Hong Qiao International Airport, an airport where people love to visit again and again just to experience the major attractions of Shanghai and make it their favorite tourist destination. The airport increases the pride of China by welcoming more tourists every year. The airport lies in Changning District towards the western outskirts of Shanghai at a distance of 13 kilometre from the downtown area. This airport serves some 22,877,404 passengers every year. Due to this, it is the fourth busiest airport in the People’s Republic of China. It is the fifth busiest airport as per the cargo traffic and also the sixth busiest airport by traffic movements.
This airport serves the city of Shanghai largely where several domestic airlines are operated like Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hainan Airlines which is operated by Grand China Express, Juneyao Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Spring Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. International City-to-city services flights are also operated from this airport like All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Shanghai Airlines. Besides this, the airport also operates a cargo airline which is Yangtze River Express. The runway is 3400 metres in length and the apron is nearly 486,000 square metres that could accommodate 66 aircraft.
The airport is located at a distance of 40 kilometres from the Pudong International Airport. It is the first civilian airport in Shanghai and is over 80 years old. It has undergone renovations for many times and today after that became among the three International air transit centres in China. It has terminals A and B that covers an area of about 82,000 square kilometers. The terminals include 15 waiting halls, 18 VIP lounges and 15 baggage transfer belts. Overall, today some 91 airlines fly from this airport to domestic and international cities.
The Hong Qiao International Airport (SHA) has an official website as www.shanghaiairport.com. To reach to the airport all you need to do is to drive through the Yanan Xilu Highway from the central Shanghai. The route is signposted so you can simply follow it. After reaching there you can park your car at long and short term parking which is available at both the terminals. If you want you can hire a car from any of the car companies as well. Rental based car are available at the airport. Buses, shuttle, coach and taxis all are available at the airport for transportation. Most of the major hotels run Shuttle buses to and from the airport.
The airport has tourist information which is available by telephone. The airport also provides facilities like bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, post offices, international direct dial telephones, public telephones, internet, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping market and duty-free shops, luggage facilities, smoking areas, fitness centre, clinics and a beauty salon. For conference and business facilities you have three mini business centres that provides copying, fax and internet services. In Building A one facility is available for it whereas, Building B has two facilities available for conference and business. The Shanghai International Airport Hotel is also there to serve the facilities for you.
Facilities for disabled travellers include toilets, lifts, elevators and ramps. Apart from this, if you want accommodation then the Shanghai International Airport Hotel, Hengshan Hotel, Hilton Shanghai, Hotel Equatorial Shanghai, Grand Mercure Hongqiao Shanghai, Marriott Shanghai Hongqiao, New Garden Hotel, Novotel Atlantis Shanghai, Sheraton Grand Tai Ping Yang Hotel, Sofitel Hyland Shanghai and Regal Shanghai East Asia Hotel will be best suited.
If you stay in China for minimum 24 hours then visa is not needed for any of the passengers all over the world. A valid passport is necessary for all. If you plan to stay for nearly a month or more than 24 hours then visa is important. If you are visiting this amazing place then the autumn season will be the best to explore as the temperatures during this time will remain mild and rain will be less as compared to spring and summer. So just plan a better trip and at least visit the nearby attractions of Shanghai which will worth a lot.
