Hongqiao Airport to Downtown: Complete Transport Guide
Getting from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the city. Metro, high-speed rail connections, and taxi options.
Hongqiao vs. Pudong
Shanghai has two international airports:
| Feature | Hongqiao (SHA) | Pudong (PVG) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | West, 13km from center | East, 50km from center |
| To Downtown | 30 min | 60-90 min |
| International Flights | Mostly Asia | Most international |
| HSR Connection | ✅ Direct | ❌ |
💡 Hongqiao is much closer! Some flights from Asia arrive here.
Transport Options
| Transport | Time | Fare | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | 30-40 min | ¥4-6 | Most recommended! |
| Metro Line 10 | 25-35 min | ¥4-5 | Yu Garden/Nanjing East |
| Taxi/DiDi | 20-40 min | ¥100-150 | Heavy luggage |
| High-Speed Rail | — | — | Other cities |
Terminal Info
| Terminal | Metro | HSR |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Line 10 | ❌ (walk or shuttle) |
| T2 | Lines 2, 10 | ✅ Direct (5 min walk) |
⚠️ T1 → HSR: Take Line 10 to T2, then walk to railway station
Metro Line 2 - Top Choice!
Direct connection to city center.
Basic Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Boarding | T2 B1 floor |
| First Train | 05:30 |
| Last Train | 22:30-23:00 |
| Fri/Sat Extension | ~00:00-01:00 |
| Frequency | 8-10 min |
To Key Destinations
| Destination | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| People’s Square | 35 min | ¥5 |
| Nanjing West Road | 25 min | ¥4 |
| Lujiazui | 45 min | ¥6 |
| Pudong Airport | 90 min | ¥9 |
Foreign Card Tap ✅
Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB—just tap at turnstile!
How to Ride
- From T2 arrivals, follow 地铁 Metro signs
- Go to B1 floor
- Pass security
- Tap card or scan QR
- Board train toward People’s Square
- Exit at destination
Metro Line 10 - For Yu Garden/Bund Area
Convenient for Yu Garden (豫园) or Nanjing East Road.
Basic Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| T1 Boarding | ✅ Yes |
| T2 Boarding | ✅ Yes |
| Frequency | 6-10 min |
To Key Destinations
| Destination | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Yu Garden (豫园) | 30 min | ¥5 |
| Nanjing East Road | 30 min | ¥4 |
| Xintiandi | 25 min | ¥4 |
Airport Link (Airport Express)
Direct intercity rail connecting Hongqiao ↔ Pudong airports.
Basic Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Route | Hongqiao T2 ↔ Pudong Airport |
| Time | 40 minutes |
| Fare | ¥26 |
| First Train | 06:00 |
| Last Train | 22:39 |
| Frequency | Every 15 min |
💡 Much faster than Line 2 (90 min) for Pudong transfers!
Taxi / DiDi
Estimated Fares
| Destination | Day | Night | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Square | ¥100-120 | ¥150+ | 30 min |
| The Bund | ¥120-150 | ¥180+ | 35 min |
| Jing’an | ¥80-100 | ¥120+ | 25 min |
⚠️ Rush hour (07:30-09:30, 17:30-19:30) can double travel time!
Base Fares
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Base fare | ¥16 |
| Per km | ¥3 |
| Waiting | ¥60/hour |
| Late night | 23:00-05:00 surcharge |
Safety Tips
- Use official taxi stand (ignore touts!)
- Confirm meter is running
- Show destination in Chinese
- Track route on maps app
High-Speed Rail (HSR) Connection
Hongqiao Airport T2 is directly connected to Hongqiao Railway Station (虹桥站)—perfect for onward travel.
T2 → Railway Station
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Distance | 5 min walk |
| Method | Follow signs |
| Buffer time | Allow 30-45 min |
Popular HSR Routes
| Destination | Time | Fare (2nd Class) |
|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou | 45 min - 1 hr | ~¥73 |
| Suzhou | 25 min | ~¥40 |
| Nanjing | 1 hr 20 min | ~¥135 |
| Beijing | 4 hr 30 min | ~¥550 |
Buying HSR Tickets
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
| Trip.com | English support, foreigner-friendly |
| 12306 App | Official, Chinese interface |
| Station counter | Bring passport, may have lines |
💡 Book ahead! Tickets sell out during holidays.
From T1 to Railway Station
T1 isn’t directly connected to HSR:
Option 1: Line 10 to T2 → 5 min walk Option 2: Terminal shuttle → 5 min walk
Between Terminals
| Method | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 10 | 5 min | ¥3 |
| Shuttle Bus | 10 min | Free |
Discounts
| Discount | Details |
|---|---|
| Metro↔Bus transfer | ¥1 off (within 2 hours) |
| Monthly ¥70+ | 10% off (SH MaaS app) |
| Age 70+ | Free (Shanghai senior card) |
| Students | 50% off (Shanghai student card) |
Tourist Passes
| Pass | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Day | ¥18 | 24hr unlimited metro |
| Comprehensive Pass | ¥249 | Metro+bus+ferry+4 attractions |
Useful Chinese
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hongqiao Airport | 虹桥机场 | Hóngqiáo Jīchǎng |
| Hongqiao Railway Station | 虹桥火车站 | Hóngqiáo Huǒchēzhàn |
| Line 2 | 2号线 | Èr hào xiàn |
| Line 10 | 10号线 | Shí hào xiàn |
| People’s Square | 人民广场 | Rénmín Guǎngchǎng |
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Hongqiao Airport Info | +86-21-62688899 |
| Shanghai Metro | +86-21-6437-0000 |
| Police | 110 |
| HSR 12306 | 12306 |
Summary
Hongqiao is close to downtown!
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| General downtown | Metro Line 2 (30 min, ¥5) |
| Yu Garden/Bund | Metro Line 10 |
| Heavy luggage | Taxi/DiDi |
| Pudong Airport transfer | Airport Link (40 min, ¥26) |
| Other cities | HSR (direct connection) |
Metro is fastest and cheapest!
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