China runs the only high-speed maglev in commercial service anywhere in the world — the eight-minute link between Shanghai's Pudong airport and the metro network. The rest of the map is small: one airport shuttle in Changsha, a commuter line in western Beijing, and two sightseeing lines built to move tourists rather than commuters. Here is what each one costs, when it runs, and whether it actually saves you time.
What a Maglev Actually Is
A maglev train has no wheels. Electromagnets lift the carriages 8 to 10 millimeters above the guideway, so there is no rolling contact and no track noise; at 300 km/h the loudest thing in the cabin is conversation. Only Shanghai runs high-speed maglev — every other line in China tops out at 140 km/h or less.
The Shanghai Maglev: 30 Kilometers, Eight Minutes
The Shanghai maglev runs 30 kilometers from Longyang Road station in Pudong to Pudong International Airport, with no intermediate stops. It opened at the end of 2002 as the world's first commercial high-speed maglev, and for its first decade it ran at 431 km/h, the fastest scheduled passenger service on earth.
That record is history. Since May 2020 the line has been capped at 300 km/h to cut energy use and wear, which sounds dramatic and changes almost nothing: the full run went from about 7 minutes 20 seconds to about 8. The speed display still climbs past 250, and the sensation of a train with no wheels is intact.
Longyang Road is an interchange for Metro Lines 2, 7, 16 and 18, and at the airport the maglev station sits inside the Terminal 1 and 2 complex, a short indoor walk from arrivals.
Tickets, Timetable and the VIP Car
Fares are fixed and have barely moved in years.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single, standard | 50 CNY | Either direction |
| Single with same-day boarding pass | 40 CNY | Show a paper or electronic ticket dated that day |
| Return, standard | 80 CNY | Valid 7 days from purchase |
| Single, VIP car | 100 CNY | Front carriage, forward-facing panoramic window |
| Return, VIP car | 160 CNY | Valid 7 days from purchase |
Trains leave Longyang Road from 06:45 to 21:40 and the airport from 07:02 to 21:42, every 15 minutes until 19:00 and every 20 minutes after. Seats are not reserved; buy at the window or the machines with cash, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Two details catch visitors out. There is an airport-style security check before the platform, so allow ten minutes at busy times. And the maglev is run separately from the national rail network, so 12306 does not sell its tickets — do not look for the line on the railway app. Third-party platforms do resell maglev tickets with passport details entered in advance.
Is It Actually Faster for You?
The maglev is the fastest way to cover the first 30 kilometers from Pudong airport. It is not always the fastest way to your hotel, because it stops at Longyang Road and nowhere else.
| Option from Pudong Airport | Journey time | Fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai maglev plus Metro Line 2 | 8 minutes plus 25 to 30 | 50 plus about 4 CNY | Light luggage, hotels on Line 2 |
| Metro Line 2 all the way | 60 to 75 minutes | about 7 CNY | Budget travelers, no transfer |
| Airport Link Line to Hongqiao | about 40 minutes | 26 CNY | Connecting between airports |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 45 to 70 minutes | 150 to 250 CNY | Families, heavy bags, late arrivals |
The Airport Link Line, opened at the end of 2024, is the maglev's real competitor between airports: 40 minutes, 26 CNY, every 15 minutes from about 06:00 to 22:00. For a hotel near People's Square, neither is door to door. Ride the maglev because you want to ride it, or because Longyang Road sits on your route.
Changsha: The Maglev That Connects a Plane to a Train
Changsha Maglev Express is the one visitors use without realizing it is unusual. Opened in May 2016 as China's first medium-low-speed maglev built entirely with domestic technology, it solves a specific problem: Changsha South station, on the Shanghai-Kunming and Beijing-Guangzhou corridors, sits 18.55 kilometers from Huanghua International Airport.
The line has three stations — Maglev HSR Station at Changsha South, Langli, and Maglev Airport Station at Terminals 1 and 2 — and takes about 17 minutes end to end. The fare is a flat 20 CNY, or 10 CNY for the short hop to Langli. Trains run every 10 minutes at peak and 15 off-peak, 07:00 to about 22:30, with the airport's last departure extended to 23:00 at weekends.
If you fly into Changsha to catch a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie or Fenghuang, plan around this link. Budget 40 minutes from aircraft door to departure hall; the maglev station also handles check-in for same-day flights.
Two Sightseeing Maglevs Most Visitors Miss
Both smaller lines were built as attractions first and transport second. The Fenghuang Maglev Sightseeing Express opened on May 1, 2022, running 9.121 kilometers and four stations from Fenghuang Gucheng station on the Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua high-speed line to the edge of the old town. It runs at 100 km/h, climbs into hillside viewpoints on purpose, and passes through a light-and-sound tunnel between Lansheng and Dengdai stations; Lansheng itself is a three-level viewing platform over the town. Fares and timetables shift with the season, so check at the station.
Qingyuan Chimelong Maglev in Guangdong opened with the resort on January 25, 2025: 8.1 kilometers, three stations, a link to the Guangqing intercity railway at Yinzhan, up to 120 km/h, and 15 CNY. From June 5, 2026 it runs only 09:40 to 12:05 and 15:00 to 18:20 with a 60-minute interval.
Beijing S1: The Commuter Maglev
Beijing's S1 is the least touristy of the group and the easiest to ride by accident: 10.236 kilometers across Mentougou in western Beijing, from Pingguoyuan to Shichang, all elevated, opened in stages in December 2017 and December 2021. It charges ordinary metro fares and accepts the same transit card and QR codes.
What Is Coming: 600 km/h and a Test Line
Maglev news in China is mostly policy news, and there was a real development this month. On October 12, 2026 the National Railway Administration issued its science and technology plan for the 15th Five-Year period, committing to advance 600 km/h maglev research and domestic verification of key technologies alongside the CR450 train family for 400 km/h. That is a research mandate, not a new line, and no 600 km/h service has an opening date. Separately, the head of China's high-speed maglev laboratory said in March 2026 that a test line for speeds around 1,000 km/h was targeted for completion in October 2026.
Practical Notes for International Visitors
- Your passport is the ticket. At staffed windows the passport number goes on the ticket, and at the gates you scan the document, not a QR code.
- Security screening applies at maglev stations. Sharp objects and aerosols follow the same rules as the railway.
- There is no formal luggage limit, but nowhere to store a large suitcase except beside your seat; the metro is easier with big bags. The Shanghai maglev's last train leaves the airport at 21:42, so a delayed evening flight means a taxi.
If your trip includes several rail segments, read up on how Chinese stations work before you arrive: our guide to station and boarding procedures covers security, gates and luggage limits, and the foreign passport booking walkthrough explains 12306 registration. For itineraries that pair a maglev arrival with a multi-city rail route, see our leisure tours and corporate visit programs, or browse the rest of the China Trains column.
FAQ
Is the Shanghai maglev still the fastest train in the world?
No. It holds the record for the fastest commercial maglev ever operated, at 431 km/h until 2020, but it now runs at 300 km/h, and China's CR450 trains are being developed for 400 km/h. Its average speed over 30 kilometers is about 245 km/h because it accelerates and brakes within eight minutes.
Can I book Shanghai maglev tickets on 12306?
No. The maglev is run by Shanghai Maglev Transportation, separate from China Railway, so 12306 does not list it. Buy at the station or through a platform that resells maglev tickets in English.
Is the VIP car worth 100 CNY?
For photographers and rail enthusiasts, yes: the front carriage has a forward-facing panoramic window and the best view of the guideway. For everyone else the standard car is comfortable, and the saving buys lunch.
Does the maglev run in bad weather?
Yes, and that is one of its advantages. With no wheel-rail contact, snow and heavy rain affect maglevs less than conventional track, and the Shanghai line runs through typhoon-season downpours that slow road traffic to a crawl.
Sources
- Shanghai Maglev operator fare and timetable pages (smtdc.com), checked October 2026.
- Shanghai Airport Authority, Airport Link Line timetable, updated June 15, 2026.
- Changsha Maglev Express fares and timetables; Hunan provincial government releases.
- Fenghuang Maglev line data: 9.121 km, four stations, opened May 1, 2022.
- Qingyuan Chimelong Maglev operating notice, effective June 5, 2026.
- National Railway Administration, 15th Five-Year railway science and technology plan, October 12, 2026.
- High-speed maglev laboratory statement on the 1,000 km/h test line, March 2026.
Fares and timetables were checked on October 30, 2026 and can change without notice; confirm with the operator on the day of travel.
