Travel Information
Arriving by Air
Shanghai has two international airports. Pudong International Airport (PVG) opened in 1999 and handles most international and some domestic flights.
The second airport, Hongqiao Airport (SHA), has some international and most domestic flights.
Shangai Airport Website
Ground Transportation
Pudong International Airport is about an hour’s drive (30km) from Shanghai city centre. Buses, taxis and the Maglev high speed train connect this new airport to the city centre.
Bus Information and Timetables
Maglev High Speed Train
Hongqiao Airport is 18km from the Bund and reachable via bus or taxi.
Bus Information and Timetables
If you would prefer to pre-book transfers to and from the airports please contact Destination China, a local company, who would be happy to assist with your transport arrangements. Rates for pick up and an English-speaking guide vary depending on the number of passengers: 1 person at US$90 per person, 2 persons at US$48 per person, 3-5 persons at US$30 per person, 6-9 persons at US$27 per person, and 10+ persons at US$18 per person. Please contact Destination China directly, mary@destinationchina.biz, www.destinationchina.biz (opens in a new window).
Currency Conversion in China
Foreign money can be exchanged in China from traveller's cheques, cash conversion at banks and hotels and purchase via credit cards.
Traveller's Cheques
Traveller's cheques provide a fairly secure way of carrying money. The Bank of China can cash traveller's cheques sold by international commercial banks and traveller's cheque companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany and other countries and regions. Also the Bank of China sells traveller's cheques for such banks as American Express, Citibank, Tongjilong Traveller's Cheque Co., the Sumitomo Bank of Japan, the Swiss Banking Corporation and others.
Currency Conversion
Money exchange facilities for both currency and traveller's cheques are available at major airports, hotels, and department stores. Please note that hotels may only exchange money for their guests. Exchange rates fluctuate in line with international financial market conditions and are published daily by the State Exchange Control Administration. Keep your currency exchange receipts, because you will need to show them when you change RMB back to your own currency at the end of your visit to China. Currency rather than credit cards is essential in remote areas, and you should ensure that you carry sufficient RMB and traveller's cheques to cover your requirements.
Credit Cards
At present, the following credit cards are accepted in China: MasterCard, Federal Card, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diners Card. Holders can draw cash from the Bank of China and pay for purchases at exchange centers of the Bank of China, appointed shops, hotels and restaurants. However, this applies only in major cities. Credit cards are not always accepted for the purchase of rail and air tickets. ATMs that accept foreign cards are few and far between. Do not rely on them as a way of obtaining cash in Mainland China. Consult with your bank before departing to make sure that your brand of cheque or credit card will be accepted.
Currency Regulations
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency and foreign exchange bills that can be brought into China by tourists, but the amount must be declared to the customs.
About RMB
Chinese currency is called Renminbi (people's money), often abbreviated as RMB. Issued by the People's Bank of China it is the sole legal tender for both the Chinese nationals and foreign tourists. The unit of Renminbi is yuan and the smaller, jiao and fen. The conversion among the three is: 1 yuan = 10 jiao =100 fen. Chinese people normally refer to Yuan as Kuai, Jiao as Mao. RMB is issued both in notes and coins. The denominations of paper notes include 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen. The denominations of coins are 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen.
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