LHR → London CityNRT → TokyoCDG → ParisJFK → ManhattanICN → SeoulSIN → SingaporeDXB → DubaiHKG → Hong Kong
LHR → London CityNRT → TokyoCDG → ParisJFK → ManhattanICN → SeoulSIN → SingaporeDXB → DubaiHKG → Hong Kong
SHAChinaTPL: fare-hacker-playbook
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai, China
Drop-off
People's Square (central Shanghai)
Pin before customs
Fastest
Shanghai Metro Line 2
metro · 6-12m
Data
Nov 28
Audit
Quick verdict
Fastest into town
Service
Shanghai Metro Line 2
metro
Headway
6-12
Backup
Shanghai Metro Line 10 · 6-12m
Note
Line 2 runs from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 Station directly to central stops including Jing’an Temple, West Nanjing Road, People’s Square and East Nanjing Road. Trains operate roughly 05:35–22:50 with frequent service and a journey of about 30–40 minutes to People’s Square; change at these downtown stations for many other lines.
Budget focus
Shanghai: Fare Hacker Playbook
Ways to shave costs without blowing your schedule. Targets queries likeshanghai airport busandsha to city centerfor eSIM funnels.
Cheapest viable route
Brief
Usually slower but dramatically cheaper than the flagship airport express.
Service
Airport Shuttle Bus to People’s Square / Jing’an area
Mode
bus
Freq
30-40m
Note
Airport shuttle buses from Hongqiao Airport run to central Shanghai areas including People’s Square and Jing’an Temple, offering a direct but slower surface alternative to the metro. Typical travel time is 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, and services generally operate from around early morning to late evening at intervals of about 30–40 minutes.
Passes and bundles
Brief
Look for day passes that include the airport zone plus metro, tram, or ferry transfers. Load value online to avoid kiosk surcharges.
When to splurge
Brief
Worth the premium when you have back-to-back meetings or tight onward connections downtown.
Service
Shanghai Metro Line 2
Mode
metro
Freq
6-12m
Note
Line 2 runs from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 Station directly to central stops including Jing’an Temple, West Nanjing Road, People’s Square and East Nanjing Road. Trains operate roughly 05:35–22:50 with frequent service and a journey of about 30–40 minutes to People’s Square; change at these downtown stations for many other lines.
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FAQs
KB
01Can I tap with a foreign bank card?
A
Most systems now support open-loop contactless. Keep a backup paper ticket when traveling with a group to avoid tapping each person manually.
02Any luggage fees?
A
Buses rarely charge extra, but airport expresses may require storing big bags in designated racks.