Shanghai Travel Forum

Hi.

I'll be arriving in Shanghai on Saturday afternoon (17th May) via Pudong airport. Is it worth it to get the Maglev into Pudong then a taxi to the French concession, or should I just get a taxi straight from the airport? I've always got taxis in the past, but I fancy trying the Maglev. However, if it (a) closes before about 6pm (b) is a long way from international arrivals or (c) is difficult to get a taxi at the other end, I might not bother. I'll only be carrying a small case and hand luggage.

Also, any idea what time it starts in the mornings?

Thanks,

tkdsimes

According to http://www.smtdc.com/en/jszl1_2.asp the first train from the airport is at 7:02.

I think a taxi from the airport is better but it may be fun to try. You can take a taxi from the Longyang Rd. Station, or cross the street and take metro line 2, then change to metro line 1, if Metro line 1 is close to your hotel.

But I think a taxi is better, this is only to try the maglev for fun.

The maglev is certainly worth trying once - it does after all reach 430kph, which is faster than your usual train. The only thing is it doesn't go all the way into Shanghai proper, you need to change to metro at the city end. It does knock about half an hour off the journey time though. The airport terminal is easily reachable on foot.

What time does your flight arrive, and what airline are you arriving on?
Where are you staying in the French Concession?
Are you asking for starting time in the morning from Pudong airport or from the Longyang Lu terminus?

Hi.

Thanks for the replies. I'll think I'll try that.

My flight arrives about 4pm and I need to get to the City hotel in time to change and meet a business contact at 7pm, so I guess I'll have time. I'm leaving the following morning, but will be back overnight again the following Saturday.

Cheers,

tkdsimes

You mightn't have a problem with the Maglev, but you'll be arriving into afternoon peak hour so you might have problems getting a taxi.

OK, thanks everyone for the advice. I'll try it out and let you know. I guess I won't have to wait much longer for a taxi at the Longyang Road station than I usually do at Pudong airport.

Thanks again,

tkdsimes

Look on my Shanghai page for information on riding the Maglev. Is it worth it? Absolutely. When you look at taking 45 minutes to get to the airport in an old VW Santana with dubious mechanics and a driver who drove a tractor last week as opposed to riding a 7 minute bullet to the airport, there is no real choice. When you look at the fact that a taxi costs 150 to 200 RMB for the privledge of risking your life on the airport highway while the combination of taxi to the Maglev station and the cost of the Maglev totals 100 RMB, it looks like a no brainer. Take the Maglev, you will love it.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/1e4db/f4fc8/9/

The maglev runs till 9pm.

It's the fastest way in and out of the city if you don't have much luggage, but the transfer and subsequent ride on the subway is annoying.

Agree that the taxi ride to/from PVG can be very scary. The bus from the airport is a good option. For RMB 19 you can get to the Jing'an Temple and take a 13 yuan taxi from there to Xintiandi.

Hi.

Got the Maglev twice, both times from the airport into Pudong and a taxi thereafter. It was great and I thoroughly recommend it. Half the price in total as a taxi from the airport and half the time. I had no problem either time getting a taxi at Longyang Road.

Thanks,

tkdsimes

Cheaper than a taxi for sure, but I still prefer the airport shuttles which go further (and into more useful locations) for much cheaper.

tkdsimes - that's awesome that it worked out well for you.

Hopefully someday the maglev could be extended all the way to People's Square in Puxi. And add a downtown airport checkin there too. That would be awesome!

I read someplace they plan to have the maglev go all the way to Hangzhou.

Well, doesn't seem like it in the near future.

I never took the airport shuttle in Shanghai, but I have in other locations. I just don't like them. You generally are on a bus or mini bus with a bunch of people going to a dozen different hotels. If you are lucky, your's will be the first hotel on the route. If your not lucky, you will get to visit all of the Shanghai hotels. A one hour ride in the taxi or half hour on the taxi and Maglev, could be 2 hours on the shuttle. Do you really want to do that after flying 15 hours?

Take the Maglev-Taxi option! You just spent $1500 getting to China, you can afford 15 dollars more.

gaolei - I don't dispute your conclusion, but one point about the process. There are plenty of public airport busses that go from airport to only one or two stops. And when they stop, they stop like a normal public bus would stop, not like at a hotel where there may be a couple minutes waiting.

With good traffic, the airport bus can get to the Jing'an temple on Nanjing Road in 40 minutes. That's just as fast as the maglev/taxi option, much cheaper, and safer (maglev is safe but on the streets in Shanghai you're better off in the largest vehicle possible). The bus or straight taxi option also trump the maglev if you have a lot of luggage - loading it once is better than twice.

All that said, when coming to Shanghai, you should experience the maglev at least once.

Yes, Luggage is a bit of a problem, especially if yoou don't have the strength to carry it from the entrance down the escalator one floor and into the Maglev. There may be an elevator, but I haven't used it.

I will give a bus a try on my next visit.

gaolei is wrong about the buses stopping at various hotels. The airport shuttles in Shanghai don't do so.