Shanghai divides traffic between Pudong for long-haul and Hongqiao for domestic — pick the right one.
Pudong (PVG) handles most international flights and sits about 45 minutes east of the city center via the Maglev train, the world's fastest commercial rail service. China Eastern has its main hub here, and alliances with SkyTeam partners extend its network across Europe and North America. Hongqiao (SHA) focuses on domestic and short-haul regional routes but also hosts a handful of flights to Tokyo Haneda and Seoul Gimpo.
Golden Week holidays in early October and the Chinese New Year period (late January or February) are the two worst times to book anything from Shanghai — fares spike 60-80% and airport queues stretch for hours. The shoulder months of March through May and September through November offer the best combination of price and comfort. For Southeast Asian beach destinations, flying mid-week in March typically yields the lowest fares.
Getting between Pudong and Hongqiao takes about 90 minutes by metro or 45 minutes on the dedicated airport bus. If you are connecting between domestic and international, this transfer can be tight, so plan accordingly or choose itineraries that keep both legs at the same airport. The Maglev from Pudong covers 30 km in just 8 minutes but only takes you to Longyang Road — you still need to transfer to the metro.
Pudong (PVG) for international flights, Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic. Some short-haul Asian routes (Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Gimpo) also use Hongqiao. Always double-check your terminal assignment.
March through May is the sweet spot — Golden Week and Chinese New Year are over, summer hasn't started. September through November is another good window. Avoid Golden Week (early October) and Chinese New Year completely.
The Maglev covers 30 km in about 8 minutes, reaching 431 km/h. It connects PVG to Longyang Road metro station — from there you need the metro to reach central Shanghai. Total door-to-door is about 45 minutes.
