Shanghai is one of the major cities in the world, well known as international trade and financial hub. Its rapid development has made Shanghai the most expensive city to live in mainland China in the year 2017 and ranked 5th in the Global Financial Centers Index in the year 2018. To date, Shanghai is the largest city in China by population. Tourists visit Shanghai to witness its modernization as well as its culture and preserved ancient attractions.

Airports in Shanghai

1. Pudong International Airport

Pudong International Airport is the main international Airport in Shanghai. The airport features two large terminals which cater over 50 different domestic and international airlines from all around the world. For the convenience of passengers, free shuttle bus and conveyor belts are prepared to connect the two terminals which are only minutes away. The shuttle bus service hours are between 6.00am to 12.00am with a frequency every 10 minutes. The airport is located only 30 kilometers away from the east of Shanghai city. Travelling to the city from Pudong International airport cannot be easier, visitors can choose to either ride by Metro, taxi, bus and high-speed Maglev train. Currently, there is no direct flight from the Philippines to Shanghai. However, visitors can take flight from Manila with a minimum of one transit flight to China on various airlines.

2. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, also referred to as Hongqiao Airport, was converted from military use to civilian use in the year 1963. Before completion of Pudong Airport in the year 1999, Hongqiao Airport was the main airport serving Shanghai city. Hongqiao Airport also has two terminals, whereby Terminal 1 is dedicated mainly for China's Spring Airlines and all international flights serving five international routes leading to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei. The size of Terminal 2 is four times larger than Terminal 1, serving domestic flights which comprise 90 percent of total airlines operating in Hongqiao Airport. Visitors can ride the metro network from the airport terminals to reach the city center. Other alternatives to the city include riding by taxi and bus.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Shanghai?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travelers to find the cheapest flights to Shanghai.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Shanghai.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Shanghai?

Shanghai experiences four seasons and has a humid subtropical climate. Snowfall usually occurs for about one to two days, but the night temperature can drop to below zero degrees centigrade due to the northwesterly winds from Siberia. In contrast to chilly and damp weather in the winter, Shanghai is hot and humid in summer. Hottest day in Shanghai can reach more than 35 degrees centigrade for an average of 8 days with chances of rain and thunderstorms. You will also need to be alert on the typhoon which may happen during the summer and beginning of autumn.

To enjoy your outdoor tour around Shanghai, it is advisable to avoid winter and travel in the warmer weather between March and November. The peak travel season in Shanghai is in summer, from June till September. You may also want to look out for possible extreme heat and storms, often which happens in the first weeks of May and October, as well as July and August.

If you are keen to participate in local festivals, you may look forward to Chinese celebrations like Chinese New Year around January and February, as well as the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival around September and October. The exact date of these celebrations differs every year according to the lunar calendar. There are also other exciting events held annually in Shanghai that you may not want to miss. Shanghai Fashion Week is held in April and October every year, while April session coincides with Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival taking place in the entire month. For sports followers, you can also attend sports events such as local football matches, basketball tournaments, Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, tennis and many more.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Shanghai?

Shanghai is one of the most frequented cities in the world. Many attractions can be found in Shanghai.

1. Shanghai World Financial Center – Shanghai World Financial Center is a tower of mixed development consisting of offices, hotel, conference rooms, observation deck and shopping mall. Park Hyatt Shanghai situated in the tower is currently the third highest hotel in the world. Upon its opening in the year 2008, Shanghai World Financial Center was awarded Best Tall Building Overall and Asia & Australasia by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). To reach the tower, you can take a 10-minute walk from Shanghai Metro Line 2 at Lujiazui Station. You can access its observation deck at 94th, 97th and 100th floor between 9.00am to 10.30pm for the price range of 90-340 RMB (693-2620 PHP). The 100th-floor deck is the highest observation deck in the world, provided with transparent glass-walled walkways.

2. The Bund – You can walk along 1.3 kilometers of waterfront promenade at The Bund to enjoy the view of old Shanghai architecture dated back from the 1800s. The Bund is also called the museum of buildings due to the various design of old colonial buildings. Many prefer to visit The Bund at night to see the night view, but strolling during the day will give you access into the museum, movie poster gallery, the Valentine wall and more. You may need to equip yourself with food and water as the walk can take up to 2.5 hours. Also, you may not want to miss the Huangpu River Cruise to enjoy the view of the old and modern Shanghai architecture. The cruise varies between 30 minutes to 3.5 hours, depending on your selection.

3. Zhujiajiao Water Town – To experience the Venice of Shanghai, you may travel 50 kilometers from the city center. This is the nearest ancient town you can visit in Shanghai. Zhujiajiao town was established over 1700 years ago and the buildings from the Qing Dynasty from as early as 1644 has been preserved till now. Here, you can walk along the streets to see the ancient buildings while snacking in the restaurants, cafes and bars. You can also experience the Zhujiajiao Cruise on gondolas for 10 minutes within a short-distance which costs 80 RMB (616 PHP) or return cruise around the town for 150 RMB (1155 PHP).