Shanghai Airport: Free Wifi Access For All?

Shanghai is one of the few airports across China that offers free Wi-Fi to its visitors. However, foreign travellers often find it difficult to connect to the public Wi-Fi and navigate China's internet censorship. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) offers free Wi-Fi in Terminal 1, Terminal 2, S1 and S2. To connect, you can use your mobile phone or laptop to select the network #AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI or AirportPVG-Free-WiFi. You can then connect via SMS or by using a username and password.

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) offers free WiFi

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) has two main terminals: Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2), and two satellite concourses: S1 and S2. Free WiFi is available across all these areas. To connect to the free WiFi, passengers can use either of two methods: via SMS or via a username and password.

To connect via SMS, passengers should first open the WiFi setup on their device and select the network SSID "#AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI" or "Airport-Free-WiFi". Next, they should open any webpage in their browser to access the welcome page. Here, they should input their mobile phone number and click "Get Code". A verification code will be sent via SMS, which can then be entered to log in and access the free WiFi.

To connect via a username and password, passengers can visit one of the kiosks located throughout the airport to obtain a code. They can also scan their passport or ID at designated machines, which will generate a PIN code for WiFi access.

Connect to the #AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI network

Shanghai Pudong International Airport does offer free WiFi to passengers. To connect to the #AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI network, follow the steps outlined below:

• Open the WiFi settings on your device and locate the #AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI network. Select this network to connect.
• Open a web browser on your device and wait for the Welcome page to load.
• On the Welcome page, you will be presented with two options for logging in: via SMS or via a username and password.
• If you choose to log in via SMS, input your mobile phone number and click "Get Code". You will receive a verification code via SMS, which you should then type in. Click the "log in" button, and you will be connected to the WiFi.
• If you choose to log in via a username and password, click "Login via Wi-Fi Ticket". This will redirect you to the Username & Password Authenticated Page. Here, you will need to enter the username and password provided, then click "Send" to connect to the WiFi.

Please note that some sources suggest that there may be issues with the passport scanner when attempting to obtain the WiFi password. Additionally, it is worth noting that many non-Chinese websites are blocked in China, which may impact your browsing experience while connected to the airport's WiFi.

Receive a code via SMS to log in

Shanghai Pudong International Airport offers free Wi-Fi to its visitors. To connect to the airport's Wi-Fi, you must first select the appropriate wireless network. The network name is #AIRPORTPVG-FREE-WIFI or #AirportPVG-Free-WiFi.

Once connected, open any webpage in your browser to access the Welcome page. Here, you will be given two options for logging in: via SMS or via a special username and password. If you choose to log in via SMS, you will need to input your mobile phone number and click "Get Code". You will then receive a verification code via SMS, which you can then type in and click the "log in" button. It is important to note that a Chinese mobile phone number is required to receive the access code via SMS. If you don't have a Chinese phone number, there are kiosks and machines located in the airport that will print an access code for you.

If this is your first time visiting Shanghai, it is important to note that China has extensive internet censorship regulations in place. You will not be able to access websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Gmail without a VPN. Additionally, almost all popular non-Chinese websites are banned in China, and only Chinese websites are accessible.

Foreign travellers may need a VPN to access some apps

Shanghai Pudong International Airport does offer free WiFi to passengers. However, as a foreign traveller, you may find that many of the apps and websites you usually use are blocked by China's censorship protocols.

To access blocked apps and websites, you will need a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN will allow you to bypass China's censorship protocols by routing your internet traffic through a server located outside of the country. This will make it appear as if your requests are coming from the location of the VPN server rather than from within China.

It is important to note that while VPN usage is a common practice for travellers in China, the Chinese government has deployed software to block VPN usage and takes a negative view of its use to circumvent censorship. However, there are no known reports of travellers to China being arrested for VPN use.

When choosing a VPN, it is important to select a reputable provider with strong security and privacy features. ExpressVPN is a popular choice for travellers to China due to its fast speeds, ease of use, and strong security features. Other recommended options include NordVPN, PureVPN, PrivateVPN, and Astrill VPN.

To use a VPN in China, it is recommended to install and set up the VPN on your devices before arriving in the country. This will ensure that you have uninterrupted access to the internet and your desired apps and websites during your travels.

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport also offers free WiFi

Shanghai has two major international airports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Both airports offer free WiFi to visitors.

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport offers free WiFi with the network name SHA-Airport-FreeWiFi. To access the WiFi, you will need to find the relevant WiFi network on your device and connect to it. Once connected, open your internet browser, which will direct you to a login page. Here, you can input your mobile number to receive a verification code via SMS. Enter this code, and you will be connected to the WiFi.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport also provides free WiFi. The network name for this airport is SPIA-guest. To connect, you can follow a similar process as Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. You can connect to the WiFi network and then open any browser to access the login page. At Shanghai Pudong Airport, you can either log in via SMS or by obtaining a username and password. If you choose the SMS method, you will receive a verification code, which you can then input to log in.

It is important to note that China has extensive internet censorship, with over sixty censorship regulations in place. As a result, you may not be able to access certain websites or apps, such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Gmail, without a VPN. Additionally, some travellers have reported issues with passport scanning and the short validity of the WiFi password when connecting to the WiFi at Shanghai's airports.

Overall, while both Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport offer free WiFi, there may be some challenges and restrictions when accessing certain websites due to China's internet censorship.

Frequently asked questions