The insider's guide, from travelers who've actually been through.
Hongqiao is Shanghai’s inner-city airport, about 13 km from the Bund. It handles almost exclusively domestic Chinese routes with a small number of short-haul international flights to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. If you are connecting here from an international long-haul, you almost certainly arrived into Pudong (PVG) first — check your ticket carefully before assuming a connection.
Terminal 2 is the main terminal and houses the Metro Line 10 link. The station connects to People’s Square in about 40–50 minutes. Metro Line 2 also runs between Hongqiao and Pudong Airport for cross-airport connections, though that trip takes about 70 minutes and requires a transfer at Guanglan Road. WiFi at Hongqiao requires a Chinese phone number for registration — plan accordingly if you need connectivity.
| Terminal | Lounge | Access | Showers | Good for | Price (paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | Airline CIP/VIP Lounges | Business class, airline status | Yes | Chinese hot food, rest area | Varies by airline; check at desk |
| T2 | Dragon Pass lounges | Dragon Pass / Priority Pass | Limited | Hot food, rest seats | Varies; confirm access at the desk |
Food in T2 leans toward Chinese domestic fast food — noodles, dumplings, congee. Prices are reasonable by airport standards. ATMs dispense Chinese yuan. Many foreign card networks have limited acceptance in mainland China; bring cash or confirm your card works before arriving. International transit visa rules for China are complex and route-dependent — verify your specific transit requirements well before travel.
