Connecting at Shanghai Pudong: Complete Guide – Visa, Baggage, City Exit, and What to See

What to Know About Connecting in Shanghai (Step-by-Step, What to Do and Where to Go)

Chinese airlines have become very popular among Russian tourists and travelers over the past couple of years, as the most affordable way to get from the European part of Russia to Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. And this popularity is well-deserved, since no other airline can currently offer such low prices on these routes as Chinese airlines.

However, there is one challenge: all flights involve a layover in at least one Chinese airport, and sometimes even two. And unfortunately, sometimes layovers can be very long, and you have to wait them out at the airport. We'll tell you about how a layover at Shanghai Airport works based on our experience.

Shanghai has two airports: Pudong (Pudong Airport, IATA code – PVG) and Hongqiao (Hongqiao Airport, IATA code - SHA). Most flights from Russia go through Pudong Airport, as China Eastern flights from Russian cities arrive here, and connections to Southeast Asian countries and other destinations on the same airline also happen here. We've made connections through this airport ourselves, and this article focuses on it. But just in case, check your tickets to make sure your layover is at this airport. The best way to confirm is by the IATA code in your ticket — for this airport, the arrival and departure code should be PVG.

So, Shanghai Pudong Airport has a full transit corridor for connecting between arriving and departing international flights. This means that in most cases, you won't need to go through passport control, collect baggage, or re-check in upon arrival. The entire transfer between flights happens within the international zone without any complications or paperwork. Your baggage will be checked through to your final destination at the departure airport and transferred to your next flight without your involvement. You'll also receive boarding passes for both the flight to Shanghai and the onward flight to your final destination at the departure airport. After arrival, you only need to follow the International Transfer signs through the transit corridor and find the right departure gate (To Gate) for your next flight.

However, depending on your arrival and departure gates, you may need to move between terminals — there are two of them. But that's not a problem: the terminals are connected by an internal train, which is also within the international zone, so you can easily get to any gate between terminals without passport and customs control. Trains run every few minutes, and the journey takes just a couple of minutes, so moving between terminals takes only a few minutes.

But IMPORTANT! Everything described above only works if you have tickets with one airline and you're transferring from an international flight to another international flight. If you have tickets with different airlines, or even tickets with the same airline but with two connections, or a very long layover, the situation is different.

In general, the procedure for all connection scenarios is as follows:

• Short Layover (up to about 24 hours) with One Connection in China on One Airline

  You don't need to leave the airport and the international zone; you can simply transfer inside the airport to another departure gate. Only document checks (passport and boarding pass for the next flight) and additional carry-on security screening before boarding are required. Important! With this type of layover, there is no passport control, visa check, or customs inspection. What tourists write in reviews is simply a misunderstanding of what document checks and security screening between flights actually are. If you don't want to spend too much time at the airport, you can exit to the city for a walk or rest at a hotel using the 240-hour visa-free transit.

• Short Layover (up to about 24 hours) with One Connection in China on Different Airlines

  If you have different airlines, you won't receive a boarding pass for the next flight at the first departure airport, so in Shanghai you'll need to collect baggage, check in for the next flight with the other airline, and re-check your baggage. Even if you're traveling only with carry-on luggage, you still need to check in for the next flight. There are two possible scenarios:

  • 1. Standard procedure: you must go through the entire process of leaving the international zone into China via visa-free transit of up to 10 days to check in for the next flight and transfer your baggage.
  • 2. Airport staff may arrange for you to get a new boarding pass and transfer your baggage without your involvement, without leaving the international zone. But this works as a random option — some travelers get lucky and it's handled this way, others are sent to do everything themselves. As far as we can tell, this depends on how much time you have for the connection — if it's short due to a flight delay, staff try to help expedite everything without requiring you to leave the international zone. But there's no guarantee; it's a matter of luck.

• Long Layover on a Single Ticket with One Airline, or If You Have a Flight with Two Connections, i.e., Including a Domestic Flight

  In this case, you need to use visa-free transit of up to 10 days through China to rest at a hotel in Shanghai or connect to a domestic flight. For transferring to a domestic flight, there's a separate corridor with signs for "Transfer to Domestic."

• Connection with Terminal Change

  If during a short layover your departure terminal changes — for example, you arrive on an international flight at T1 and depart internationally from T2, or vice versa — you can simply transfer between terminals inside the airport, more precisely by taking the internal train between them.

• Connection with Airport Change

  If you arrive at one Shanghai airport and depart from another, you will need to use visa-free transit to leave the international zone, going through all procedures. Naturally, you'll need to collect your baggage and then re-check it at the other airport during check-in.

Regardless of which scenario above applies to you, upon arrival, your procedure is as follows:

Upon arrival, follow the Transfer / Arrival signs along with everyone else. There will be staff who will check your tickets or boarding passes, and depending on your situation, direct you either to transit to another departure gate without leaving the international zone, or to exit the international zone via visa-free transit.

If you need to arrange visa-free transit, it's currently very simple: follow the Arrival signs, usually in T1. You may need to take the internal train to get there; the staff will direct you where to go. Before reaching the passport control counters, you'll come to the visa-free transit counters. There you need to fill out arrival forms, then go through passport control, collect baggage, go through customs, and you're finally in China.

Then, depending on your plans and route, you either go to check-in for the next flight in the same terminal, or you can head out to explore Shanghai or rest at a hotel. But we'll talk about that later.

Visas and City Exit: Can You Leave the Airport

The main question when transiting through Shanghai is whether you can leave the airport and whether you need a visa for that. In 2026, the rules are quite simple: for Russians, there's a 30-day visa-free regime; for citizens of many other countries, transit of up to 10 days applies. Let's go through all cases, including city exit, hotel stay, and document requirements.

Is a Visa Required for a Layover in Shanghai

No, a visa is not required for a layover in Shanghai. A visa-free regime is provided for citizens of many countries, including Russia.

Moreover, even if you are not a citizen of a country that is visa-exempt for China, you can still use visa-free transit to leave the airport to rest at a hotel and explore the city, or to make connections for transit through China to other airports and ports within 240 hours or 10 days. More about the 240-hour visa-free regime in China.

Can You Leave Shanghai Airport Without a Visa

If you prefer to spend your layover time in the city rather than at the airport, there are all the possibilities for that. For Russian citizens, no visa is required — you can stay in China for up to 30 days (the visa cancellation rules are valid at least until September 2026). For travelers from other countries (or as a backup option), visa-free transit of up to 10 days (240 hours) is available. There are dedicated Transit Without Visa counters for this. They are located before passport control; you'll find them by the Arrival signs.

Do You Need to Book a Hotel to Leave the Airport in Shanghai

No, this is not required. There is no such requirement in the transit rules, and this is confirmed by our personal experience. We left the airport to walk around the city, and there were no questions at all about this; they didn't even ask about a hotel.

In theory, having a hotel booking reduces the chances of being denied exit with a very short layover, for example under 8 hours. But again, this is only speculation, and we cannot confirm it with any official rules or personal experience.

Free Hotel and Transfer from the Airline: Who Qualifies

Even if you're flying with one airline on a single ticket, the airline is not obligated to provide a free hotel and transfer to it, contrary to what you might read in chats and forums.

However, some Chinese airlines do accommodate travelers by offering such an option for long-haul flights. But this is not their obligation; it's simply a bonus to attract passengers.

Whether you qualify for a free hotel depends (primarily!) on your ticket fare, the layover time, and even the route. Moreover, these rules often change; in our experience, airlines update these conditions about every six months. Furthermore, even if you buy a ticket today for a flight in six months under conditions that allow a free hotel, the conditions may change by the time of your flight.

Therefore, it's impossible to say definitively whether you qualify for a hotel for a particular flight. It's more complicated, and each specific flight needs to be examined separately, studying the current rules. Fortunately, airlines don't hide these conditions; they publish them on their websites (except for China Eastern, which has everything hidden or in Chinese). And it's on the airline websites that you should read the rules or ask their support, not ask other tourists on forums and chats.

You can easily find the conditions by searching for terms like: airline name transit hotel or airline name free hotel. For example, "China Southern transit hotel". Just be careful and check the domain in the browser's address bar to avoid landing on scam sites. Here are such pages for the main airlines:

• China Southern - here are all the conditions and how to get it.
• China Eastern - here's a form to check if you qualify and to apply. But if the form doesn't open, you need to contact support via WeChat.
• Air China - here are all the conditions and how to get it.
• Hainan Airlines - here are all the conditions and how to get it.

How Much Time Is Needed for a Layover and What to Do with Baggage

The two most common questions when planning a layover in Shanghai are: "How many hours do I need between flights?" and "Will I have to collect my suitcases?" The answer depends on whether the tickets are bought with one airline (single ticket) or different ones, and also on whether you stay in the international transit zone or leave the city. Below is a breakdown of all scenarios with specific numbers and rules.

Minimum Time for Different Scenarios: From 1 to 5+ Hours

The time needed for a layover should be calculated considering the specifics of your route and everything we've already explained above.

• If you have a connection with one airline on a single ticket without changing airports in Shanghai, even with a terminal change from T1 to T2 or vice versa, one hour is sufficient. Moreover, if your first flight is unfortunately delayed and you miss the connection, you'll be rebooked on the next flight to your destination for free.

• If you have different airlines or your route includes a transfer from international to domestic or vice versa, we recommend allowing at least 4 hours, and preferably 5 or more. You'll need to go through the full procedure of arranging visa-free transit, going through passport control (where queues can be long — we once waited 40 minutes!!!), and then finding check-in counters for the next flight, waiting in line there, and again going through passport control, security screening, etc. Any delay in these procedures or a delay on the first flight could cause you to miss your connection, and then you'll have to buy a new ticket, since with separate tickets or tickets from different airlines, you bear the responsibility for delays yourself.

Do You Need to Collect Baggage: When Yes, When No

This depends on your route:

• If you have a short layover (up to 24 hours) and tickets with one airline, you'll receive boarding passes for both flights at the departure airport, and your baggage will be transferred between flights without your involvement — so you don't need to collect it.
• In all other cases, you'll need to arrange visa-free transit at the airport, leave the international zone, and collect your baggage to re-check it when checking in for the next flight.

Risks with a Short Layover and What to Do If Your Flight Is Delayed

If you have a single ticket with one airline, meaning one itinerary receipt (electronic ticket) is issued for the entire flight, there are almost no risks. The airline itself is responsible for the connection time, and even if your first flight is delayed for some reason and you miss the second, the airline will put you on another flight to get you to your destination.

If you bought tickets to Shanghai and from Shanghai separately, and even with different airlines, then you bear the risks of a short connection yourself. Moreover, in this case, you will most likely need to collect and re-check your luggage, which requires leaving the international zone and takes additional time. In such a case, even the minimum 4 hours may not be enough.

So, here's what specifically to do and where to go if you miss your connection due to a flight delay in Shanghai:

• Follow airline staff

  Immediately after getting off the plane, you'll most likely be met by airline representatives with signs. They distribute passengers to their next connections, issue new directions, and literally escort you to the right counters. Getting lost in such a situation is practically impossible.

  If staff don't meet you at the gate, follow the Transfer signs.

• Get a new boarding pass at the counter

  You'll reach the transfer counter. There they will issue a boarding pass for the next available suitable flight. Your baggage will be rebooked automatically — you don't need to collect and re-check it yourself.

• Estimate the waiting time in advance

  Usually, the carrier tries to put delayed passengers on the next available flight in your direction if seats are available. The next flight may be in 4, 6, or more hours. It's better to check the airport schedule before your trip and see what alternative flights exist in your direction after your flight — this way you'll be mentally prepared for the waiting time.

• Plan your onward route with a buffer

  If you have separate domestic flights, trains, paid hotels, or excursions after arrival — always allow extra time buffer. A connection through Shanghai can result in a delay at your final destination of up to a day.

Facilities at Pudong Airport (PVG): Rest Areas, Food, WiFi

Pudong Airport (PVG) is well-equipped for long and overnight layovers: there are free loungers, hot water, affordable cafes, and charging areas. We'll tell you in detail where everything is and how not to freeze at night.

Sleep Zones, Cafes, Currency Exchange, Charging Stations

Shanghai Airport itself is huge, and the transit zone is well-equipped for long waits. There are comfortable sleep zones with loungers, all free.

But to be honest, the seats and "loungers" are very hard; it's almost impossible to sleep comfortably on them if you have a sensitive back. In this regard, even the simple chairs with soft backs are more comfortable. But there are many cozy spots where you can settle away from the crowd and rest in peace. Just walk further into the departure waiting area, and you'll find them.

Next to each restroom, you can find dispensers with cold and hot water, so you can brew tea, coffee, or even instant noodles, and it's free.

The only possible inconvenience for rest and sleep here is that in summer, the air conditioning runs relentlessly, and in winter, there's no heating, so it can get very cold. If you plan to sleep here, bring a blanket or dress warmer.

Of course, there are many cafes and vending machines with drinks. Prices are low compared to Russian airports, so any passenger can afford to eat. Payment in cafes can be made with cash in yuan or a Unionpay bank card. However, China is increasingly moving toward QR code payments or through apps, so don't be surprised if a cafe doesn't accept either cash or card.

Just in case, you can install the Nihao China app and link a Unionpay card (cards from Russian banks can be linked) or the Alipay wallet app (you can top it up via transfers from Russian bank apps — Sberbank and T-Bank definitely work, we've checked). In our opinion, for short trips, Nihao China is more convenient and profitable, as you don't need to load money onto the wallet with a commission; all funds are debited directly from your card.

Another option is QR code payment through the VTB bank app. The bank launched this feature in 2026, so we haven't had the chance to personally test it yet, but it's claimed that the conversion is at a favorable bank rate, almost matching the exchange rate.

You can exchange money at the airport. You can exchange any international currency for yuan, and we even saw rubles at one exchange office, but that was after passport control. In any case, the exchange rate here is not the most favorable; it's better to buy yuan for rubles at home in Russian banks, especially since there are no difficulties in buying them.

Is There WiFi at Shanghai Airport and How to Connect

Yes, there is free WiFi at Shanghai Airport. But you need to keep in mind that all Google services, messengers, and social networks are blocked here and won't work without a VPN app. Moreover, they successfully fight VPN apps here too, so install several VPN options at home — maybe one of them will work. We won't recommend a specific app because, as it turns out, an app that worked a few weeks ago may suddenly stop working here, so you need several options to try on the spot. If you don't install the apps in advance, you won't be able to download them here.

Connecting to the airport WiFi is not difficult. You may need to enter passport data, scan it, or get a password-code for connection at special WiFiKiosk counters, where again you need to "show" your passport. However, the last time we connected to the airport network without entering any data at all — the internet started working automatically.

How to Spend One Day in Shanghai During a Layover

If you have a layover of 8 hours or more during the day, you can easily spend it enjoyably and productively in central Shanghai. You could, of course, go to the center even with a shorter layover, but given the time needed for all the controls, you'll have little time left to explore the city — but that's up to you.

We won't go into all the details of what to see and where in Shanghai, but rather the most important part: how to do it. You can explore Shanghai with an excursion or on your own:

• With an Excursion

  There are paid and free excursions provided by the airline and the airport. But since their conditions and availability change, we can only direct you to study the information on the airline's website, for example by searching for "Free excursion in Shanghai." During our transit, three options for such free excursions were offered; they needed to be booked in advance, but the timing didn't work out and we couldn't test them. So we'll tell you more about the independent city trip.

  

• On Your Own

  The most interesting place to visit in Shanghai in one day is its center. This refers to the area where the most famous skyscrapers are located, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and the famous viewing platform across the river overlooking it all. There are also several museums, observation decks on skyscrapers, a park, a promenade with shops and cafes, and an attraction tunnel under the river to the viewing platform on the other side of the river. Most places have paid entry, payment in yuan. But even if you're not ready to pay for these attractions, just walking around the center will be interesting, as it's one of the futuristic cities of China.

  You can get to the center from the airport in several ways:

  • Metro

    The metro is the cheapest option, costing about 6 yuan (0.89 USD) depending on the station. The metro station is easy to find upon exiting any terminal, following the signs. There, you can buy a single-use token-card from machines, paying with a Unionpay card or cash. The machines have English language support; it's easy to figure out. The metro runs from 06:00 to 22:30.

    

    

    

    

    You need to go to Lujiazui station to get off at the foot of the Oriental Pearl Tower, or to Tiantong Road or East Nanjing Road if you want to be on the other side of the river on the Bund promenade with the famous view of the city. The journey takes about 40 minutes. You can cross from one side of the river to the other by metro, but it's better to take the ferry or the interactive tunnel with projections.

  • Maglev

    Maglev is an expensive option, but very exciting, as it's a high-speed magnetic levitation train (hence the name, short for "magnetic levitation"). You can save about 20 minutes compared to the regular metro, but it doesn't go to the center. On the Maglev, you'll get to its terminal station, and then you'll need to transfer to the metro or taxi. However, you'll have to pay much more for this pleasure and 20 minutes of time savings – 50 yuan (7.42 USD) one way, or 80 (11.87 USD) round trip.

  • Taxis and Buses

    Of course, there are also taxis and buses from the airport. But the center is more than 40 kilometers from the terminal, so we don't even recommend considering this option.

Here's a brief overview of the main interesting spots in central Shanghai that you can and should visit:

• Pedestrian walkway above the road (free). Upon arriving at Lujiazui station, immediately go up to the second level and walk along the pedestrian paths above the road toward the TV tower and the ring.
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower (paid, from 160 yuan / 23.74 USD). The architectural icon of Shanghai and all of China, perhaps the most recognizable landmark. Paid entry, with many visit programs at different prices; all information is available at the information center at the entrance.
• Shanghai History Museum (paid, from 160 yuan with the tower ticket). The museum is located on the first floor of the Oriental Pearl Tower and is included with the tower entry ticket.
• Observation deck at Shanghai Tower at 546 meters on the 118th floor (150 yuan / 22.25 USD). City view from the tallest building in Asia and the third tallest in the world. Located near Lujiazui station.
• Bund Sightseeing Tunnel multimedia tunnel (paid, from 80 yuan / 11.87 USD). A tunnel with projections on the walls and ceiling, through which you can ride in a "carriage" to get to the other side of the river to the Bund promenade with a view of the center.
• Viewing platform on the Bund (Pudong) with a view of the city center (free). This is the spot where they take those cool photos with the view of central Shanghai and the TV tower.
• In addition to the above, there's an aquarium, several beautiful parks, many cafes and shops in this area. In short, there's plenty to walk around and see.

If you're interested in excursions rather than independent sightseeing, you can book them online on these trusted aggregators:

• Trip.com – the largest database of excursions, accepts Russian cards
• Sputnik8 – excursions in Russian, verified guides
• Tripster – private and group tours in Russian
• GetYourGuide – international platform, many reviews