Pudong to Hongqiao Airport Transfer: The ¥26 Airport Link Line (2026)
Take the Shanghai Suburban Railway Airport Link Line 机场联络线 — the dedicated Pudong–Hongqiao train that opened on 27 December 2024 and now cuts the airport-to-airport transfer to about 40 minutes, versus 90+ minutes on Metro Line 2. The full one-way fare is ¥26 from Pudong Airport T1&T2 to Hongqiao Airport T2, with a starting fare of ¥4 for short hops. Trains depart roughly every 15 minutes from 06:00 to about 22:00 in both directions. The line has seven stations including Shanghai International Resort, where you get off for Disney instead of riding to Hongqiao. Tap a foreign Visa or Mastercard contactless card at the gate; readers work most of the time but keep Alipay's metro QR code ready as backup. Look for the dedicated 'Airport Link' / '机场联络线' signage — it has a separate entrance and security screening from the regular Pudong Airport metro. Cars include luggage racks designed for full-size suitcases, so you don't need to wedge bags between your knees. Skip the taxi unless you have mobility issues or are flying out before 06:00 — taxis charge ¥250+ before tolls and routinely sit in traffic for 60–90 minutes during morning and evening peaks. Avoid the Maglev as a transfer option; it stops at Longyang Road, not Hongqiao, so you still need a metro ride after it. Verify departure times at the station on your travel day in case of weekend schedule shifts.
- Take the Airport Link Line for ¥26 — 40-minute transfer between Pudong and Hongqiao, versus 90+ minutes on Metro Line 2.
- Trains run every 15 minutes from 06:00 to about 22:00; the line opened 27 December 2024 with seven stations.
- Tap a foreign Visa or Mastercard at the gate; keep Alipay's metro QR code ready when contactless readers fail.
- Get off at Shanghai International Resort for Disney instead of riding all the way to Hongqiao Airport T2.
- Skip taxis (¥250+, 60–90 min in peak traffic) unless you fly out before 06:00 or have mobility issues.
How this works
Find the Airport Link signs at arrivals
Exit your terminal and follow the orange '机场联络线 / Airport Link' signs to the basement transport hub. The entrance is separate from the regular Metro Line 2 gate. Allow 10–15 minutes to walk and clear security, especially with full-size luggage.
Buy a ticket or tap your card
Use a vending machine for a ¥26 single ticket — it accepts cash and UnionPay. Alternatively, tap your foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or AMEX contactless card directly at the turnstile. Alipay's 'Shanghai Metro' QR code also works after a 30-second in-app setup.
Pass dedicated security screening
Place luggage on the X-ray belt at the line's own security checkpoint — separate from airport security. Water bottles up to 600 ml are permitted; no liquids over that volume. Total screening time is usually 2–4 minutes outside rush hour.
Board the next train and stow luggage
Board a train at the platform; departures run every 15 minutes between 06:00 and 22:00. Each car has dedicated luggage racks at both ends — place your largest suitcase there, smaller bags overhead. Keep your phone or ticket ready since random checks happen on board.
Exit at the correct station
Stay on for Hongqiao Airport T2 (final stop, ~40 min). For Disney, exit at Shanghai International Resort. Listen for English announcements before each station. Tap the same card or QR code at the exit gate; your fare deducts automatically based on stations traveled.
Why this is different for foreign visitors
Unlike most major airport pairs in the world, Pudong and Hongqiao sit on opposite sides of a 50-kilometer-wide city, and historically the only public-transit option was a single Metro Line 2 ride that took over 90 minutes with one mandatory transfer. For foreign visitors this is the reverse of, say, JFK–LaGuardia in New York or Heathrow–Gatwick in London, where airports cluster on one side. The new Airport Link Line is China's first commuter-railway-grade airport shuttle, and it works the way a foreign traveler expects: dedicated track, luggage-friendly cars, and gate-to-gate signage rather than a regular metro that happens to pass an airport.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Walking to the regular Metro Line 2 gate instead of the dedicated Airport Link entrance — you end up on the slow 90-minute route by accident.
- Assuming the Maglev goes to Hongqiao — it terminates at Longyang Road, leaving you to find another metro line for the rest of the transfer.
- Booking a 22:00 arrival at Pudong and planning to catch the Link to Hongqiao for an early flight — the last train is around 22:00, so you may miss it.
Frequently asked
Yes, it is signed in English. Follow the 'Airport Link' / '机场联络线' overhead signs from arrivals — the entrance is in the basement-level transport hub at Terminals 1 and 2, separate from the regular Metro Line 2 gate. Allow 10–15 minutes from gate exit to platform, including the dedicated security screening.
Yes. Open Alipay, tap the 'Transport' or 'Metro Code' tile, switch to Shanghai, and scan the QR at the turnstile. WeChat Pay also works. Foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, and AMEX contactless cards work at most gates, but bring a backup payment method since the readers reject older chip-only cards.
Yes, for airport-to-airport transfers. The Maglev only goes to Longyang Road station, so you'd still need a 30-minute metro ride to reach Hongqiao. The Airport Link runs end-to-end in one seat, takes 40 minutes total, and costs ¥26 versus the Maglev's ¥50 plus another fare for the connecting metro.
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