Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Australia
T
02/9283 9658;
W
www
.vietnamairlines.com.
Virgin Atlantic
UK
T
0870 380 2007, US
T
1-800-821-5438; Australia
T
1300 727 340,
South Africa
T
011/340 3400;
W
www
.virgin-atlantic.com.
developing world, especially the promotion of
sustainable tourism.
On the Go Tours
UK
T
020/7371 1113,
W
www
.onthegotours.com. Runs group and tailor-made tours
that include Shanghai as part of a jaunt around China.
STA Travel
UK
T
0871 2300 040, US
T
1-800-
781-4040, Australia
T
134 STA, New Zealand
T
0800 474 400, South Africa
T
0861/781 781;
W
www.statravel.com. Worldwide specialists in
independent travel; also student IDs, travel insurance,
car rental, rail passes, and more. Good discounts for
students and under-26s.
Trailfinders
UK
T
0845 058 5858, Republic of
Ireland
T
01/677 7888, Australia
T
1300 780 212;
W
www.trailfinders.com. One of the best-informed
and most efficient agents for independent travellers.
Travel China Guide
US and Canada
T
1-800-
892-6988, all other countries
T
+800 6668 8666;
W
www.travelchinaguide.com. A Chinese company
with a wide range of three- and four-day group tours
of Shanghai and around.
Agents and operators
China Highlights
China
T
+86/773 2831999,
W
www.chinahighlights.com. China-based company
that offers a set of three- and four-day tours of
Shanghai and the surrounding area.
China Odyssey
China
T
+86/773 5854000,
W
www.chinaodysseytours.com. Operates short
city tours, or longer trips that take in other
destinations in China.
North South Travel
UK
T
01245/608291,
W
www.northsouthtravel.co.uk. Friendly, competitive
travel agency, offering discounted fares worldwide.
Profits are used to support projects in the
Arrival
Whatever your arrival point in Shanghai, you are almost guaranteed a further long
journey into the centre. Fortunately, there are good bus and metro connections to
speed you to your final destination, and very few shady cabbies, though you
should always catch a licensed cab from a taxi rank.
By air
Arriving by air from abroad, you'll touch
down at glossy, new Pudong International
Airport (PVG), 40km east of the city along
the mouth of the Yangzi River. There is an
ATM machine just after customs, before
baggage reclamation, and it's a good idea to
get money out here as the banks downstairs
in the arrivals hall charge a hefty ¥50
commission on currency exchanges. You'll
be pestered in the arrivals hall by charlatan
taxi drivers; ignore them and instead make
for the official taxi rank, on your right as you
go out, opposite exit 15. A cab into the
centre should cost around ¥140 and take
just under an hour.
The most convenient public transport into
town is the airport bus, which leaves from
opposite the exit gates. There are eight
routes, with departures every fifteen minutes
from 6am to 7.30pm, and a reduced service
afterwards; tickets cost around ¥20.
Remember to use the toilet in the arrivals
hall before you board as the journey into
town takes around an hour and a half. Bus
#2 is generally the most useful as it goes to
the Jing'an Temple metro stop in the city
centre. Bus #1 goes to Hongqiao Airport
(see opposite); bus #3 runs to Xujiahui; bus
#4 heads to Hongkou Stadium, in the north;
bus #5 makes for Shanghai Railway Station;
bus #6 goes to Zhongshan Park; and bus
#7 to Shanghai South Railway Station. The
only one with a drop off in Pudong is bus
#5 (at Dongfang Hospital).
If you're heading straight out of the city,
make for exit 18, opposite which long-
distance coaches depart hourly for Suzhou,
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