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City guide

Shanghai, China

Shanghai is a provincial-level direct-administered municipality in China. It has a population of 30,050,000 in the urban area as of 2026, thus making it China's most populous city and more broadly the fifth-largest city in the world by population.

Type CityPopulation 30,050,000

Why go

  • Municipality and largest city in China.
  • Served by Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).

History

Shanghai is a provincial-level direct-administered municipality in China. It has a population of 30,050,000 in the urban area as of 2026, thus making it China's most populous city and more broadly the fifth-largest city in the world by population. The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River bisecting the city.

Airports

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) 35 km to the centre
Shanghai (Pudong), 31, CN — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 65 airlines (China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines…) · direct flights to 152 destinations incl. Taipei, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 65 airlines, 152 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) 13 km to the centre
Shanghai (Minhang), 31, CN — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 26 airlines (China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China SSS…) · direct flights to 67 destinations incl. Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 26 airlines, 67 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Chenghu General Airport 63 km to the centre
Suzhou, 32, CN — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Shanghai Gaodong Airport 19 km to the centre
Shanghai (Pudong), 31, CN
Outdoor
Shanghai Chongming Airport 47 km to the centre
Shanghai (Chongming), 31, CN
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) 149 km to the centre
Hangzhou, 33, CN — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 39 airlines (China Southern Airlines, Air China, Xiamen Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines…) · direct flights to 72 destinations incl. Dalian, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Qingdao… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 149 km from Shanghai · China Southern Airlines, Air China, Xiamen Airlines · Getting around Hangzhou, China →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 39 airlines, 72 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

East Jinling Road Ferry Pier
Ferry terminal · 3.6 km from the centre
Outdoor
Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal
Ferry terminal · 4 km from the centre · 上海港国际客运中心开发有限公司
Outdoor
Shiliupu Wharf
Ferry terminal · 4.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
东昌路渡口
Ferry terminal · 4.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
泰同栈渡口
Ferry terminal · 4.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
公平路渡口
Ferry terminal · 4.7 km from the centre
Outdoor
Dongjin Line
Ferry route
Outdoor
东金线:金陵东路渡口 -> 东昌路渡口
Ferry route · 上海市轮渡有限公司
Outdoor
东金线:东昌路渡口 -> 金陵东路渡口
Ferry route · 上海市轮渡有限公司
Outdoor
Yangfu Line
Ferry route
Outdoor
杨复线:复兴东路渡口 -> 杨家渡渡口
Ferry route · 上海市轮渡有限公司
Outdoor
杨复线:杨家渡渡口 -> 复兴东路渡口
Ferry route · 上海市轮渡有限公司
Outdoor
Taigong Line
Ferry route
Outdoor
泰公线:公平路渡口 -> 泰同栈渡口
Ferry route · 上海市轮渡有限公司
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PVG has direct flights to 152 destinations on 65 airlines (incl. Taipei, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: East Jinling Road Ferry Pier, 3.6 km); routes include Dongjin Line, 东金线:金陵东路渡口 -> 东昌路渡口, 东金线:东昌路渡口 -> 金陵东路渡口.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Shanghai, China. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter · Gulfstream, Global, BBJ · China's largest business-jet operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.

Tours & experiences