SHA Airfare to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is the older and more central of Shanghai's two airports. It sits in the western part of the city and is joined to one of the largest railway stations in China, which makes it a natural meeting point of planes, high-speed trains and the metro. Most travellers who compare SHA airfare are flying within China or arriving from a nearby regional city, rather than coming nonstop from Malaysia. If that fits your plans, Hongqiao can save a long cross-city transfer and put you close to trains heading into the Yangtze delta.

About Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Hongqiao was Shanghai's main airport before Pudong opened, and it remains extremely busy. Today it concentrates on domestic flights plus a limited set of short international and regional routes.

Location

The airport lies in the west of Shanghai, far closer to the downtown districts than Pudong. The surrounding Hongqiao business district has grown into a hub of offices, exhibition halls and shopping centres built around the transport interchange.

Terminals

There are two terminals. T2 is the larger, newer building and handles most traffic, and it is connected through an enclosed walkway to Hongqiao Railway Station. T1 is the older terminal on the opposite side of the runways. Always check which terminal your flight uses, because moving between them takes extra time.

Getting to and from Hongqiao airport

Metro Lines 2 and 10 both stop at the airport, giving direct rides to People's Square, Nanjing Road and Xintiandi. Taxis wait at official ranks, and fares into the city are modest because the distance is short. Ride-hailing is widely used too, so link a card or e-wallet that is accepted in China while you are still at home. For onward trips, the railway station next to T2 has frequent high-speed trains to Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and beyond.

Direct and connecting flights to Shanghai Hongqiao

Nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai generally arrive at Pudong, so a trip from Malaysia to Hongqiao usually involves a connection in another Chinese or regional city. That can still make sense if your journey combines several places in China. When you search, check the arrival code in each result: SHA means Hongqiao and PVG means Pudong. Use the Direct filter to see nonstop options on your chosen route, and compare layovers, baggage and the total journey time. For the international gateway, read about flights to Shanghai Pudong, or see both airports together on the Shanghai city page.

When to fly to Shanghai Hongqiao

Because Hongqiao is a domestic hub, it feels the Chinese holiday calendar most sharply. The Spring Festival, the Qingming break in spring, the Labour Day holiday in May and the national Golden Week in early October bring the heaviest crowds in the terminals and trains. Fares within China tend to rise around those dates.

Weather-wise, Shanghai is at its most pleasant in spring and autumn. The plum rain season in early summer is humid and grey, high summer is hot, and winter is chilly and damp. Malaysian travellers often plan around school holidays, Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, so compare the fare charts on this page before settling on dates.

Popular places to visit from Hongqiao, Shanghai

Zhujiajiao

This canal town in Qingpu, west of the airport, is known for its arched stone bridges and riverside lanes. Boat rides pass old houses and tea rooms along the water.

Jing'an Temple

A golden-roofed Buddhist temple standing among modern towers on Nanjing Road West. It is a striking picture of old and new Shanghai side by side.

Xintiandi

Restored shikumen lane houses now filled with restaurants and boutiques. The area is lively in the evening and easy to reach by metro from Hongqiao.

Suzhou gardens

A short high-speed train ride from Hongqiao, Suzhou is famous for its classical gardens, canals and silk heritage. Many visitors do it as a day trip.

West Lake in Hangzhou

Trains from Hongqiao also reach Hangzhou, where West Lake is ringed by pagodas, causeways and tea hills. It is one of China's best-loved scenic spots.

Where to stay in Shanghai near Hongqiao

The Hongqiao hub area suits travellers with early trains or flights, and it has plenty of restaurants and malls around the interchange. Changning district, between the airport and the centre, is residential and convenient for the metro. Jing'an puts you in the heart of the city with easy access to Nanjing Road West. For a first visit focused on the Bund and old town, the Huangpu district near People's Square remains a strong choice, reachable directly on Line 2.

Food to try in Shanghai

Hong shao rou

Red-braised pork belly cooked slowly in soy sauce, rice wine and rock sugar until glossy and tender. It is a signature home-style Shanghainese dish.

Cu chao noodles

Thick wheat noodles stir-fried with dark soy sauce, cabbage and pork, a hearty lunch served in small local canteens.

Zongzi from Zhujiajiao

Sticky rice parcels wrapped in bamboo leaves, often filled with pork or sweet bean paste, sold along the canals of the water town.

Lamian noodles

Hand-pulled noodles in beef broth, served in Muslim-run shops across Shanghai. They are a reliable halal choice for Malaysian travellers.

Planning a China trip that links Shanghai with nearby cities? Compare SHA airfare on Traveloka, filter by your preferred times and set a Price Alert. Save your e-ticket in the app, and check the entry requirements for your passport before you travel.