Pudong Vs Shiaoqiao: Which Shanghai Airport Is Superior?

is pudong airport better than shiaoqiao

Shanghai is served by two airports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. While Pudong International Airport has been recognised for its hygiene and safety, Hongqiao International Airport is more centrally located and offers better amenities, such as food options, shops, and ease of navigation.

Characteristics Values
Location Pudong is in the middle of nowhere or a large shipping/logistics/industrial area. Hongqiao is closer to the city centre.
Transport Pudong has the Maglev train, the world's fastest train at 431 km/h, but it doesn't connect seamlessly to the metro. Hongqiao is connected to the subway.
Amenities Hongqiao is cleaner, has better food options, more shops, and quicker check-ins.
Parking Hongqiao's parking lots are poorly labelled.
Safety Pudong has been awarded the 'Jinding Cup' for safety and the "Customers' satisfaction excellence award". It was also entitled "International Hygienic Airport" by WHO.

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Pudong Airport has better international connections

Pudong International Airport has been recognised for its operational safety and customer satisfaction. In 2006, it was awarded the 'Jinding Cup' for being the safest national airport. It has also won the "Customers’ satisfaction excellence award" in the group of airports with passenger throughput of 10 million or more. Pudong Airport was also recognised by the WHO as an "International Hygienic Airport".

In terms of international connections, Pudong Airport has been ranked 6th in the world for freight volume. Notably, in 2002, all international and regional flights to and from Shanghai were shifted to Pudong International Airport. This decision was made by the CAAC, highlighting Pudong Airport's capacity and efficiency in handling a large volume of international flights.

Pudong Airport is located on the eastern coast of Shanghai, in an area dedicated to shipping, logistics, and industrial operations. While this location may not offer the same convenience as Hongqiao Airport for those seeking nearby accommodations or attractions, it is ideal for efficient travel and freight management.

The airport is served by the maglev train, which travels at a remarkable speed of 430 km/h (some sources state 431 km/h). This high-speed train provides a direct connection to Longyang Road Station, from where passengers can easily transfer to other parts of the city. However, it is worth noting that the maglev train does not go directly to People's Square, requiring a change to the metro, which may be confusing for first-time travellers.

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Hongqiao Airport is more central

Hongqiao Airport is also considered to have better amenities than Pudong. It is cleaner, has better food options, more shops, and faster check-ins. The Hongqiao Railway Station is also the busiest HSR station in Shanghai, with 41 platforms over 4 levels.

In terms of transportation, Hongqiao Airport is more convenient for those travelling to the city centre. Using the subway, it takes approximately 51 minutes to get from Hongqiao Airport to People's Square, with 11 stops along the way. In contrast, it takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes to get from Pudong Airport to People's Square, with 17 stops.

While Pudong Airport has the Maglev train, the fastest train in the world at 431 km/h, it does not go directly to the city centre. Travellers would need to change to the metro, which can be confusing for first-time visitors.

Overall, Hongqiao Airport's central location, convenient transportation options, and superior amenities make it a more attractive option for travellers looking to stay near the city centre.

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Hongqiao has better amenities

Hongqiao International Airport has better amenities than Pudong International Airport. Hongqiao Airport is located near the city centre, whereas Pudong Airport is farther away and is in the middle of a large industrial area. Hongqiao is also connected to the subway, making it easier to get to and from the airport. The subway ride from the airport to People's Square takes 51 minutes with 11 stops, whereas the subway ride from Pudong Airport takes 1 hour and 25 minutes with 17 stops. Hongqiao also has an extensive underground shopping area, developed by the same company behind Xintiandi, a Shanghai landmark.

Hongqiao is also praised for its cleanliness, food options, shops, and quick check-ins. While Pudong has the Maglev, the world's fastest train, the connection to the metro is not seamless, which can be confusing for travellers. Hongqiao, on the other hand, offers a straightforward subway connection without the need for transfers.

In terms of parking, Pudong offers better-labelled parking spaces, whereas Hongqiao's parking lots in different basements have the same label, causing confusion. However, it is worth noting that Pudong has received awards for customer satisfaction and safety, indicating that it also offers a positive experience for travellers.

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Pudong Airport has better parking

Shanghai has two airports: Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. While Hongqiao is located centrally and is connected to the subway, Pudong is situated in the middle of a large industrial area.

Pudong International Airport has been recognised for its safety and hygiene, winning the "Jinding Cup" and being named an "International Hygienic Airport" by the WHO. It also has better parking facilities than Hongqiao Airport. At Hongqiao, the parking lots in B1, B2, and B3 all have the same label, which can be confusing. In contrast, Pudong Airport's parking spaces are clearly labelled, making it easier for travellers to find their way around.

In terms of transportation, Pudong offers the Maglev train, which is the world's fastest train, reaching speeds of up to 431 km/h. However, the Maglev train does not connect seamlessly to the metro, requiring passengers to change to the metro to reach their final destination. On the other hand, Hongqiao Airport is connected to the subway, but the travel time is longer, with more stops required to reach the city centre.

While Hongqiao may be more convenient for those seeking accommodation nearby, Pudong offers better international connections. Additionally, Pudong Airport handles a significant freight volume, ranking 6th among world airports.

Overall, when considering parking specifically, Pudong Airport has better options due to its clear and distinct labelling of parking spaces, making it a more attractive choice for travellers who need to park their vehicles.

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Hongqiao is easier to get to

Hongqiao International Airport is located near the city centre of Shanghai, whereas Pudong International Airport is farther away and in the middle of a large industrial area. Hongqiao is also connected to the subway, with Line 10 taking passengers to the former French concession area. This makes Hongqiao a more convenient option for those travelling to the city centre, as it requires fewer subway stops and less travel time. For example, Hongqiao Airport to People's Square takes 51 minutes with 11 stops, while Pudong Airport to People's Square takes 1 hour and 25 minutes with 17 stops.

Although Pudong Airport has the Maglev high-speed train, it does not go to the city centre and requires a change to the metro. The Maglev train also requires passengers to exit the metro station, creating more confusion and inconvenience. The Shanghai subway price is also based on distance, so the shorter distance from Hongqiao to the city centre will be cheaper.

Hongqiao is also preferred due to its underground tunnels and shopping areas, developed by the same company behind the Xintiandi landmark in Shanghai. The airport is also cleaner, has better food options, more shops, and quicker check-ins.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on what you are looking for. While Pudong Airport has been recognised for its hygiene and safety, Hongqiao Airport is more centrally located and has better amenities, such as food options, shops, and ease of getting around.

Pudong Airport is better for international connections. In 2002, all international and regional flights to and from Shanghai were shifted to Pudong International Airport.

Hongqiao Airport is closer to the city centre and is connected to the subway. It takes 51 minutes to get from Hongqiao Airport to People's Square via subway, while it takes 1 hour and 25 minutes from Pudong Airport.

Pudong Airport has better parking options. Hongqiao Airport's parking lots in B1, B2, and B3 have the same label, which can be confusing.

Hongqiao Airport is connected to the subway, but it can take a long time to get to your destination. Pudong Airport has the Maglev train, which is the world's fastest train at 431 km/h, but it does not go to all destinations, such as People's Square.

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