Owais Crawford
Shanghai is one of China's layover cities, with one of the country's most important airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, making it one of the main arrival and departure cities for the country. The airport offers complete facilities, including free 5G Wi-Fi, restaurants, shops, and lounges. If you have a long layover in Shanghai, you may be able to leave the airport and visit the city, depending on your nationality and the length of your layover.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaving the airport | If the layover is less than 6 hours, it is not recommended to leave the airport. |
| Travellers with layovers of 8 hours or longer can apply for a temporary entry permit to exit the airport. | |
| Travellers from 53 countries/regions are eligible for a 144-hour visa-free transit permit. | |
| Transport to the city | Shanghai Maglev, metro, taxi, or private transfer |
| Luggage storage | Five luggage deposit offices in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. |
| The price for storing large items of luggage is 50 yuan per day. | |
| Currency exchange | Available inside the Arrivals Hall at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. |
| Recommended layover activities | The Bund, Huangpu River, Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Disneyland, 3D Magic Fun House, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Chocolate Happy Land. |
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What You'll Learn
- If your layover is less than 6 hours, it is not recommended to leave the airport
- You can leave the airport without a visa, but you will need a stay permit
- Citizens from 53 countries are eligible for a 144-hour visa-free transit
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and duty-free shops
- If you have a 12-hour layover, you can take the Shanghai maglev train to Longyang Station
If your layover is less than 6 hours, it is not recommended to leave the airport
If your layover in Shanghai is less than 6 hours, it is not recommended to leave the airport. Shanghai Pudong International Airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, duty-free shops, and luggage deposit offices. You can stay entertained without stepping outside.
However, if you are set on leaving the airport, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you will need to go through immigration and get a TWOV stamp in your passport. This process can take some time, and you may need to factor in additional time if you have to collect and re-check your luggage. It is also important to keep in mind that Shanghai Pudong International Airport is situated about 30 kilometers from the downtown area. Getting to and from the airport can take up a significant portion of your layover time. The Shanghai Maglev is the fastest option, taking only 8 minutes to reach Longyang Station, but the round trip will cost you 80 yuan. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, bus, or metro, although these options will take considerably longer.
If you do decide to venture out, you will have limited time for sightseeing. Nanjing Road, Shanghai's premier pedestrian street for shopping and dining, can be covered in about 20 minutes. The Bund, a popular waterfront area with impressive skyscraper views, is located at the end of Nanjing Road and can be explored in about 30 minutes. However, with such a short layover, you may not have enough time to do much beyond these nearby attractions.
It is important to plan carefully and allow enough time to return to the airport and pass through security and passport control before your onward flight. The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before an international flight, but this may vary depending on your airline and destination.
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You can leave the airport without a visa, but you will need a stay permit
Shanghai has several visa-free policies, including the 24-hour Visa-Free Transit policy. This policy allows travellers of any foreign country to transit in Shanghai without going through any immigration inspections. This means that you can leave the airport without a visa, as long as you have a connecting flight to a third country or region within 24 hours. This policy applies to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, one of the busiest international hubs in China, which serves nearly 300 cities in 47 foreign countries.
However, it is important to note that the 24-hour Visa-Free Transit policy does not guarantee that you will be allowed to exit the airport. The decision to allow passengers to exit the airport is at the discretion of the immigration officer. If you are allowed to exit the airport, you will need to obtain a temporary entry permit, which will be stamped on your passport. This permit will allow you to leave the airport and visit Shanghai for up to 24 hours.
To obtain the temporary entry permit, you will need to follow a few steps. First, go to the waiting area and fill out an Arrival Card (blue version). After completing the Arrival Card, submit it at the 240-Hour Visa-free desk. Once you have obtained your temporary entry permit, you can proceed to claim your luggage and go through customs and immigration inspections. It is important to note that all foreign visitors must register their temporary accommodation within 24 hours of arrival. If you are staying in a hotel, the staff will make the registration for you. Otherwise, you will need to go to the Exit-Entry Administration Office to register personally.
In addition to the 24-hour Visa-Free Transit policy, Shanghai also offers a 144-Hour Visa-Exemption Transit policy for citizens of certain countries. This policy allows eligible citizens to travel to Shanghai without a visa for up to 6 days. During this period, they can explore Shanghai and other nearby provinces. It is recommended that travellers take the Airport Shuttle Bus, Metro Line 2, or Maglev Train to reach downtown Shanghai from the airport.
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Citizens from 53 countries are eligible for a 144-hour visa-free transit
Shanghai Pudong International Airport has plenty of amenities to keep travellers occupied during layovers, including free Wi-Fi, restaurants, duty-free shops, and luggage deposit offices. However, if you are a citizen of one of the 53 countries eligible for a 144-hour visa-free transit, you may want to leave the airport to explore Shanghai.
To be eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit, you must be travelling on to a third country or region after leaving China. Citizens of the following countries can take advantage of this policy:
- 24 Schengen Agreement Countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and Italy
- 15 other European countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland
- 6 American countries, including the United States and Canada
- 6 Asian countries, including Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates
- Australia and New Zealand
To obtain the visa exemption, eligible citizens must have a valid passport and a departing air ticket to a third country or region. It is also recommended to have some cash in yuan, as international credit cards are not widely accepted outside of the airport.
Once you have obtained the necessary documentation, you can explore Shanghai and other nearby cities, such as Hangzhou. Popular attractions include The Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. If you are travelling with children, Shanghai Disneyland and the 3D Magic Fun House are also recommended destinations. Keep in mind that you will need to plan your time efficiently, as travelling to and from the airport and navigating boarding procedures can be time-consuming.
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Shanghai Pudong International Airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and duty-free shops
Shanghai Pudong International Airport offers free Wi-Fi to all passengers. To connect to the airport's free Wi-Fi, locate and select the "#AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI" network. You will need to log in with a code sent to you via text message or obtained from the automated kiosks by scanning your passport.
The airport also has several restaurants and eateries, including local restaurants and international fast-food outlets such as Starbucks, Subway, Costa Coffee, and Burger King. Cold and hot drinking water dispensers are available in all terminals after the security check, and you can fill your bottle for free.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport also features duty-free shops in both terminals, located after the security checkpoint. These shops are open during all departure times and are accessible to incoming and outgoing passengers travelling on international, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan flights.
If you have a connecting flight, you are allowed to enter the duty-free shops as long as you have access to the designated exit and entry halls. The airport also offers a service where you can reserve duty-free goods and pick them up at the arrival hall on your return.
In addition to these amenities, Shanghai Pudong International Airport provides luggage deposit offices and currency exchange services, making it a well-equipped airport that caters to the needs of travellers during their layovers.
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If you have a 12-hour layover, you can take the Shanghai maglev train to Longyang Station
If you have a 12-hour layover in Shanghai, you can leave the airport and explore the city. You will need to pass through immigration and get a TWOV stamp in your passport, which allows you to stay in Shanghai for 24 hours or 144 hours, depending on your nationality.
One way to get to the city is by taking the Shanghai maglev train, which runs between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road Station in downtown Shanghai. The maglev train is the fastest commercial maglev train in the world, with a top speed of 431 km/h, and it only takes 8 minutes to travel the 30 km distance. At Longyang Station, you can visit the Shanghai Maglev Train Museum, which showcases the history and technology of maglev trains.
From Longyang Station, you can transfer to Shanghai Metro Line 2, 7, or 16 to visit popular attractions in Shanghai, such as The Bund, Nanjing Road, and the Oriental Pearl Tower. The Bund is a must-see landmark with colonial buildings and skyscraper views, and it takes about 2 hours to explore fully. Nanjing Road is Shanghai's premier pedestrian street for shopping and dining, and you can walk the entire 1.5 km length in about 20 minutes.
If you're travelling with kids, you can also visit nearby attractions like Shanghai Disneyland, the 3D Magic Fun House, and the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
Remember to leave your luggage at one of the five luggage deposit offices in the airport terminals, and have some cash in yuan for transportation and meals, as international credit cards are not widely accepted.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on how long your layover is. If it's less than 6 hours, it's not recommended to leave the airport. If it's 8 hours or more, you can apply for a temporary entry permit at the transit counter. If you are from one of 53 eligible countries, you can apply for a 144-hour visa-free transit permit.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is about 30km from downtown Shanghai. You can get to the city centre by taxi, bus, metro, or maglev. The maglev is the fastest option, taking just 8 minutes to reach Longyang Station, but it will cost 80 yuan for a round trip.
You should allow about an hour and a half to get out of Shanghai airport.
If you have a long layover in Shanghai, you could visit The Bund, Huangpu River, Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi, Nanjing Road, or the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. If you're travelling with kids, you could visit Shanghai Disneyland, the 3D Magic Fun House, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, or Chocolate Happy Land.
