Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd. — Attraction in Shanghai

Taking the Shanghai Maglev train to Pudong International Airport was one of the most unforgettable parts of my trip. I boarded from the city’s main station—Longyang Road—and within moments, I was speeding toward the airport at a jaw-dropping 301–302 km/h. The entire journey took under 8 minutes, covering about 30 kilometers in what felt like the blink of an eye.

For anyone unfamiliar with magnetic levitation technology, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The train doesn’t touch the tracks—it floats, gliding silently and smoothly above them. It’s not just fast; it’s futuristic. Watching buildings and cars blur past as you hover above the rails is surreal.

The stations and trains were clean, spacious, and easy to navigate. Ticketing was simple, with options like:

Single trip: ~50 RMB

Return ticket (valid for 7 days): ~80 RMB

Maglev + Metro One Day Pass: ~55 RMB

Compared to the metro, which can take up to an hour, the Maglev is a game-changer. If you're flying out of Shanghai, this is hands-down the coolest way to get to the airport. It’s not just transportation—it’s a glimpse into the...

Though impressive, I won't rave about it. Sure, the technology is advanced, but the ride is not as smooth or comfortable as the Shanghai High Speed Train. The Maglev speed is set as about 300km/hr from 430km/hr for safety reasons while the Shanghai Speed Train goes faster at 350km/hr. My test for smoothness of train ride is to place a bottle of water on the window sill or table in front of you. With the High Speed Train (not Maglev), the bottle did not move and water did not splash around. Not the same with Maglev. Overall, I am looking forward to it being upgraded and going at a higher speed soon. Service, as always in China, very good and trains very clean...

Just think about it: this train does not have wheels and its not touching the ground at all. It is truly magical. There are recent developments and even a functioning low-speed line, and also some of the regular high speed trains exceed the Shanghai Maglev’s current (limited to 300km/h) speed. However this is still the original Maglev and a truly amazing piece of engineering and human ingenuity. The museum is small but free if you are holding a Maglev ticket. The ride to/from Pudong airport is exactly 8 minutes. The station is spotlessly clean and perfectly organized, like any other Chinese train...