$389+ Cheap flights to Shanghai

Once known as a city of decadence in the 1920s and 1930s, Shanghai has evolved to become one of China’s busiest financial and tourism ports. Often the inspiration of sinful novels and creative cocktails, Shanghai is more a figment of one’s imagination than a real city. But travelers booking flights to Shanghai will soon discover why Time magazine named it the “world’s most happening city.”

Stand in Shanghai’s city center and let the massive steel skyscrapers, alluring restaurants and bars, and electric lights captivate you. Only on your flight to Shanghai will you experience a bit of quiet and calm. Once you arrive in Shanghai, the city will entice you to engage in a little excitement and adventure, all along the backdrop of Asian influence.

Shanghai is full of surprises. A flight to Shanghai will be the first of many exciting adventures tourists will happen upon in the world’s largest city. Constantly evolving and ever-changing, Shanghai embraces excitement and exudes sophistication. Book a cheap flight to Shanghai and within minutes of landing, China’s richest city will leave you wanting more.

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Shanghai climate

Summer in Shanghai can be quite uncomfortable. July and August temperatures can reach the mid-90s (F) with 80 percent humidity. Winter is damp and chilly with December and January temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, but it rarely snows. Temperatures in May and October are in the 60s and 70s. Spring has more rain than fall, but an occasional typhoon can hit in the fall.

Best Time to Fly to Shanghai

Peak Season:

Most tourists and business travelers book flights to Shanghai from May through October. However, during these months its advised that travelers seeking Shanghai flights and hotel accommodations book in advance, as the city is usually busy with conventions.

The busiest time is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), when the Chinese and visitors to China are on the move. The holiday season starts two weeks before the New Year and continues for two weeks afterwards. The New Year is in January or February (the date is based on a lunar calendar).

Labor Day (May 1) and National Day (October 1) are also big holiday weeks for the Chinese.

Off Season:

Late March and late October into early November have fewer crowds and the weather is neither steamy hot nor cold and damp. Few people visit during winter, with the notable exception of the Chinese New Year, but this is also the best time to find cheap flights to Shanghai.

Getting around Shanghai

Most visitors choose to take a taxi in Shanghai. Not only are they easy to find, but they’re cheap too. Just keep an eye out for the primary-colored Volkswagen cabs and flag one down. You’ll find that the smaller, older cars tend to be cheaper, and they all run off of meters. The subway is the best public transportation option. It’s inexpensive, and the public buses are too crowded, too confusing and just plain uncomfortable. The adventurous traveler might want to rent a bike. There are plenty of well-defined bike lanes, but it can be a bit scary with all the traffic. Stick with the other bikes when crossing a street or intersection. Heading out on foot is a great way to soak up the local color. Between the pedestrians, motorists, scooters and cyclists, streets can be very crowded; be aware of your surroundings. Jaywalking can be dangerous and is frowned upon anyway. Tourists are allowed to rent cars for use inside the city limits.

Shanghai Travel Information

• The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road, is a famous waterfront area. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shanghai and boasts a square with the following: the Cenotaph which stands on the man-made island; the Electronic Waterfall Bell, and the Great Mural Carving. On the west side of the Bund are 52 buildings of different architectural styles (Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and Renaissance).
• The Oriental Pearl TV Tower at about 1,500 feet high is one of the world’s highest TV and radio towers. This truly amazing structure contains the Shanghai Municipal History Museum, a hotel, shops, restaurants, including a rotating restaurant, and a futuristic space city and sightseeing hall, from which, on a clear day, a visitor can see the Yangtze River.
• The Jade Buddha Temple was built in 1882 (and rebuilt in 1928 after a fire) to house two Burmese jade Buddha statues. The Confucius Temple also offers a quiet space away from the city crowds.
• Yu Yuan garden, the Garden of Leisurely Repose is a classical garden more than 400 years old. It was built by a wealthy official in 1577 to please his parents in their old age. It boasts gardens within gardens with all the features you would expect of a Chinese garden: rockeries, bridges, goldfish ponds and pavilions.
• Zhujiajiao Water Town is a well-preserved town on the Dianpu River, about an hour’s bus ride from Shanghai. Old streets and architecture date from the Ming and Qing periods and there are quiet courtyards and ancient bridges. It is known as the Venice of Shanghai. It costs 50 yuan to enter the town, hiring a bicycle at the town gates costs 20 yuan and renting a boat (six people share) costs about 100 yuan.
• The Jin Mao Tower in the Pudong district (the financial area) with 88 storeys is the tallest building in China and the fifth-tallest in the world (by roof height). It contains offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel (the world’s highest hotel rooms). The tower has an observatory on the 88th floor, the largest and highest observation deck in China
• Fuxing Park is more than 100 years old and was called Gujiazhai Park before the French bought it to accommodate armies in 1900. It is the only French-style park in the city. Watch out for the statue of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, they share one body, and for the Tai Chi enthusiasts in the early morning.

Shanghai airports overview

Located on the eastern coast of Pudong, approximately 19 miles (30 km) east of central Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) is one of Asia’s main aerial hubs. In 2010 it handled 40.6 million passengers, making it the third busiest airport in China and the 20th busiest in the world. 

Shanghai Pudong consists of two passenger terminals, flanked on either side by three parallel runways, with the Maglev Railway Station located at the center of the complex. Inside the terminals, you’ll find a fair variety of services and facilities, in addition to a number of upmarket retail and duty free stores.

A range of renovations are planned: by 2015 a third passenger terminal, satellite terminal, and two more runways will be built, the result of which will increase the airport’s handling capacity from 60 to 80 million passengers per year.

Like most major international hubs, Shanghai Pudong can get chaotic during peak hours. Not all staff are bilingual; however, they are generally friendly and helpful. Overall, the airport is clean, efficient and reasonably modern. 

Situated in Changning District, approximately eight miles (13km) west of Shanghai is Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The facility serves as one of the main transit hubs for China and more than 90 airlines make use the airport’s facilities.

The airport is divided into two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The latter was opened in early 2010 and is four times the size of the original terminal. The new terminal houses 90 percent of the carriers and Terminal 1 is now used for international flight and by Spring Air, the low-cost airline.

Since the completion of the Shanghai Pudong Airport on the other side of the city, the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport has been used mainly for domestic flights. However, Hongqiao Airport is closer to the city and has excellent connections to nearby hotels.