Traveling from Shanghai's Pudong airport (PVG) to Hangzhou

In April I will land at Shanghai's PVG airport in the late afternoon and attempt to then get to Hangzhou that evening. I don't speak Mandarin and I will have been flying for 20 hours, so I expect to be a bit wiped out! Any guidance on how best to get a train or bus to Hangzhou? (I wouldn't mind the high speed train but I think PVG is a long way from the closest terminal)

Do I need to purchase a bus or train ticket in advance? Will there be ticket stations where people speak (a little) English?

Best Answer

There are lots of trains going to Hangzhou, from Shanghai South (regular trains) and Hongqiao (high-speed trains). This website gives you the schedule and prices. It's in Chinese: the 2-hour rides are Shanghai South-Hangzhou, the 45-60-minute rides from Hongqiao.

From Pudong to Hongqiao, you'll need 1.5 hours, Maglev and metro line 2. By taxi it could take forever and a day. Traffic there is mental, and late afternoons, oh well.

I suggest you print out "???" (Hangzhou station) and present that (and your passport, plus a 100-yuan bill) to the ticket booth at Hongqiao station. You'll get a ticket, some change and your passport back.