โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
120
minutes
International โ Domestic
120
minutes
International โ International
120
minutes
Interline Connections
150
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Shanghai Pudong International Airport operates two major terminals connected by an efficient transit system including shuttle buses and the famous Maglev train link to the city.
Terminal 1 primarily handles domestic flights and some regional international services, featuring streamlined check-in areas, security processing, and departure gates with basic amenities including restaurants, shops, and limited lounge facilities, along with immigration processing for international connections that prioritizes efficiency for the moderate passenger volumes.
Terminal 2 serves as the primary international gateway and China Eastern Airlines' main hub, featuring extensive check-in facilities with premium airline counters, advanced security screening systems with multiple lanes, comprehensive immigration and customs facilities with dedicated lanes for Chinese citizens and foreigners, expansive duty-free shopping areas including luxury brands and Chinese specialty products, diverse dining options from quick service to upscale restaurants featuring both international and local cuisine, multiple airline lounges including premium business and first-class facilities, comprehensive passenger services including medical facilities, children's areas, and sleeping pods for extended layovers.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) requires an understanding of its two massive terminal buildings and the Satellite Hall complex. For international-to-international transfers on a single ticket, look for the 'Intl Transfer' bypass to undergo a quick security check without clearing full immigration. Eligible travelers can take advantage of the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy, provided they have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Be aware of strict security rules regarding power banks, which must have a visible '3C' mark for domestic flights.
What makes Pudong efficient is that the ground links are engineered for volume, so the Maglev and Metro 2 can absorb the passenger surge that a city this size creates. The airport behaves like a transport district, not just a terminal. That scale is what lets Shanghai move long-haul traffic without choking the city roads.
That means the airport is a major city on its own, with terminals, cargo facilities, and rail links all arranged to move enormous numbers of long-haul travelers efficiently. For most visitors the key question is which rail or road link gets them into the city fastest, not which concourse has the shortest walk.
If your gate is in the Satellite Hall (S1 or S2), you must take the automated MRT train from the main terminal building; the journey takes about three minutes. At least three hours is advised for these transfers. A unique tip for 2026: use the new Airport Link Line for a 40-minute high-speed connection to Hongqiao Airport (SHA).
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Aral Talim Airport (ACF), with ICAO code ZWAL, is a modern public airport located in Tanan, about 12 kilometers south of Aral in Xinjiang, China. It opened on June 16, 2022, making it a relatively new regional facility designed to improve connectivity for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The airport operates from a single compact terminal building of about 4,509 square meters and includes six gates for passenger operations.
The terminal layout is simple, with check-in, security, and departure areas all located within one structure. This keeps walking distances short and makes navigation straightforward. Most passengers can move from the entrance to their gate in just a few minutes, which is helpful given the airport's regional role.
Security procedures at ACF follow Chinese aviation standards, including screening of carry-on bags, checked baggage, and passengers. Because the airport handles mainly domestic traffic and moderate volumes, waits are usually manageable. International immigration and customs facilities are not available on site, so those formalities must be completed at larger gateway airports in China when traveling internationally.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Aral Talim Airport involves navigating China's newest desert aviation facility opened June 16, 2022, as the first airport built on collapsible loess geology serving the Tarim River Basin from its strategic position 12 kilometers south of Aral in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps region. The Category 4C airport's 2,800-meter runway accommodates Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 aircraft supporting 16 planned domestic routes designed to handle 300,000 passengers, 1,100 tons of cargo, and 3,200 flights annually while integrating this remote region into the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.
Domestic connections focus on major Chinese aviation hubs with China Southern Airlines operating Shanghai routes (flight CZ5566) while regional carriers including Tianjin Airlines, Urumqi Air, and China Express Airlines provide connectivity throughout Xinjiang and western China. The primary gateway for onward connections remains รrรผmqi Diwopu International Airport located 850 kilometers north, offering comprehensive domestic coverage and international services to Central Asia, while eastern connections through Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi'an enable access to China's extensive high-speed rail network and international gateway airports.
Ground transportation from the compact 4,509-square-meter terminal includes taxi services covering the 12-kilometer journey to Aral city center in 15 minutes for ยฅ20-30 ($3-4 USD), while the airport's location in the Tarim Basin desert requires consideration of frequent dust storms from April through September affecting visibility and flight operations. The facility's modern infrastructure includes six gates and parking positions supporting regional economic development for agricultural exports from this cotton-producing region, while serving the strategic military and economic interests of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Weather considerations in this extreme continental desert climate include temperature variations from -20ยฐC in winter to 40ยฐC in summer, requiring flexible scheduling for connections through this remote outpost supporting China's Belt and Road Initiative connectivity goals in Central Asia's borderlands.
โ Back to Shanghai Pudong International Airport