Travelling from Philadelphia to Shanghai: what you need to know
Planning your trip starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Philadelphia. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the city's main base, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai departing from here.
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's major entry points.
Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of Philadelphia and is in the UTC+8 timezone.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to board your Philadelphia to Shanghai flight.
You can expect longer lines in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Philadelphia to Shanghai
Don't leave everything to the last minute. You're more likely to find cheap Philadelphia to Shanghai flights if you book ahead. Airlines often have some amazing early bird deals.
Getting cheap plane tickets from Philadelphia to Shanghai is easy if you're flexible with your trip dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search tool to see the lowest fares across each month and snap up a sweet deal.
Locking in a cheap flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when the price has dropped.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' Philadelphia to Shanghai flights.
Flying from Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for Philadelphia to Shanghai flights leaving from Philadelphia International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Detroit Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Travelling from central Philadelphia to PHL takes about 30 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a handy hotel close to Philadelphia International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai, these stays will put you nice and close to your departure gate:
77% of flights that depart Philadelphia International Airport land at their destination on time.
PHL is located at 8500 Essington Ave.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) is approximately 32 kilometres from the centre of Shanghai. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive will take around 1 hour 5 minutes.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes roughly 50 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Venture beyond Shanghai and explore places that usually fly under the radar with your own set of wheels. You can pick up a Shanghai Pudong Airport rental car from Hertz.
To get the best possible deal, reserve your ride from Shanghai Pudong Airport at least a couple of weeks ahead. Rates typically rise as your departure date approaches.
PVG is located at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is about 13 kilometres from the centre of Shanghai. Once you've disembarked your flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai, it'll take you approximately 30 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
The journey will take about 40 minutes on public transport.
You'll find some great places to call home for the night near SHA. Settle in and get cosy after your Philadelphia to Shanghai flight at one of these well-located options:
Grab a Shanghai Hongqiao Airport rental car and experience more with your own wheels. Hertz is just moments from baggage claim, so you can drive off without missing a beat.
Avoid filling out forms on the spot and save time at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Secure your ride from SHA a few weeks in advance so you can just get the keys and go.
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is located at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
April is the busiest month for flights from Philadelphia to Shanghai. To avoid the crowds, head to Shanghai in March.
Lock in a Philadelphia to Shanghai ticket departing in August if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Shanghai to range from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).
Search for cheap flights from Philadelphia to Shanghai in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) on average.
More about Shanghai
Once you've booked your flight from Philadelphia to Shanghai, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Shanghai:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Tower and The Bund Sightseeing Avenue are top attractions which should feature on any good Shanghai itinerary.
Explore more of China
Nanjing is just one of the many cities in China waiting to be explored after you've experienced Shanghai. Around 274 kilometres to the west, its top attractions include Nanjing City Wall, Zijin Tower and The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
Suzhou is another sought-after destination in China and is around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. No journey is complete without dropping by Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Garden), Lingering Garden(Liuyuan Garden) and Pingjiang Road.
