If you are travelling via Shanghai’s Pudong Airport and have a layover you can now break free from the airport and experience the city thanks to Shanghai Express from Trip.com.
The complimentary city tours are available to Trip.com customers and any international traveller with a layout of more than 8 hours in Shanghai who can get a 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy or those granted a 24-hour temporary entry permit by airport border inspection
The initiative is set to transform the layover experience by giving travellers a taste of Shanghai in one of three curated tours including the “Shanghai Highlights City Tour,” “Strolling Under the Trees City Walk Tour,” and the “Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night Tour.”
“As visa-free transit policies open up new avenues for international travellers to explore China, Trip.com Group is excited to unveil this innovative programme for those with just a short stopover,” said Ms Han Feng, Head of Marketing at Trip.com. “We will leverage our extensive resources to ensure a memorable tour experience and provide world-class customer service to help flyers enjoy what Shanghai has to offer.”
The Tours
- Shanghai Highlights City Tour (9:00-14:00): a tour of classic Shanghai highlights, including exploring traditional Chinese architecture in the Yu Garden and viewing Shanghai’s iconic and futuristic skyline at the Bund.
- Strolling Under the Trees Citywalk Tour (16:00-22:00): a tour for the romantics and urban history lovers, which includes a city walk through the old villas and charming cafes along the beautiful Wukang Road, an immersive visit to the Yu Garden, and a stroll along the historic Bund.
- Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night Tour (18:00-23:00): a unique experience in the city that never sleeps – including the breath-taking night view of the Bund aboard the Huangpu River Cruise and a deep dive into the bustling Yu Garden at night.
Each tour is led by English-speaking guides, including transportation, tickets, e-sim cards, and team insurance. Those seeking to travel light may store their luggage at the airport or on the shuttle bus if space permits. Please note that the free tours do not include meals, though our guides will be more than happy to offer dining recommendations.
Layovers in Shanghai are growing with last December seeing 330,000 international travellers stopping over on mainland China and by having the opportunity to explore Shanghai for free you can add an extra dimension to your trip.
China now has Visa-free access from 15 countries around the world and as a result, Trip.com Group has witnessed a triple-digit year-on-year rise in international travel bookings to China in the first two months of 2024.
The most popular hotspots are Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu with theme parks like the Shanghai Disney Resort and historic sites like the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum capturing significant interest.