Sleeping in Airports

Shanghai Pudong Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Shanghai Pudong Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

The airport is very huge and you can find a lot of free spaces both near the check in area and near the gate. – lormayna

PVG Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover, here is a quick run-down of what travellers have reported to us during their time at Shanghai Pudong Airport.

What to Expect

The massive Shanghai Pudong Airport (Code: PVG) is divided into Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, connected on the landside. Both terminals primarily handle international flights, both regional and long-haul, but domestic routes are common, too. A vast satellite terminal is finalizing construction and is expected to open in late 2019. Some travellers report confusing or inefficient security procedures (arrive early!), hawkers selling fake iPhones, and a language barrier.

Amenities include a variety of shops, including duty-free and eateries offering Chinese and Western cuisine, though some travellers report expensive prices. Several eateries are open 24 hours, mainly in Terminal 2, and two Family Mart convenience stores are open 24 hours in Terminal 1. WiFi is free, but you’ll need to receive a password via a Chinese mobile number or at a self-ticketing kiosk. Economy class passengers can pay to enter several airport lounges in both terminals, some of which have showers for freshening up. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Shanghai Pudong Airport Guide
(Photo courtesy of a guest traveller / July 2019)

Sleeping in Shanghai Pudong Airport

Overnight sleepers generally have no problems catching some z’s here, but it isn’t the most sleep-friendly airport. The airside is more comfortable than the landside, with more seating, sleep spots, and amenities. If you can grab a seat, expect little privacy. Plenty of nooks are perfect to tuck into if you prefer the floor, but bring a sleep mat or blanket to provide some cushion. You’ll also want to have earplugs or headphones and an extra layer to cope with noise and chilly temps.

For uninterrupted sleep, an hourly hotel is located in Terminal 2. Otherwise, several hotels are within walking distance and/or offer complimentary shuttle service. See our Airport Hotels section below for locations.

Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips or click here to write your review.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information.  For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Shanghai Pudong Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Shanghai Airport Hotels

Quick Facts

Nearest Hotel:  Within 10-minute walk
Sleep Cabins or Pods: No
Day Rooms: No
Nearby Hotels with Free Shuttles: Yes

When the prospect of sleeping on the floor or in a chair gives you nightmares, there is good news for those who are looking to sleep at Shanghai Pudong Airport in comfort.   If you are on a layover, there is an hourly hotel where you can rest in a private room.  Offsite, several nearby hotels are within a 10-minute drive and provide free airport shuttles.

Hotels near Pudong Airport

  • Dazhong Airport Hotel Shanghai – 5-minute walk to the terminals.  Located between Terminals 1 and 2, above the Maglev and metro stations. » Check Rates
  • Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai – A free airport shuttle bus is available from 4:15 AM to 1:10 AM (pick-up begins at 7:20 AM from T2). Shuttle departs T1 opposite Gate 9 (Arrivals Hall) and T2 at Gate 29. For airport pick-up from 1:10 AM to 7:20 AM, please call 68356166 after clearing customs. » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Shanghai Pudong Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!

International Terminal
  • First Class Lounge No. 37 Temporarily Closed – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, International Departures, South District, near Gates 18/19. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Lounge membership programs.
  • First Class Lounge No.69 – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, International Departures, Upper Floor, near Gate 69. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Lounge membership programs.
  • No. 77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge– Location: Terminal 2, Airside, International Departures, near Gate 77. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
  • VIP Lounge – Location: Terminal S1, Airside, International Departures, near Gate 135B. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • VIP Lounge – Location:  Terminal 2, Airside, International Departures, near Gate 170. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Domestic Terminal

Related Pages: Shanghai Pudong Airport Lounges

Drinking Water

A reader tells us, “There are drinking fountains along the walkway of the boarding gates. They are usually found near the bathrooms along the walkway.”

Food & Drinks

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:

  • Terminal 2, International Departure: Starbucks, near Gate D75
  • Terminal 2, Arrivals area: Burger King (2 locations) and Starbucks
  • Airport Transportation Center: Starbucks

Vending machines with drinks and snacks (some also serve hot beverages) can be found in the Arrivals Hall, the Ticket Counter Island in the Departure Hall and the Boarding Gates Area of T1.

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Secure luggage storage is available for up to two months. A valid photo ID and flight ticket/boarding pass are required; all luggage must be x-rayed before storage. Rates are 10 – 30 yuan per bag for up to 4 hours, 15 – 40 yuan for 4 to 10 hours, and 20 – 45 yuan for 10 to 24 hours. Oversized items are extra. Locations: T1, Departure Hall, between Gates 4 and 5 • T1, Departure Hall, between Gates 10 and 11 • T1, Arrivals Hall greeting area, between Gates 6 and 7 • T2, Departures Hall, near Island A and M • T2, Arrival Hall, near the International exit. Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM All Departures level locations • 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM All Arrivals level locations.

Mobile Charging

Charge your mobile devices for a small fee of 1 yuan per 10 minutes of charging. Location: T1, airside, Departure Hall (Gate 6) • T1, airside, Arrival Hall, 1st Floor (Gate 8). Additionally, there are power outlets and USB ports available throughout the airport.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower facilities are located in a few pay-to-use lounges. See the Airport Lounge section for locations.

WiFi/Internet

Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport, but a Chinese mobile phone number is required to receive an access code via SMS. If you don’t have a Chinese phone number, there are machines located airside that will print an access code for you. Boingo Wireless customers can also connect via hot spots in the airport.

Security & Safety

Airport staff don’t seem to mind overnight campers here – maybe that’s because they ignore a lot of what goes on at Shanghai Pudong Airport. At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues. However, some travellers have mentioned ongoing scams, including hotel representatives price gouging unsuspecting travellers and con men selling counterfeit technology, like Apple products, in public areas.

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

  • Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
  • Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
  • Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
  • Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Foreign bank ATMs in the airport are managed by Hang Seng Bank, Citibank and HSBC Bank. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside and Airside.

Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge.

Business Center – If you need to send a last-minute fax or copy some documents, you can use the Business Center located in Terminal 1, Arrivals Area • Terminal 2, Departure Counter on Island B. Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM.

Children’s Play Area – There is a play area in Terminal 2, Near the boarding gate at International Departure Terminal 81. Hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

Currency Exchange – Foreign currency counters are available landside and airside throughout the airport. Hours: vary, but most are open from the first international flight until approximately 1 hour after the last flight leaves.

Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping and various retail shops are available. Two Family Mart (convenience shops) are open 24 hours for any last-minute items. Location: T1, Arrivals, near Gate 5 • T1, Arrivals, near Gate 10.

Information Desk – Location: Terminal 1: Arrivals, opposite Gate 8 • Departures, next to Gate 6. Terminal 2: Arrivals, near the pick-up area (near Wuzhou Middle Road) • Departures, near Gate 25. Hours: 6:00AM – 12:00AM.

Medical Services – Services are available. Location: Terminal 1, next to Departure Gate 1. Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM • Terminal 2, Arrival Hall of Building B, where two medical offices are available. Hours: 6:30 AM – until the last flight.

Photo Booth – Capture that special moment or take a photo for your passport. Rates: 10 yuan for casual photos and 20 yuan for passport photos. Only 10 yuan or 20 yuan banknotes are accepted. Location: T2, Departures Hall, near Island G, of ticket services.

Post Office – Locations: T1, Domestic Departures, A Island • T2, Departure Hall, near Island B. Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM.

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Spa – Yongqi offers services such as manicures and pedicures. Location: T2, 3rd Floor. Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM.

Airlines
Shanghai Pudong airport is served by the following airlines: Aeroflot • Air Asia • Air Canada • Air China • Air France • Air India • Air Koryo • Air Macau • Air Mauritius • Air New Zealand • American Airlines • All Nippon Airways • Asiana Airlines • Austrian Airlines • Beijing Capital Airlines • British Airways • Cambodia Angkor Airlines • Cathay Pacific • Cebu Pacific • Chengdu Airlines • China Airlines • China Eastern Airlines • China Southern Airlines • China United • Delta Air Lines • Donghai Airlines • Eastar Jet • Emirates • Ethiopian Airlines • Etihad Airways • EVA Air • Finnair • Fuzhou Airlines • Garuda Indonesia • Hainan Airlines • Hebei Airlines • Hong Kong Airlines • Iberia • Japan Airlines • Jetstar Japan • Jin Air • Juneyao Airlines • KLM • Korean Air • Kunming Airlines • Lao Airlines • Lion Air • Lucky Airlines • Lufthansa • Mahan Airlines • Malaysia Airlines • Nok • Peach Airlines • Philippines Airlines • Qantas • Qatar Airways • Qingdao Airlines • Royal Brunei Airlines • S7 Airlines • Scandinavian Airlines • Scoot • Shandong Airlines • Shanghai Airlines • Shenzhen Airlines • Sichuan Airlines • Singapore Airlines • Spring • Suparna Airlines • Swiss • Thai Airways • Thai Lion Air • Tianjin Airlines • Turkish Airlines • T’way Air • United Airlines • Vietnam Airlines • Virgin Atlantic • West Air • Xiamen Airlines.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus/Coach

Eight local bus lines provide daily scheduled service to Pudong Airport, accessing both terminals and include a dedicated late-night route. For fares, routes and schedules, visit the Shanghai Pudong Airport website.

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update, we were able to find only one hotel that provided an airport shuttle: Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai.

See also Airport Hotels above.

Inter-Terminal Shuttles

A courtesy shuttle service connects terminals 1 and 2. This service runs every 10 minutes from 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM. The shuttle stops are T1 (Domestic Departures Gate 1 and International Departures Gate 8) and T2 (Domestic Departures Gate 23 and International Departures Gate 27).

Maglev

The Maglev is a modern, high-speed magnetic levitation train that provides transportation from Pudong Airport to the outskirts of Shanghai at up to 431km (268 mph). Trains operate from 7:00 AM – 9:30 PM. As of this update, fares are 50RMB for a single trip/80RMB for a double trip (economy) and 100RMB for a single trip/160RMB for a double trip (VIP).

Metro

Passengers needing to take the metro to or from Pudong Airport can take the Line 2 (green) extension between Guanglan Road station and Pudong Airport. For important route information, visit the Shanghai Pudong Airport website.

Taxi

The following rates were current at the time of this update:

Daytime taxi rates (5:00 AM – 11:00 PM):

Up to 3km: 14RMB (including 1RMB fuel surcharge)
3km – 10km: 2.5RMB per km
Over 10km: 3.6RMB per km

Nighttime taxi rates (11:00 PM – 5:00 AM):

Up to 3km: 18RMB (including 1RMB fuel surcharge)
3km – 10km: 3.1RMB per km
Over 10km: 4.7RMB per km

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.