About Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is Shanghai's second busiest airport and the city's main hub for domestic flights, though it does also operate a number of international routes. Our Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport guide provides information on terminal services, public transport access and recommended accommodation options nearby.

Airport news:

An extension to the city's Maglev train system is proposed, which would provide a direct connection with Pudong airport, about 55km (33 miles) away, in just 15 minutes. However, the project has been indefinitely shelved due to protests.

Information:

Tourist information is available by telephone (tel: +86 21 2234 1147). All signs and intercom announcements at the airport are in both English and Chinese.

Website:

Driving directions:

From central Shanghi, make your way onto the Inner Ring Elevated Road that flanks the western side of the city and head west on Yan’an Elevated Road. From here, take the turn off onto Qixin Road, which leads directly to the airport entrance. The total drive time is roughly 35 minutes.

Public Transport

Public transport road:

Bus: Public buses run regularly to city destinations, including the city ticket office. Bus 941 runs to Shanghai Railway Station, bus 938 links to Pudong Yangjiadu, bus 806 operates to Zhong Shan Nan Yi, bus 807 runs to Shanghai West Railway Station, and Airport Bus 1 serves Shan Xi Lu. There is limited space on buses for luggage.

Shuttle: Most major hotels provide shuttle buses to/from the airport.

Coach: Long-distance coach services run to Suzhou, Nan Jing and Hangzhou.

Taxi: Taxis are available outside the arrivals area; the driver should use the meter but, if it is not working, agree on the fare before leaving the airport. Travellers should make sure they join the correct taxi queue as there are separate queues depending on the distance of the journey. A taxi trip into the centre (journey time: around 25-40 minutes) includes a toll upon exiting the airport, which is added to the fare. It is best to have the destination required written in Chinese or indicated on a map. Average fares into the city start at between ¥70 and 100.

Public transport rail:

Rail:Metro line 2 (tel: +86 21 6437 0000; www.shmetro.com) links the airport with central Shanghai and also runs east to Shanghai Pudong Airport. The journey time to the city centre is roughly 35 minutes (fare: ¥6).

Terminal facilities

Money:

Bureaux de change facilities, banks and ATMs can be found throughout Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

Food:

There are numerous restaurants, bars and coffee shops in both terminals, ranging from local eateries to international brands.

Shopping:

Duty-free shopping can be found just outside the airport entrance. Chinese specialities, such as silk clothing and scroll paintings, are available for purchase within the terminals, and there is also a range of international luxury boutiques to explore.

Luggage:

Luggage trolley hire is available at various points within the terminals. Uniformed porters can be hired to assist with baggage – travellers should note that tipping is not allowed. A left-luggage service (tel: +86 21 2238 1085) is available on the Arrival Level for those wishing to secure their luggage. Baby strollers are available to use free of charge in Terminal 2. Enquiries into lost or found items should be made to the lost property office in either Terminal 1 (tel: +86 21 2234 2071) or Terminal 2 (tel: +86 21 2238 1086) depending on where in the airport the item was lost.

Other:

Other facilities at the airport include smoking areas, medical clinics and a beauty salon.

Airport facilities

Conference and business:

There are two small business centres at the airport offering copying, fax and internet services – one is located in Terminal 1 and the other in Terminal 2. For more extensive business facilities, the nearby Shanghai International Airport Hotel (tel: +86 21 6268 8866; www.siah.com) provides various meeting rooms, telephone, fax and photocopying facilities, as well as catering services. Back at the airport, a selection of VIP lounges are located in the departures area.

Communication Facilities:

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the departures and arrivals areas of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. International direct dial telephones are available in Arrivals, while public telephones take local coins and phone cards. Additionally, there are post offices in each terminal.

Disabled facilities:

There are toilets for disabled travellers in the terminal buildings and the airport is equipped with lifts and ramps for wheelchair access. Any passengers who may require additional assistance are advised to contact their airline before travelling.

Car parking:

Extensive long- and short-term parking is available in front of both terminal buildings.

Car rental:

Most visitors hire a car with a driver (often from their hotel) on a daily or weekly basis. Otherwise, Angel Car Rental and Avis offer self-drive cars and cars with drivers.