want a fixed pickup plan.
PVG to the city: the practical comparison
Metro Line 2
- Time
- Allow about 60–75 min to central Shanghai
- Cost
- Distance fare; usually the lowest-cost option
- Best for
- Budget travellers with manageable luggage, before the final service
Maglev + Metro
- Time
- Maglev: 8 min to Longyang Road, then transfer
- Cost
- ¥50 one way for the Maglev, plus metro
- Best for
- Visitors who want the experience and are happy to make a transfer
Taxi / DiDi
- Time
- Traffic-dependent, usually the most direct hotel route
- Cost
- Metered or app-based; confirm in-app before booking
- Best for
- Late arrivals, heavy luggage, rain or awkward hotel locations
Late-night airport bus
- Time
- Runs after the main rail window; allow for traffic
- Cost
- ¥18–34 listed by the airport
- Best for
- Late arrivals when a road trip is needed but a taxi is not essential
Transport figures were reviewed on 10 July 2026. Check the official airport transport page for live service changes before travelling.
PVG: the transfer detail visitors miss
The maglev is fast but does not take you to the Bund, People’s Square or most hotels. It ends at Longyang Road, where you still need a Metro Line 2 connection or a road ride. Choose it for the experience or when Longyang Road is useful to your hotel; do not choose it solely because the eight-minute headline sounds faster.
For a late arrival, use the terminal-specific late-night bus information first. The official listing gives different starting times for T1 and T2, and buses can adjust to passenger flow. If your hotel is not near a listed stop, a taxi, DiDi or pre-arranged transfer is usually the more reliable final step.
Official arrival updates for PVG
Late-night bus
The airport’s official transport page lists a late-night bus from PVG Terminal 1 (23:00–05:30) and Terminal 2 (23:03–05:33). Listed fares are ¥18–34, with departures adjusted to passenger flow. Confirm on the day: traffic and operations can change the actual departure.
Check PVG transport updates →Foreign-card ticket help
Shanghai Metro service centers at Pudong Airport can sell metro and maglev tickets using major foreign cards. This helps before Alipay or a local transport card is set up.
Read card-payment guidance →International arrival support
PVG’s international-arrival service centers offer help with payment, mobile communication, tourism and transport. Current city guidance lists centers in both T1 and T2.
See Shanghai’s service-center guide →Sources and review status
Last editorial review: 10 July 2026. Airport transport schedules, fares, pickup zones and terminal arrangements can change. Confirm live information with the airport operator and the relevant transport operator before travel.
Affiliate disclosure — some links on CathayGuide may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. They do not change the transport advice above.