# Maps, metro, DiDi and airports

> Part of [Before you go](https://chinafootnotes.com/before-you-go), a sourced pre-trip guide for a first visit to Shanghai. Checked 2026-10-03; rules change, so each step links to its source. Data version 5e1254c0b277.

**¥4–26** — Airport Link Line fare; full PVG–SHA trip is about 40 minutes.

## In short

- Tap an eligible contactless card at metro gates.
- Buy single-journey tickets at station vending machines.
- Use Amap; Google Maps is blocked on mainland networks.
- Use marked, metered taxis and keep the receipt.
- Buy a one-day or three-day metro pass.

## Tap eligible UnionPay/Visa/MC/Amex/JCB at metro gates

1. Tap an eligible contactless card at the metro gate for Tap to Ride.
2. Card networks: UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB, plus eligible e-CNY hardware wallets.
3. Turn on password-free small payments and keep a balance or credit.
4. A matching logo is not enough: the 27 June 2025 expansion excludes Type-B and no-ODA cards.
5. At the Maglev gate, tap a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB card.
6. Maglev tap started on 14 June 2025.
7. A dual-brand UnionPay plus foreign card goes through the UnionPay channel first.
8. Pick the right QR product before you scan.
9. Metro Daduhui (and the Shanghai Metro service inside Alipay or WeChat) is the metro QR app.
10. Suishenxing (SH MaaS) generates one integrated code for buses, ferries and metro.
11. The 12306 Suishenma Code, for travellers arriving by train, also names the Airport Link Line, Maglev and ferries, but not Jinshan Rail.
12. Do not copy its cross-mode list onto Daduhui.
13. Buy single-journey tickets at vending machines.
14. For international-card payment, use the card terminals at station service centres.
15. These accept UnionPay and overseas Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club and JCB.
16. Consider a one-day pass at 18 yuan or a three-day pass at 45 yuan.
17. The passes exclude the Maglev and suburban railways opened in or after 2024.
18. A Maglev plus metro pass costs 55 yuan single or 85 yuan round Maglev (economy), plus one day of metro.
19. The Airport Link Line has a separate fare: from 4 yuan, 26 yuan for the full journey, about 40 minutes PVG–SHA.
- The Tap to Ride card list is on the city metro page (updated 29 June 2026).

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-TravelYourWay/20251010/6f1beb560360472b8edaffd6187f4988.html), [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250627/d8f21f2e7d3b45a5b03757e35039b806.html), [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250614/a5c7bac93f024324ace770d3275d28b6.html)

## Line 2 from PVG: about ¥7, about 1 hour

1. Take Metro Line 2 from Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 to People's Square.
2. It costs about 7 yuan and takes about one hour.
3. Pudong is about 30 km from downtown.
4. Treat the last-train time from PVG as unknown here.
5. The operator's own last-train table for Line 2 was not captured as text this round.
6. Do not rely on the summer 2025 extra late trains.
7. They ran only from 4 July to 31 August 2025.
8. Extra Line 2 departures from PVG left at 22:45 and 23:00 on Fridays and Sundays.
9. That window has ended and is not a current last-train guarantee.
- MetroMan (third-party, 28 September 2026) prints a 22:30 last train from PVG, and Bendibao and other unofficial tables print similar figures. None is shmetro.com operator HTML, so they stay in this note rather than as a source_checked last-train time. Use the station screens on the day.
- The Line 2 fare and time are estimates on the city airport-transport page (updated 4 June 2026).

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Individuals-Transportation-PublicTransport/20260813/7366238930024ac8b22e5adf82217bd8.html)

## Maglev: about 8 min, ¥50/80, up to 300 km/h

1. Ride the Maglev from PVG to Longyang Road in about 8 minutes at up to 300 km/h.
2. A single ticket is 50 yuan and a round trip is 80 yuan.
3. Tap a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB card at the Maglev gate.
4. Eligible e-CNY hardware wallets work too, with small-amount password-free payment on.
5. Maglev card tap started on 14 June 2025, and a dual-brand card uses the UnionPay channel first.
6. If tapping fails, use cash, the Daduhui app or a local transit card.
7. The metro hotline is 021-6437-0000.
8. Treat the last Maglev departure from PVG as unknown here.
9. It is not printed as text on the fare or tap pages.
- MetroMan prints 21:42 as a third-party Maglev last departure from PVG. That figure is not operator HTML and is not copied into the steps.
- Maglev times and fares are on the city transport page (updated 30 June 2026).

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20240102/44f499a17b324b25996f2d58fcbf5f23.html), [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250614/a5c7bac93f024324ace770d3275d28b6.html)

## Airport Link: ¥4–26, ~40 min, official last 22:15 from PVG

1. Take the Airport Link Line for a fare from 4 yuan.
2. The full PVG–SHA journey is 26 yuan and about 40 minutes.
3. At PVG T1/T2 the first Airport Link train is 06:00 and the last is 22:15, every 15 minutes.
4. At SHA, the station is Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, with first 05:45 and last 22:00.
5. That stop is not Hongqiao Railway Station and not Hongqiao Airport T1.
6. Keep both last-train figures in mind and use the station screens.
7. A traveller on Reddit (5 March 2026) reported a last train around 22:39, which does not overwrite the airport-group's 22:15.
- Airport Link fares are on the city metro page.
- The first/last times are on the airport group's 市域机场线 page (PVG updated 15 June 2026; SHA updated 2 April 2026).
- Sources disagree:
  - shairport.com 市域机场线, last updated 2026-06-15: PVG first 06:00 last 22:15, interval 15 min. ([Shanghai Airport Group](https://www.shairport.com/syt/index.html))
  - u/biubiuf 2026-03-05 after using the line: trains every 15 min, first 06:00, last around 22:39; tap Visa/Mastercard/Amex; fare Hongqiao T2–Pudong ¥26. ([u/biubiuf](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1rlhi7z/til_theres_a_direct_40min_train_between_hongqiao/))

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-TravelYourWay/20251010/6f1beb560360472b8edaffd6187f4988.html), [Shanghai Airport Group](https://www.shairport.com/syt/index.html), [u/biubiuf](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1rlhi7z/til_theres_a_direct_40min_train_between_hongqiao/)

## Taxi estimates; 守航夜宵线 23:00–05:30 on airport-group table

1. Take a taxi from PVG to People's Square: about 180 yuan and 50 minutes.
2. From T1, use Arrival Gate 12 (walk south from gates 4 or 8); from T2, use Arrival Gate 25.
3. From SHA, expect about 30 minutes and 100–150 yuan.
4. From T1 use Arrivals Gate 1; from T2 use Arrivals Gate 4.
5. Use the free PVG T1–T2 shuttle, which runs 24 hours every 10–15 minutes.
6. Catch the 守航夜宵线 night bus from PVG T1 23:00–05:30 or T2 23:03–05:33 the next day.
7. It runs to Hongqiao Hub East Transport Centre via Longyang Road, Century Avenue and Yan'an Road.
8. Buses run by passenger flow, up to 30 minutes apart, and cost 18–34 yuan.
9. The hotline is 021-68346612.
10. The Shanghai Airport Group table says times are for reference and can change with traffic.
11. The hours above come from the airport-group HTML table.
12. The city English page still shows its bus timetable as an image.
- The taxi fares and times are estimates on the city airport-transport page (updated 4 June 2026).
- The airport-group bus table was last updated 31 May 2026 15:29.

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Individuals-Transportation-PublicTransport/20260813/7366238930024ac8b22e5adf82217bd8.html), [Shanghai Airport Group](https://www.shairport.com/dmjt/)

## City English pages describe Amap; Google Maps is blocked

1. Expect Google services, including Google Maps, to be blocked on mainland networks; FCDO lists Google among permanently blocked services.
2. Use Amap (Gaode Map) multilingual services for arrival-card guidance, airport onward travel, hotel routes and emergency numbers.
3. Main services work without logging in.
4. The city also prints a Popular Apps page titled 'A guide to using AMap in English'.
5. This hub names Amap because the city printed it, not as an official ranking of Apple Maps versus Amap.
- Amap's services are described in english.shanghai.gov.cn Easy Shanghai (13 July 2026).
- The Popular Apps page path is dated 26 August 2026.

Sources: [UK FCDO](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/print), [Shanghai Municipal People's Government (source line: Amap)](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-EasyShanghai/20260713/379bcea6e1bd4defaa7db2451d68d3dd.html)

## Official taxis: meter and receipt

1. Use marked, metered taxis.
2. Shanghai government advice says some taxis with a compatible POS accept overseas cards.
3. Avoid unmarked or unmetered taxis, insist on the meter, and keep the receipt with the taxi number.
4. Do not expect a city English page to walk you through DiDi International versus the Alipay mini program.
5. No such page was captured this round, and visitor DiDi steps stay in the tips.
- Not confirmed by an official source yet.

Sources: [Shanghai Municipal People's Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Individuals-BankingandPayments-Payments/20260921/c2c94d06a0454c8fa05386b80d0ae865.html), [UK FCDO](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/print)

## Traveller tips

- **Airport Link has its own entrance.** A traveller on Reddit (March 2026) who had just switched airports recommends looking for 'Airport Link' / 机场联络线 signs, not regular Metro signs. The line has a separate security X-ray and luggage racks that take 24-inch and 28-inch bags, and its Hongqiao stop is T2; the Hongqiao T2–Pudong fare was 26 yuan in 40 minutes. They reported a last train around 22:39. _The reported last train of about 22:39 conflicts with the official 22:15 from shairport.com (updated 15 June 2026); keep both._ ([biubiuf, 2026-03-05](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1rlhi7z/til_theres_a_direct_40min_train_between_hongqiao/))
- **Airport Link after a late flight.** A traveller on Reddit (March 2026) used the Airport Link after a 13-hour flight that landed late in the evening and still connected onward the same night. _One ride, not a last-train timetable._ ([Ok-Dependent-637, 2026-03-06](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1rlhi7z/til_theres_a_direct_40min_train_between_hongqiao/o8vg2td/))
- **One traveller's roughly 15 yuan hold.** A Japanese travel log (visit July 2026, posted 15 August 2026) reports that a contactless bank-card Tap to Ride produced a 15-yuan notice, then a second notice for the actual fare. _The page carries affiliate links, so it is a commercially linked personal log, not a non-commercial corroboration._ ([solo-trip-log, 2026-08-15](https://solo-trip-log.com/alipay-registration-guide/))
- **DiDi from Alipay with a US card.** A traveller on Reddit (July 2026) used DiDi through Alipay on a US iPhone with a Hong Kong eSIM for data and a US Visa attached, and reported no trouble with the rides. _One account, not a DiDi official how-to._ ([gaoshan, 2026-07-13](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1uui920/do_you_need_a_chinese_number_to_orderpay_for_didi/ox4ogo5/))
- **A commenter's account of DiDi phone linking.** A commenter on Reddit (July 2026) explained that the DiDi mini app is linked to the number used to register Alipay, that drivers see a call-client button, and that DiDi's server places the call. _Product how-to, not a dated ride report._ ([Moist-Chair684, 2026-07-13](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1uui920/do_you_need_a_chinese_number_to_orderpay_for_didi/ox6c7s9/))
- **Walk to the official taxi area.** A traveller on Reddit (December 2025) says to use only the official taxi area and ignore anyone who approaches you; the safety page keeps the full account. _What this author stated about the rank, not a fare table._ ([loganrb, 2025-12-23](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1pt93jk/shanghai_airport_public_transportation/nvg9e1s/))
- **PVG taxi charged 645 yuan to Hongqiao.** A traveller on Reddit (March 2026) was charged 570 yuan plus 75 yuan toll, 645 yuan total, from the official Level 1 PVG stand to Hongqiao Railway Station, against a DiDi quote of 200–250 yuan. The safety page keeps the full case; FCDO says insist on the meter and keep the receipt. _One author's fare, not a fare table. FCDO says insist on the meter and keep the receipt._ ([Am0rph, 2026-03-31](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1s86wy8/scammed_by_official_taxi_at_pudong/))
- **Offline taxis still accept cash.** A traveller on Reddit (December 2025) wrote that offline taxis still accept cash. Official ranks and meters remain the documented path. _Advice on a first-arrival thread, not a metered-fare log._ ([Equator_Living, 2025-12-26](https://www.reddit.com/r/travelchina/comments/1pvdnl6/arriving_in_shanghai_first_time_cashless_question/nvyi3q5/))
- **A blogger's Shanghai map: Amap.** A blogger (March 2025) named 고덕지도 (Gaode / Amap) together with Alipay and Travel Wallet. Pair it with a Chinese-character hotel address. _Posted March 2025; outside the 12-month window for visitor_reported main fields._ ([earlybirdhenry, 2025-03-17](https://earlybirdhenry.tistory.com/entry/%EC%A4%91%EA%B5%AD-%EC%83%81%ED%95%98%EC%9D%B4-%EC%97%AC%ED%96%89-%EA%BF%80%ED%8C%81-%EB%8C%80%EA%B3%B5%EA%B0%9C-2025-%ED%95%84%EC%88%98-%EC%95%B1-%EA%B3%A0%EB%8D%95%EC%A7%80%EB%8F%84-%EC%95%8C%EB%A6%AC%ED%8E%98%EC%9D%B4-%ED%8A%B8%EB%9E%98%EB%B8%94%EC%9B%94%EB%A0%9B%EB%A7%8C-%EC%9E%88%EC%9C%BC%EB%A9%B4-%EC%B6%A9%EB%B6%84))

Next: [Arrival day, in order](https://chinafootnotes.com/before-you-go/arrival-day)