SHANGHAI · ARRIVE WELL
Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao? How to Choose the Right Airport for Your Trip
Two airports, a faster rail connection—and a few names worth checking before you travel.
The trisAino Editorial Team · Facts checked
Shanghai's two main passenger airports are Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). Check the airport code and terminal on each flight, not just the city name. The Airport Link Line now makes travel between them much more straightforward: the ride between Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station and Pudong Airport T1 & T2 station takes about 40 minutes. That is train time, not a complete flight-to-flight connection. Shanghai airport transport information
This is good news if your itinerary uses both airports. It is not a reason to stop checking which one your flight uses.
PVG and SHA: start with the code
| Code | Airport | Chinese name |
|---|---|---|
| PVG | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | 上海浦东国际机场 |
| SHA | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | 上海虹桥国际机场 |
Do not use “Pudong for international, Hongqiao for domestic” as a booking rule. Shanghai's official 2026 flight-schedule update identifies international and regional services at both airports. Your own flight details—not that shorthand—tell you where to go. Shanghai's 2026 flight-schedule update
Check the outbound flight independently of the inbound one. It is possible for one trip to involve both airport names.
The Airport Link Line makes crossing Shanghai easier
The Airport Link Line, also called 机场联络线 / 市域机场线, opened on December 27, 2024. It is a newer option that older travel articles may miss—not a line that opened this week. The launch announcement identifies its airport stops as Hongqiao Terminal 2 and Pudong Terminals 1 & 2. Official opening announcement
Shanghai's official riding guide lists the end-to-end fare as RMB 26, with trains approximately every 15 minutes. Look for Airport Link Line or suburban railway signage; this is not the same service as Metro Line 2 or the Maglev. How to take the Airport Link Line
The airport operator's current published departure windows are:
| Departing station | First departure | Last departure |
|---|---|---|
| Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 | 05:45 | 22:00 |
| Pudong Airport T1 & T2 | 06:00 | 22:15 |
These are local times, checked September 24, 2026. Confirm the latest timetable before travel; the service does not operate all night. Shanghai Airport Authority timetable
The useful takeaway: transferring between Shanghai's airports is now easier to plan around a direct rail journey. You still need to get from your arrival area to the station, wait for a train and reach the correct departure terminal afterward.
Hongqiao Airport
Terminal 2 station
Airport Link Line
Both directions
Pudong Airport
T1 & T2 station
Train journey only. Add time for walking, waiting and airport procedures.
Flying from Hongqiao T1?Allow an onward terminal connection. The line stops at T2.
Catching a high-speed train?Follow signs to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station—not an airport departure gate.
What if your flight uses Hongqiao Terminal 1?
The Airport Link Line airport stop is Hongqiao Terminal 2, not Terminal 1. Do not treat arrival at that station as arrival at a T1 check-in counter.
Shanghai's official transport page confirms that Metro Line 10 serves Hongqiao T1 and T2. If your flight uses T1, check the onward terminal connection and allow additional time for transfers and walking. Hongqiao terminal transport
This is particularly important when arranging a pickup: “Hongqiao” on its own is incomplete. Send the airport code, terminal and flight number.
Hongqiao Airport is not Hongqiao Railway Station
Hongqiao Railway Station and Hongqiao Airport T2 are part of the same integrated transport hub, but they are different destinations. The city's official description identifies the railway station's connection with T2 and the wider ground-transport network. Shanghai Basic Facts: transport hub description
If you are catching a high-speed train, navigate to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station / 上海虹桥站, then follow railway departure instructions. If you are catching a flight, navigate to the correct airport terminal.
Our practical advice is to allow for the walk, station or airport checks, and your departure deadline rather than treating “same hub” as “same gate.” The Airport Link Line's Hongqiao T2 stop is not the boarding platform for your intercity train.
See also how to avoid going to the wrong train station in China.
Which airport should you choose for a Shanghai stay?
Compare the complete journey against your hotel address and flight time. If you plan to leave Shanghai by high-speed train, include the railway station on that comparison. If you arrive late, check which transport services will still be running after you finish arrival formalities.
Do not automatically take the Airport Link Line just because it is fast. Its airport-to-airport journey is useful for an airport transfer; the best route to your hotel may be different. The official transport information also lists Metro Line 2 for Pudong and Lines 2 and 10 for Hongqiao T2. Shanghai airport transport options
Our recommendation: compare flight price, arrival time, complete ground journey and luggage together. A cheaper ticket is not necessarily a cheaper or easier arrival.
Is a 40-minute train ride enough for a tight flight connection?
No: the train duration alone cannot answer that question. Your connection may also require disembarkation, entry procedures, baggage collection, walking, waiting, a terminal change, new check-in and security.
Before booking a cross-airport connection, ask your airline or ticket seller to explain the airport change, baggage handling, check-in deadline and disruption protection. Confirm any required permission to enter China for the landside transfer. Separately booked flights need particular care; do not assume the next airline will accommodate a missed departure.
The rail link makes the surface journey more convenient. It does not turn two separate airports into one airside transfer area.
Information checked September 24, 2026. Fares, service hours and terminal assignments can change. Confirm the current operator timetable and airline instructions before travel.