Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taxis:
Taxis are easy to hail on the street outside rush hour - Dazhong (tel: 96822) and
Jingjiang (tel: 96961) are reputable companies. Fares are cheap, straightforward and always
metered, and receipts are given if requested. Flagfall is RMB 14 (RMB 18 after 11pm). Tip-
ping is not expected. Keep the taxi receipt, which has each driver's licence number printed
on it, in case you leave something behind in the car.
Arriving by air
Shanghai has two airports (
www.shairport.com
): Pudong International Airport (30km/19 miles
east of the city - code PVG) is mainly for international flights; Hongqiao Airport (15km/9
miles west of the city - SHA) is for domestic flights and some Hong Kong, Taiwan and South
Korean routes. Getting from both airports to the city is straightforward. From Pudong, official
taxis into the city cost RMB 100-250, depending on your destination. The Maglev train (one
way RMB 50, or RMB 40 with same-day air ticket) links with Longyang Road metro station
(Line 2) in Pudong - from here, you can catch a metro or taxi to your onward destination. Ten
air-conditioned airport bus routes transport passengers around the city (route details are pos-
ted in the arrivals hall). From Hongqiao, the Hongqiao Transport Hub connects Terminal 2
with metro lines 2 and 10, Hongqiao railway station and the long-distance bus station. Ter-
minal 1 connects with metro line 10 only. Taxis are easily available and cost RMB 20-100 to
downtown, depending on the final destination.
Arriving by sea
Set to become a major cruise destination, Shanghai has built the Shanghai Port International
Cruise Terminal on the North Bund and another terminal on Potai Bay in Wusong Port to
handle the larger vessels that are unable to pass under the Yangpu Bridge. A third terminal is
located at the mouth of the Yangtze.
Arriving by train
Train services have improved dramatically in recent years, cutting travel time by hours to
nearby locations such as Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing. Shanghai to Beijing bullet trains
depart several times a day, with a journey time of less than five hours. Most high-speed
trains use Hongqiao railway station, a sparkling new hub in the city's west that integrates with
the domestic airport, metro, taxis and long-distance buses.
Tickets can be purchased at the railway stations or official ticketing counters throughout
the city up to 10 days ahead of the date of travel. You'll need to present your passport at the
time of purchase (your passport number will be printed on your ticket), as well as on the train.
Most hotels can obtain train tickets for guests. If you change plans, tickets can be exchanged
for a different time train up until a few minutes before the train departs by going to the correct
counter in the station.
