35 km · 45-70 min · From $40-55
The Bund sits 35 km from Shanghai Pudong International Airport along the Huangpu River waterfront. Official airport taxis charge ¥180-250 ($25-35) on the meter for the 45-70 minute journey through Pudong District and across the river. Heavy traffic on Yan'an Elevated Road extends travel time during morning (7-9 AM) and evening (5-8 PM) rush hours. Pre-booked private transfers eliminate queue waits at Terminal 1 and 2.
| Option | Price (est.) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked transfer | $40-55 | Fixed all-in price · meet & greet · flight tracking · ALL surcharges and tolls included · free cancellation |
| Metered taxi |
⚠ $25-35 meter ONLY + $6-14 surcharges, tolls, tip ≈ $31-49 typical total |
Meter only - airport surcharge, tolls, midnight surcharge and tip added on top. Final cost varies with traffic. |
| Ride-hailing app | N/A | Upfront pricing - pickup may require walking to a designated zone, surge during busy times |
Note: Pre-booked transfer prices are the all-in amount you actually pay. Metered taxi prices shown are the meter only - typical out-of-pocket cost is 20–40% higher once airport surcharges, tolls and tip are added. Compare like-for-like before deciding.
Official green Dazhong and blue Qiangsheng airport taxis use meters with ¥18 flagfall plus highway tolls (¥15-20). Route follows S20 Outer Ring Expressway to Yan'an Elevated Road, crossing into Puxi via tunnels. Pre-booked transfers (¥280-380) include meet-and-greet with name signs and fixed pricing. Maglev train to Longyang Road Station (¥50, 8 minutes) connects to Metro Line 2 direct to East Nanjing Road Station, then 10-minute walk to The Bund. Total metro journey costs ¥7-8 but requires 50-60 minutes with transfers. Night surcharge (11 PM-5 AM) adds 30% to taxi fares.
Choose taxis when arriving late-night after Metro closes at 11 PM, traveling with more than two passengers, or carrying luggage. Direct door-to-door service to waterfront hotels along Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu beats metro transfers. Pre-book during Chinese New Year, National Day Golden Week (Oct 1-7), or Shanghai International Film Festival when demand peaks.
DiDi dominates Shanghai's ride-hailing market with English-language app support and upfront pricing. Download before arrival since Google Play is blocked; payment requires WeChat Pay or Alipay setup. International credit cards rarely work in Chinese apps, making airport taxi counters more accessible for visitors without local payment methods.
A pre-booked private transfer is $40-55 all-in - the price is fixed and includes airport surcharges, tolls and meet-and-greet. A metered taxi shows $25-35 on the meter, but the actual amount you pay is typically 20-40% higher once airport surcharges, tolls and a tip are added. Ride-hailing is N/A where available.
Plan for 45-70 min to cover the 35 km under normal conditions - rush-hour traffic in Shanghai can stretch that by another 20-30 minutes. With a pre-booked transfer your flight is tracked, so the driver adjusts to your actual arrival time.
DiDi dominates Shanghai's ride-hailing market with English-language app support and upfront pricing. Download before arrival since Google Play is blocked; payment requires WeChat Pay or Alipay setup. International credit cards rarely work in Chinese apps, making airport taxi counters more accessible for visitors without local payment methods. A ride-hailing fare of about N/A is normally the cheapest, with the trade-off that pickup zones can be a walk from arrivals. If you value certainty over the last few dollars, a fixed-price transfer at $40-55 removes every surprise.
Both work, but they solve different problems. The taxi rank at Shanghai (PVG) is fine when you are flexible on price; a pre-booked transfer is better when you want a fixed fare, a driver holding your name sign and a paper trail. Whatever you choose, decline any driver who approaches you inside the terminal.
Usually enough to get you there: pre-booked drivers are screened for basic English, while metered taxi drivers vary from fluent to phrasebook level. A Google Maps pin or the address in local script solves most misunderstandings before they happen.
Nothing you need to act on: pre-booked transfers track your flight, and the driver waits out any delay at no extra charge. If you land late and rely on the taxi queue at Shanghai (PVG) instead, be prepared for longer waits and the possibility that counters have closed overnight.
See our full Shanghai Pudong International Airport transfer guide for all destinations, local taxi tips, FAQ and booking options. For nationwide context, see our China transfer guide.