Shanghai Layover: the Maglev, the Shanghai Tower and the Bund

Shanghai layovers are usually a race to the Bund. This one starts with the journey: we meet you at Pudong International Airport and ride into the city on the Maglev demonstration line, the first commercial high-speed maglev in the world, about thirty kilometres and designed for a maximum speed of 430 km/h.

In Lujiazui the programme goes up rather than along - the Shanghai Tower observation deck is the one place from which the whole bend of the Huangpu reads as a single picture. Then down to the west bank to walk the Bund, where 52 historic buildings in seventeen varieties of European classical style have been a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit since 1996, and your guide reads them in order of date.

The observation deck is the only ticketed element and is included in the price shown; the Maglev fare is bought on the day. Timings are set from your check-in and we will tell you before you book if the connection is too tight to be worth doing.

• The Maglev demonstration line from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road, designed for 430 km/h
• The Shanghai Tower observation deck in Lujiazui, with the whole Huangpu bend in one view
• The Bund promenade and its 52 historic buildings in seventeen European classical styles
• A National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit listing for the Bund frontage since 1996
• Private vehicle and guide throughout, timed from your check-in

• Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
• English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
• All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
• Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
• Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
• Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

The one ticketed element on this programme is the Shanghai Tower observation deck, which is included in the price shown at the current official adult rate. Entrance charges for any other site visited on this day are payable locally; the Bund promenade and the Lujiazui public spaces carry no charge. The Maglev demonstration line runs between Longyang Road station on metro line 2 and Pudong International Airport, about 30 kilometres, and was designed for a maximum operating speed of 430 km/h; it entered service in 2002 and has carried passengers commercially since 2006. Tickets are bought on the day - roughly CNY 50 single and CNY 80 return, with a discount on production of a same-day boarding pass - and are not included in the price shown. Shanghai is one of the ports covered by China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy, introduced on 17 December 2024, and the city also runs its own visa-free transit arrangements for eligible nationalities at both Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Eligibility depends on your nationality, on holding a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, and on the port of entry; the permitted stay runs from 00:00 on the day after arrival, and the area in which you may travel is set out in the current National Immigration Administration notice. Send us your passport details and flight numbers with your enquiry and we will confirm eligibility before you book.

How this stopover works. Send us your flight numbers and we will confirm whether it fits before you commit. If the layover is at Hongqiao rather than Pudong, the Maglev leg is not possible and we will substitute the Yu Garden version instead - tell us at enquiry.

Practical notes. The Shanghai Tower observation deck is a lift-and-view visit rather than any significant walking, and the Bund promenade is flat. Both are busy at weekends. If your onward flight is early in the morning we would recommend the overnight version of this programme rather than a compressed day.

Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour. Only your own party travels with the guide and vehicle, so the pace and the order of stops can be adjusted on the day.

Q: What is the best season for this itinerary?
A: April to June and September to November bring the mildest weather and clearest light. The programme runs year round, and we adjust the daily timings in mid-summer and winter.

Q: Can you handle dietary requirements and accessibility needs?
A: Yes. Vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and allergy-aware menus are arranged when you tell us in advance. Step-free and low-mobility versions of the route can also be planned.

Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your travel dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.