Book Flights to Shanghai, China
The Bund's early 20th-century colonial architecture stares directly across the river at Pudong's futuristic skyline, built almost entirely since the 1990s on what was farmland decades ago. A short walk from the old city, Yu Garden preserves Ming Dynasty landscape design amid one of the most rapidly transformed cities on Earth.
China Eastern flies direct from Los Angeles and New York, with United offering additional Star Alliance options from Chicago and San Francisco. FareOptic compares every routing into Shanghai.
Cheap Flight Deals to Shanghai
*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
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Why Visit Shanghai?
A colonial-era waterfront staring down a skyline built almost overnight, and a 16th-century garden holding its ground amid it all.
The Bund — Shanghai's Historic Waterfront and a Defining Skyline Contrast
A Kilometer-Long Waterfront Promenade Lined With Early 20th-Century Colonial-Era Buildings, Facing Directly Across the River at Pudong's Futuristic Skyscraper SkylineThe Bund, a roughly one-kilometer stretch of waterfront promenade along the western bank of the Huangpu River, preserves an extraordinary concentration of early 20th-century architecture built during Shanghai's era as a treaty port under substantial foreign concession control, including Beaux-Arts, Gothic Revival and Art Deco buildings that once housed international banks and trading houses, giving this stretch of the city a genuinely distinctive colonial-era European character. The Bund's real visual power, however, comes from its direct view across the Huangpu River to Pudong's dramatically futuristic skyline, a collection of ultra-modern skyscrapers including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower that were built almost entirely since the 1990s, creating one of the most striking historical-versus-hypermodern skyline contrasts found in any city in the world.
Pudong's Skyline and Shanghai's Rapid Modern Transformation
Pudong, now home to some of the tallest buildings in the world including the Shanghai Tower, the second-tallest building on Earth at completion, was largely undeveloped farmland as recently as the early 1990s, and its transformation into a dense forest of skyscrapers within roughly three decades represents one of the most rapid and dramatic urban development stories anywhere in modern history, directly reflecting China's broader economic transformation over the same period.
Yu Garden — A Classical Chinese Garden From the Ming Dynasty at the Heart of the Old City
A Meticulously Designed Ming Dynasty Garden, Completed in 1577, Preserving Classical Chinese Landscape Design Principles Amid Shanghai's Modern Urban DensityYu Garden, completed in 1577 during the Ming Dynasty by a wealthy official as a private retreat for his parents, preserves a meticulously designed classical Chinese garden incorporating pavilions, rockeries, ponds and winding corridors according to traditional principles intended to create the impression of a much larger and more varied landscape within a compact space, offering visitors a genuine and well-preserved window into pre-modern Chinese aesthetic and philosophical approaches to garden design amid the otherwise thoroughly modern surrounding city. The garden sits within Shanghai's Old City, adjacent to a bustling traditional bazaar area of shops and restaurants that, while considerably redeveloped and commercialized in recent decades, retains an architectural style evoking traditional Chinese urban design.
Visiting Yu Garden and the Surrounding Bazaar
The area surrounding Yu Garden combines the historic garden itself with an adjacent commercial bazaar district selling traditional crafts, souvenirs and Shanghai street food, including the city's famous soup dumplings (xiaolongbao), making it a popular combined destination for both cultural and culinary exploration within a single compact area of the old city.
How to Find Cheap Flights to Shanghai
Confirm Which Shanghai Airport Your Flight Uses
Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) are two separate airports considerably far apart. Confirm which one your flight uses, since most international long-haul flights use Pudong.
Compare China Eastern and United Direct Routes
Both carriers offer direct US-Shanghai service. Compare fares and schedules, and consider United for Star Alliance mileage-earning if that fits your travel patterns.
Visit the Bund at Both Day and Night
The Bund's historic buildings look striking in daylight, but the Pudong skyline across the river is particularly spectacular after dark when its buildings are lit up, so consider visiting at both times if possible.
Airlines Flying to Shanghai
China Eastern Airlines — Shanghai's Home Carrier and Primary Long-Haul Operator
Direct Service From Los Angeles, New York and Other Major US Cities Makes China Eastern the Natural Default Carrier Into ShanghaiChina Eastern Airlines, headquartered in Shanghai and operating Pudong International Airport as its primary hub, provides extensive direct long-haul service from major US gateways including Los Angeles and New York, giving American travelers a range of direct routing options, and the airline's Shanghai hub status ensures well-developed onward domestic connectivity throughout China.
Key Routes
China Eastern direct from Los Angeles LAX and New York JFK, plus extensive service from its Shanghai hub
United Airlines and the Star Alliance Network
United's Own Direct Service Provides a Star Alliance Alternative for US-Based Frequent FlyersUnited Airlines operates its own direct long-haul routes into Shanghai from several US hubs including Chicago and San Francisco, and as a Star Alliance partner, offers frequent flyers a well-integrated network of codeshare and mileage-earning options across both carriers' Shanghai routes.
Key Routes
United Airlines direct service from Chicago ORD and San Francisco SFO
Two Airports Serve Shanghai — Pudong and Hongqiao
Pudong International Airport Handles the Vast Majority of International Long-Haul Traffic, While Hongqiao Primarily Serves Domestic and Some Regional Asian RoutesShanghai is served by two major airports: Pudong International Airport (PVG), roughly 30 kilometers east of the city center and the primary gateway for international long-haul flights, and Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), considerably closer to the city center and used mainly for domestic Chinese routes and some regional Asian connections, so travelers should confirm which airport their specific flight uses.
Key Routes
Pudong PVG for the great majority of international long-haul routes; Hongqiao SHA primarily for domestic and regional Asian connections
Things to Do in Shanghai
Important Information Before You Fly to Shanghai
Currency
Chinese Yuan / Renminbi (CNY) — mobile payment apps very widely used
Language
Mandarin Chinese (Shanghainese dialect also spoken locally)
Time Zone
China Standard Time (UTC+8, no daylight saving)
Country Code
+86 (China)
Airport Codes
PVG — Pudong (~30 km from city center); SHA — Hongqiao (closer, mostly domestic)
US Visa Required
Requirements vary — check current Chinese visa policy for US citizens before travel
Power Plugs
Type A/C/I — 220V / 50Hz; an adapter is needed for US devices
Emergency Number
110 (police) / 120 (medical)
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Shanghai
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Shanghai, China
What airports serve Shanghai?
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG) handles the vast majority of international long-haul flights, while Hongqiao International Airport (IATA: SHA), closer to the city center, is used mainly for domestic and some regional Asian routes. Confirm which airport your flight uses.
How do I fly from the US to Shanghai?
China Eastern Airlines operates direct flights from Los Angeles and New York, with United Airlines also offering direct service from Chicago and San Francisco.
What is the Bund?
A roughly one-kilometer waterfront promenade lined with early 20th-century colonial-era buildings, facing directly across the Huangpu River at Pudong's futuristic modern skyline, creating one of the most striking historical-versus-modern skyline contrasts in the world.
What is Yu Garden?
A classical Chinese garden completed in 1577 during the Ming Dynasty, preserving traditional garden design within Shanghai's Old City. It sits next to a bustling bazaar area known for street food including soup dumplings.
Do US citizens need a visa for China?
Requirements vary and have changed in recent years, including some visa-free transit policies. Check current Chinese visa requirements for US citizens before booking your trip.
What currency is used in Shanghai?
The Chinese yuan (renminbi, CNY). Mobile payment apps are extremely widely used; carrying some cash and an international card as backup is advisable for visitors.
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