China Travel guide

Shanghai Hotel Directions — From Airport to Your Door

Arriving at the airport is easy — it's the last mile that defeats travellers. Your Shanghai hotel is often tucked into a narrow street the map app can't resolve. Here's the reliable way to get from the airport to your Shanghai hotel, and how photo directions cover the final stretch.

Getting from the airport to central Shanghai

From PVG Pudong: Maglev to Longyang Road (~8 min) then metro Line 2, or metro Line 2 all the way (~60 min). From SHA Hongqiao: metro Line 2 or 10 to central Shanghai (~30-40 min). Save an imhere route from your metro stop for the final walk through the lanes to your hotel.

From your metro/train stop to the hotel: the last stretch

Start from a metro exit. The photos show the plane trees, the lane gate (nongtang) and the corner bakery - landmarks that work without reading signs. In the old town around Yuyuan, the alleys twist between shikumen houses; follow the photos step by step.

Why GPS fails in old-town streets

In Shanghai, streets in the old town are often unlabelled or the pins drift. Instead of trusting a blue dot, follow photographed landmarks: a red door, a bakery corner, a distinctive sign. Each step compares what you see with a real photo, so there is no guessing.

Save the route offline before you land

Open the imhere route at your pickup point once, and it stays usable offline — no roaming, no data plan needed. Build the route from your hotel or station, then share it with every arriving guest via a QR code.

Arrive prepared. Navigate without words.
Create a route Browse routes

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from the airport to my Shanghai hotel?
From PVG Pudong: Maglev to Longyang Road (~8 min) then metro Line 2, or metro Line 2 all the way (~60 min). From SHA Hongqiao: metro Line 2 or 10 to central Shanghai (~30-40 min). Save an imhere route from your metro stop for the final walk through the lanes to your hotel.
What if my Shanghai hotel is hard to find on maps?
Use photo step directions for the last stretch. The route starts at a stable landmark (metro exit, fountain, taxi stand) and shows a photo at every turn, so even unlabelled alleys work.
Does it work without mobile data?
Yes. Once opened, imhere routes work offline — essential for international travellers with roaming off.
Can a hotel share these directions with guests?
Yes. Hotels and homestays create the route once and share the link or a QR code in the booking message. See /business-join to set it up.