Layover in Shanghai: How to Explore the City on an 8-Hour Stopover

Flight search aggregators often offer various connections through China, and Pudong International Airport in Shanghai has become one of the most popular hubs for flights to Southeast Asia, including Bali.

Many travelers spend hours here between flights, unsure whether they should leave the airport, missing the chance to explore one of Asia’s most vibrant cities. If you have at least an 8-hour layover, it’s absolutely worth.

No Chinese visa is required for a layover and city visit. Shanghai and other major airports in China offer visa-free transit for up to 10 days (240 hours). It is available to passengers arriving from one country and departing to another—China must not be the destination country.

The 240-hour count begins at 00:00 the day after arrival, so the actual stay in China could be up to 11 calendar days. To process the transit at passport control, you need to present a ticket to a third country and a hotel reservation for your stay if you plan to stay more than one day.

After exiting the plane, follow the signs for Immigration (passport control). City exit is through Terminal 1 of Pudong Airport. If your flight arrives at Terminal 2, you will first need to get to Terminal 1 via a free shuttle train. Regardless of which terminal you arrive in, the process of arranging visa-free transit and passport control usually takes about 30 minutes.

Temporary entry permits without a visa are issued at special counters - 24/240-Hour Transit. Look for these signs on the floor, banners, and walls and follow them. Before queuing, you need to fill out an arrival card for temporary entry — a temporary entry card for China. A stand with white forms with blue borders is located before passport control.

At passport control, state that you are in transit without a visa (Transit Without Visa) and provide your passport and the boarding pass for your next flight to a third country. Fingerprints are taken during passport control processing, so you don't need to submit them in separate machines.  

You can reach downtown Shanghai from the airport by metro or by the Maglev high-speed train. It's also a city attraction and takes you to Longyang Road station in 7 minutes. However, either way, you will need to transfer to the metro to reach the city center — for example, to Lujiazui (financial center), People's Square, or East Nanjing Road stations.

The train accelerates to 400 km/h (and runs no more than 300 km/h during peak hours) and departs every 15–20 minutes. From Pudong Airport, the first train leaves around 07:00 AM, and the last one around 09:30 PM. The last train from the city to the airport leaves around 09:40 PM. A one-way ticket on the Maglev costs 50 yuan. However, if your next flight is within 24 hours, show your boarding pass and buy a return ticket for just 85 yuan.

Traveling by metro is a much more budget-friendly option. From Pudong Airport, Metro Line 2 (Green) goes directly to the city center. The travel time to East Nanjing Road station is just over an hour, and the fare is 7 yuan.

The metro ticket offices and Maglev trains are nearby — you need to walk almost to the very end of a long passage, simply following the signs. To easily navigate transfers and metro routes, download the MetroMan app. It works offline, showing all lines and transfers, and calculates the optimal route from station to station.

If you have at least 8–10 hours between flights, you can manage to see Shanghai's most iconic places.

The Bund
The city's main promenade with views of the skyscrapers of the Pudong district and colonial-era buildings. It's a great place for a walk and photos. Metro: East Nanjing Road Station (Line 2).

Boat Ride on the Huangpu River
If you want to see Shanghai from the water, you can take a short river tour. Boats depart from the Bund promenade and travel along the Pudong district with its famous skyscrapers. The tour lasts about 50 minutes. Tickets are sold directly at the pier, with prices starting from 120 yuan.

Nanjing Road
The main pedestrian street in Shanghai with brand and souvenir shops, cafes, and street food. It's a short walk from the Bund — the street starts right from the promenade.

Lujiazui Financial Center
Shanghai's modern skyscrapers: Jin Mao Tower, Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, and the highest observation deck in China — Shanghai Tower (632 meters). Metro: Lujiazui Station (Line 2).

Yuyuan Garden and the Old City
Traditional Chinese architecture, teahouses, and souvenir shops. A great option if you want to see a more authentic Shanghai. Metro: Yuyuan Garden Station (Line 10).

French Quarter
Green boulevards, old European-style mansions, atmospheric cafes, and quiet streets — one of the most beautiful parts of the city. The famous former French Club building, constructed in the 1920s in the Art Deco style, is also located here. For a walk in the neighborhood, exit at South Shaanxi Road Station (Lines 1, 10, 12).

Jing'an Temple
One of the oldest temples in Shanghai, founded nearly 800 years ago. The temple is striking in contrast: its golden roofs shine against the backdrop of modern skyscrapers. The largest bronze statue of a seated Buddha in China is located on its grounds. Metro: Jing'an Temple Station (Lines 2 and 7).

Access to usual apps and sites like Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram is restricted in China. For full internet access outside the airport, you will need a pre-installed VPN and activated roaming. Buying a local SIM card is almost pointless — without a VPN, most common services won’t work either.

If you are not ready to explore the city on your own, Shanghai has launched a free tour program for all transit passengers — Shanghai Express by Trip.com. It includes airport transfers, a tour with an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to all attractions along the route, and internet. Lunch is not included in the program, but the guide will suggest where to find a good meal.

After passing passport control, find the Trip.com Group counter in the international arrivals hall – Terminal 1, ground floor, between exits 6 and 7. It is recommended to register for tours in advance before flying to Shanghai – groups are limited to 10 people, and registration closes one hour before the tour begins. You will need your international passport, boarding pass for the next flight, and temporary entry card to register. 

When planning a walk in Shanghai during a layover, keep national holidays in mind. From October 1-7, China celebrates Golden Week — a time of public holidays and massive travel within the country. There is also a large influx of people during the Chinese New Year, celebrated according to the lunar calendar in late January or early February (exact dates vary each year).

During these periods, there may be long queues at passport control, the metro and roads are crowded, and popular tourist spots are packed. If your layover coincides with Golden Week or the Chinese New Year, only go into the city if you have plenty of time or stay at the airport.