Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Shanghai (Minhang), CN 🇨🇳 Large International Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

ZSSS

IATA

SHA

Elevation

10 ft

Region

CN-31

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: ZSSS

Local Code: Not available

Location: 31.198104° N, 121.33426° E

Continent: AS

Type: Large International Airport

Arrivals

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Departures

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External Links

Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) generally receives positive feedback, particularly for its convenience and modern design. Travelers frequently praise its cleanliness, efficient processes, and excellent connectivity to the city center, especially for domestic flights. While some experiences vary, particularly concerning security wait times during peak periods, the airport remains a vital and generally well-regarded hub.

What Travelers Love

Convenient Location and Connectivity: SHA is praised for its proximity to the city center and seamless integration with Shanghai's public transport network, including the Metro (Lines 2 and 10) and the Hongqiao Railway Station. This makes transfers to and from the airport, and even to other parts of China via high-speed rail, remarkably easy.
Cleanliness and Modern Facilities: The airport is consistently recognized for its exceptional cleanliness, earning the title of China's cleanest airport by SKYTRAX in both 2024 and 2025. Reviewers highlight the sleek design, well-maintained terminals, and modern amenities, including "high-quality restrooms" with automatic flush systems and touchless operations.
Efficient Check-in and Security (often): Many travelers report fast and efficient check-in procedures, especially at the numerous self-service machines. While security can sometimes be slow, several reviews mention orderly and fast security checks, contributing to a smooth experience. Hongqiao has also introduced family-friendly security lanes.
Good Dining and Shopping Options: Terminal 2, which primarily serves domestic flights, offers a wide array of shops and restaurants. Even Terminal 1 has a decent selection, and travelers note options for alcohol, candy, perfumes, and Chinese goods. Free Wi-Fi is also available.

Common Complaints

Security Wait Times and Staff Attitude: While often efficient, some travelers have experienced slow-moving security lines and a lack of open lanes, especially during peak times and holidays. There are also occasional mentions of staff having a "general" or "unhelpful" attitude.
Bus Gate Usage (Lack of Jetways): A recurring complaint is the airport's frequent use of bus gates for both arrivals and departures, particularly for larger aircraft. This can lead to delays and inconvenience, especially in inclement weather.
Crowdedness and Traffic: Due to high passenger volumes, particularly during holidays and peak seasons, the airport can become very crowded, and surrounding road traffic can be severe. July 2025 saw record-breaking passenger traffic.
Limited 24-hour Facilities and Heating: While good for layovers, some reviews from previous years note that many shops and restaurants close by 10:00 PM. There are also mentions of lack of heating overnight in some areas, making it chilly.

Overall, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a highly functional and well-connected airport, particularly for domestic travel, and excels in cleanliness and modern infrastructure. Travelers seeking a smooth and convenient experience, especially with its excellent public transport links, will generally find SHA to be a good choice, though it's advisable to factor in potential delays at security and the frequent use of bus gates, especially during busy periods.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

Newly Discovered

Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 71 routes are indexed for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Destination	IATA	City	Aircraft Type	Airline	Details	Route Map
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Top Airlines

Operating at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
China Eastern `CES` / `MU`	21	43	21	Jul 26, 2025
Shanghai Airlines `CSH` / `FM`	13	22	13	Jul 26, 2025
Spring Airlines `CQH` / `9C`	10	19	10	Nov 20, 2025
Juneyao Airlines `DKH` / `HO`	8	15	8	Jul 24, 2025
China Southern Airlines `CSN` / `CZ`	5	10	5	Jul 26, 2025
Air China `CCA` / `CA`	4	7	4	Jul 26, 2025
XiamenAir `CXA` / `MF`	2	4	2	Jul 24, 2025
Shandong Airlines `CDG` / `SC`	2	2	2	Jul 15, 2025
Air Macau `AMU` / `NX`	1	2	1	Jul 22, 2025
Tibet Airlines `TBA` / `TV`	1	1	1	Jul 20, 2025

Showing top 10 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`18L/36R`	11154 ft	148 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`18R/36L`	10826 ft	197 ft	CON	Active Lighted

Type	Description	Frequency
APP	SHANGHAI APP SCTR 2	`119.75 MHz`
APP	SHANGHAI APP SCTR 1	`120.3 MHz`
APP	SHANGHAI APP SCTR 3	`121.3 MHz`
APP	SHANGHAI APP SCTR 4	`123.8 MHz`
ATIS	ATIS	`132.25 MHz`
CLD	DELIVERY	`121.75 MHz`
GND	GND	`121.6 MHz`
TWR	TWR	`118.1 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency
`C`	Hongqiao	NDB	`313 kHz`
`JTN`	Jiuting	VOR-DME	`109600 kHz`
`PK`	Nanxiang	NDB	`369 kHz`
`SHA`	Hongqiao	VOR-DME	`117200 kHz`

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

Official taxi stands are located outside the arrivals hall of both Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2). Fares are metered, and queues can be long during peak hours. It is highly recommended to have your destination address written in Chinese characters to show the driver.

Rental Cars

Several international and local car rental companies, such as Hertz, Avis, eHi Car Services, and CAR Inc., have service counters in the arrivals halls. Important: To rent and drive a car in China, you typically need a valid Chinese driver's license. An International Driving Permit (IDP) alone is usually not sufficient.

Public Transportation

Hongqiao is a major transportation hub with excellent public transit connections:
- Metro: Hongqiao Airport is served by Metro Line 10 (at both T1 and T2) and Line 2 (at T2). Line 2 connects directly to downtown areas like People's Square and continues to Pudong International Airport (PVG).
- High-Speed Rail: The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is co-located with Terminal 2, providing extensive high-speed train access to major cities across China, including Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Nanjing.
- Buses: Numerous city bus lines and long-distance coaches operate from the Hongqiao Transportation Hub, connecting to various parts of Shanghai and neighboring cities.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.