Cheap flights to Shanghai

• Shanghai has two international airports namely the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the main airport for cheap flights to Shanghai and a hub for the majority of international flights. The ninth busiest airport in the world and the second-most in the country, it is located at a distance of 45 kilometres from centre city Shanghai. The IATA code for this airport is PVG.
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is the second international airport in Shanghai region and mostly caters to regional and domestic flights. Still, a good number of international flights make their way to this airport on a daily basis. Its IATA code is SHA and the distance from Shanghai central is 18 kilometres.

Clear skies and a good number of daily sunshine hours is a major demand of quality tourism. From October to December, less rainfall not only makes outdoor activities possible but also enjoyable. This is also reflected in the sudden rise in the number of tourists during this time of the year; hence the peak-season. An average temperature of 14 °C complements such weather. The July – August period is in turns warm and sunny, and rainy and humid. With 188 monthly sunshine hours on average, this is the perfect beach time. But weather can be fickle here and it could possibly rain the next day.

Apart from the choice of your destination, climate is also an important factor for the timing of your travel. Continuous rainfall is the main challenge when visiting Shanghai in the summer months, especially March and June. The climatic parameters are not in favour of outdoor recreations and sightseeing. The average temperature is 10 °C in March and 24 °C in June but feels more because of humidity. However, this acts as a push factor for travellers wanting to visit Shanghai on a lighter budget. When few people visit, both airlines and hotels are more than willing to fill the vacuum. As a result, we see discounted offers and last-minute deals pop-up every now and then.

Oriental Pearl Tower & the Bund: The iconic Shanghai panorama. Walk your talk alongside this splendid waterfront and visit museums, art galleries, shopping centres and restaurants. The Oriental Pearl Tower is opposite to Bund and presents its own viewpoint!

City God Temple: An ornate temple complex and the abode of three city gods: Huo Guang, Qin Yubo and Chen Huacheng. The temple gives a comprehensive insight to Buddhist architecture and craftsmanship down to the last detail.

Yu Garden: Adjacent to the City God Temple is this beautiful garden. This is the perfect place for family picnics and casual walks.

Shanghai Disney Resort: A large-scale amusement park with themed architecture and electric rides.

Shanghai Tower: The second tallest skyscraper on earth features the highest observation deck in the world. Prominent highlights include:

• Jade Buddha Temple
• Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
• Shanghai Museum
• Shanghai Science And Technology Museum
• Fuxing Park

Being a coastal city, Shanghai boasts a number of beaches. The most popular are:

• Wuzhizhou Beach
• Yalong Bay
• Gulangyu Beach
• Putuoshan Beaches
• Tianya Haijiao

Commuters make significant use of the Maglev Train when travelling long-distance. Of all the major routes within the city, the commute from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road (Shanghai city centre) is the most important one. This route is served by the Maglev Train and, given its speed; a distance of 30 kilometres can be covered in just 8 minutes. This is the most efficient and cost-effective option for those just coming out of the airport.

In order to retain some economic benefits when visiting a metropolis of Shanghai's scale, it is better to consider the bus option. Air-conditioned buses with conductor service provide value for money. All for a total of 2 Yuans! Also there are separate bus services for day and night travel. First-time visitors can also avail the services of hop-on / hop-off bus tours, and there are many service providers in the city, that offer guided tours across the famous hubs of Shanghai.

With a dozen lines, the Shanghai subway system dominates all other routes within the city. A subway fare does not come as cheap as a bus ride but it offers speedy accessibility to a number of key locations in the city. For a better experience, avoid rush-hours at all costs: from 7 to 10 in the morning and 4 to 7 in the evening.

Taxis give a more personalized experience with complete freedom of movement and time. But it comes at a price of course. Only hire metered taxis with registered number plates. Each taxi company has its own colour-coded vehicle. For example, Volks Wagen has blue taxis whereas Qiang Sheng has yellow ones. You can also book your taxis online.

Big cities have a size distribution that allows one mode of transportation to dominate all others. An effective use of a combination of these options will enable travellers to work out the best mode of transportation for each commute. Sometimes a taxi is desirable while other times, it’s the subway that you need.

Following are the popular five star hotels for a luxury stay in Shanghai

• InterContinental Shanghai Pudong
• The Langham Shanghai Xintiandi
• The PuLi Hotel and Spa
• InterContinental Shanghai Expo
• Crown Plaza Shanghai Pudon

For budget-travellers, some of the more popular 3 star hotels are mentioned below:

• Hotel Ibis Shanghai Lianyang
• Skiline World Union Service Apartment
• Mayson Shanghai Bund Serviced Apartment
• Magnificent International Hotel
• Shanghai Hundred Centuries Hotel