Pudong International Airport is about 30 km east of the city centre and opened on 16 September 1999. Hongqiao International Airport is 13 km west of downtown. The Shanghai maglev runs 29.86 km from Pudong airport to Longyang Road station, at an operating speed of 300 km/h since May 2021.
How far are the two airports?
Wikipedia puts Pudong about 30 km (19 mi) east of the city centre, and says it opened on 16 September 1999. It puts Hongqiao 13 km (8.1 mi) west of downtown.
| Airport | Direction | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pudong (PVG) | East of the centre | About 30 km | Wikipedia |
| Hongqiao (SHA) | West of downtown | 13 km | Wikipedia |
How does the maglev work from Pudong?
The Shanghai maglev connects Longyang Road station to Pudong International Airport. Wikipedia gives the line length as 29.86 km, with two stations. Revenue service began on 10 October 2003.
Until May 2021 the train ran at 431 km/h and took 7 minutes 20 seconds. Since May 2021 the operating speed is 300 km/h and the trip takes 8 minutes 10 seconds. Longyang Road is not in the centre, so most passengers change to the metro there.
What about the metro and the railway station?
Wikipedia says the Shanghai Metro has 19 lines. It gives the station count as 506 in the lead and 508 in the infobox, so we do not quote a single figure.
Hongqiao railway station opened on 1 July 2010 together with the Shanghai–Nanjing intercity line. It is the station for high-speed trains to Hangzhou and Suzhou side trips.
Why a private transfer?
With a private transfer your driver meets you at arrivals and takes you to the hotel door. You skip the change from the maglev to the metro, which matters with luggage. We confirm the drive time for your arrival hour, because traffic changes it.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Pudong airport from central Shanghai?
About 30 km to the east of the city centre, according to Wikipedia.
How far is Hongqiao airport from downtown Shanghai?
13 km to the west, according to Wikipedia.
How long does the Shanghai maglev take?
8 minutes 10 seconds since May 2021, when the operating speed became 300 km/h. Before that it took 7 minutes 20 seconds at 431 km/h.
Where does the maglev go?
From Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road station, a line of 29.86 km with two stations.
How many metro lines does Shanghai have?
Wikipedia lists 19 lines.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 against these sources, from official pages where they exist and from the Wikipedia articles named in the list. Hours, prices and access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
