Airport Rail Links in China: Maglev and Metro Connections
Several Chinese airports have a rail link into town. They are fast, cheap and often faster than a taxi, but they do not always take you where you think.
Shanghai maglev
The Shanghai maglev connects Pudong International Airport with Longyang Road metro station on the eastern edge of the city. It is the fastest commercial train in the world in normal service, reaching its top speed only on some departures and only during certain hours.
The catch is where it leaves you. Longyang Road is not the city centre — it is a metro interchange, and you still need Line 2 or Line 7 to reach People’s Square, Jing’an or Hongqiao. Factor the transfer in before you decide it is faster than the metro.
For travellers heading to Hongqiao airport or Hongqiao railway station, the maglev plus metro combination is usually not faster than Line 2 all the way, because you change trains anyway.
Airport express and metro lines elsewhere
Beijing Capital Airport has an Airport Express linking to Dongzhimen, and Beijing Daxing is connected by the Daxing Airport Express to the southern metro network. Both are quick and inexpensive compared with a taxi, and both require a metro transfer to reach central hotels.
Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao’an, Chengdu Tianfu, Xi’an Xianyang and Kunming Changshui all have metro or dedicated rail connections. In most cases the metro is the default choice for anyone with light luggage.
Hong Kong International Airport connects to Kowloon and Hong Kong stations by the Airport Express, and from there the high-speed rail network continues into mainland China.
When a taxi still wins
With heavy luggage, two or more travellers, or an arrival late at night, a taxi or ride-hailing car is often better value once you count the cost of the transfer at the other end. Airport rail links are designed for commuters, not for people with three suitcases.
Also check the last train time. Airport express services stop earlier than you might expect, and a late arrival can leave you with no rail option at all.
Connecting to a train
If you are connecting from a flight to a high-speed train, the key question is which station your train leaves from. Shanghai Hongqiao has both an airport terminal and a railway station in the same complex, which makes it by far the easiest connection in the country. Beijing, by contrast, spreads its airports and stations across the city.
Allow at least three hours between a landing time and a train departure if you are changing stations, and longer at Beijing or Shanghai during peak hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the maglev in advance?
No. Tickets are sold at the station, and it rarely sells out outside peak holiday periods.
Does the maglev accept the metro card?
It is a separate fare system, though payment cards and mobile payment are accepted at the ticket machines. A metro travel card may not cover it.
Is the airport express cheaper than a taxi?
Yes, considerably — usually a small fraction of the taxi fare. The trade-off is the transfer at the city end.
All train routes we cover
Every route below has a dedicated page with live timetables, USD fares and a direct booking link.