Quick answer
- Shanghai is one of the easiest Chinese cities to start in. The metro takes contactless foreign cards on every line, the airports have help desks for setting up payment apps, and the Shanghai Museum no longer needs advance booking for most visits. Here's how to get in, get around and plan your first days.
Arriving: Pudong vs Hongqiao
Shanghai has two airports. Pudong (PVG) handles most international flights. Hongqiao (SHA), about 13 km from the centre, mainly handles domestic and regional East Asian flights.
From Pudong (PVG)
| Option | Time / fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 2 | About 1 hour to People's Square, about ¥7 | Cheapest. From Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 station |
| Maglev | Fast hop to Longyang Road, then change to Line 2 | Check the current fare and hours at the station |
| Taxi | About 50 min, about ¥180 to People's Square | T1 rank outside Arrival Gate 12; T2 rank outside Gate 25 |
| Airport bus | Five routes | Times change with traffic |
Source: Shanghai Municipal Government, airport transport (citing Shanghai Airport Authority).
A free shuttle bus links Pudong's two terminals 24 hours a day, every 10–15 minutes.
Maglev + metro combo: the official Maglev and Metro Pass includes a one-day metro pass plus a Maglev ride: ¥55 with a single Maglev trip, ¥85 with a return (Shanghai Municipal Government).
From Hongqiao (SHA)
- Metro: Terminal 1 is on Line 10. Terminal 2 is on Lines 10 and 2.
- Taxi: about 30 minutes to the centre, roughly ¥100–150. Ranks are outside Gate 1 (T1 arrivals) and Gate 4 (T2 arrivals).
Source: Shanghai Municipal Government.
Between the two airports
The Airport Link Line runs between Pudong Airport T1&T2 and Hongqiao Airport T2 in about 40 minutes. The full journey costs ¥26 (Shanghai Municipal Government; metro guide).
Help at arrivals
Shanghai has one-stop service centres in the international arrival halls of Pudong T1 and T2 and Hongqiao T1. They help with payment apps, mobile service, transport and tourism (Shanghai Municipal Government).
Getting around: the metro
Fares: ¥3 for up to 6 km, plus ¥1 for each further 10 km. Suburban lines opened in or after 2024, such as the Airport Link Line, have separate fares (Shanghai Municipal Government).
Ways to pay (all from the official metro guide):
- Tap your card. Eligible contactless UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards work at the gates. Turn on small password-free payments and make sure you have enough balance or credit. Visa tap-to-ride covers 21 lines and 517 stations (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- QR code. Use the Metro Daduhui (Metro大都会) app, or the Shanghai Metro service inside Alipay or WeChat, and scan at the gate. Mastercard and Diners Club holders can turn on "International Cards" through Daduhui's WeChat Pay channel.
- Single tickets from machines. Every station's service centre also takes international cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, Diners, JCB) for ticket purchases.
- Passes: one-day ¥18, three-day ¥45. Neither covers the Maglev or suburban lines opened in or after 2024.
- Suishenxing (SH MaaS) app: one QR code for metro, buses and ferries. It accepts linked international cards and sells 1-, 3- and 7-day passes.
- Shanghai Pass: a prepaid card for visitors. There is also a three-day version for travellers on 240-hour visa-free transit (see our 240-hour guide).
Top sights and booking rules
Shanghai Museum: two sites
| People's Square (人民广场馆) | Shanghai Museum East (东馆) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00 | 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00 |
| Closed | Mondays (open on public holidays) | Tuesdays (open on public holidays) |
| Booking | Individuals: no booking since 1 Sept 2025 (trial). Booking still needed on public holidays, school holidays and for popular exhibitions | Individuals: no booking needed |
| Entry | South Gate with a valid ID such as your passport | B1 East Gate (near Dingxiang Road) with your passport |
| Metro | Lines 1, 2, 8 → People's Square, Exit 1 | Line 2 Science and Technology Museum (Exit 8); Line 4 Xiangcheng Rd (Exit 2); Line 6 Pudian Rd (Exit 1) |
Sources: Shanghai Municipal Government guide to the museum; Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau.
When booking is required at People's Square, overseas visitors can book on the museum's official website, up to 14 days ahead (including the day of the visit) (Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau). English audio guides are available at both sites for a fee.
Other classics
The Bund waterfront, Yu Garden and the Lujiazui skyline are on most first-timer lists. We haven't verified their current ticketing rules for this guide. Check each venue's official channel before you go (check locally).
Where to stay
Pick by metro line:
- People's Square / Line 1–2–8 area: central, three lines, Shanghai Museum on the doorstep.
- Along Line 2: Line 2 serves both Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport T2. Good for short stays.
- Near Hongqiao Airport: convenient for early domestic flights.
Check that your hotel accepts foreign guests (see our hotel registration guide) and save its Chinese address before you arrive. Taxi drivers rarely read English (see Amap vs Apple Maps).
Food and payments
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept linked international cards. The limit is US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Some overseas e-wallets (for example AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, GCash, Touch 'n Go) work directly at participating merchants through Alipay+.
- Table QR menus: Shanghai's market regulator says scan-to-order must allow ordering without forced login, and staff can take your order at the counter (Shanghai Municipal Government). More in Ordering food.
FAQ
What's the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to the city?
Metro Line 2: about one hour to People's Square for about ¥7.
Can I use my Visa card on the Shanghai metro?
Yes. Eligible contactless UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards work at the gates. Turn on small password-free payments first.
How do I get between Pudong and Hongqiao airports?
Take the Airport Link Line: about 40 minutes, ¥26 for the full journey.
Do I need to book the Shanghai Museum?
Usually not for individual visitors at either site. People's Square still needs a booking at peak times and for popular exhibitions. Bring your passport.
Where can I get help setting up Alipay after landing?
At the one-stop service centres in the international arrival halls of Pudong T1, Pudong T2 and Hongqiao T1.
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20231214/649e06ea38f74aaeb573fa2debbe97d3.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20241231/f66f14bbd4b549ab88e6f3aec375790c.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20260813/f257d5c373db4da3a8bde717b9f46b27.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20251226/5a0752d1d5ff41f982c8e08581ad9906.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20260920/4fc94c2f0e6b47e7939969415e5feb04.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20250828/e77b240fab254a3db8fbadec14645a9d.html
- Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism — 20250827/3ee3976530944a299af3ec9b3ea85357.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20240315/ce89ccf8660c4101bc4e54485eddf7f6.html
Last checked 12 November 2026. Rules and app menus change; if something's outdated, let us know.
Do you need a visa for China?
Pick your passport, entry city and dates. We check the 30-day visa-free list, 240-hour transit, mutual agreements and Hainan rules, using official data verified on 12 November 2026.