Shanghai Layover Tour: Maglev Train & the Bund

Race downtown on the maglev, then wander where Shanghai's past meets its skyline.

A 4-hour guided tour from Shanghai airport that pairs a round-trip maglev train ride with stops at the Bund, Yu Garden, and a wet market, plus food tastings and a guide who meets you at arrivals and returns you to the station in time for your flight. You choose between shared taxis and metro or an upgraded private Buick with driver. The maglev ticket and guide are included either way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. The Bund1h
2. Yu Garden1h

Explore Shanghai highlights in 4 hours

• Pick up from airport
• Ride Maglev train to downtown
• View Nanpu Bridge from bus or walk
• Walk along the Bund waterfront
• Visit Yuyuan Garden and Old City alleys
• Explore wet market aisles
• Taste local food at nearby stalls
• Return to Maglev station
• Ride Maglev train back to airport

The experience

The maglev leaves the airport and reaches downtown in 8 minutes, traveling at speeds up to 300 km/h. The ride itself is the first landmark. Your guide meets you at arrivals and stays with you through the day, handling the logistics so you move between stops without arranging transport or timing it yourself. The round-trip maglev ticket is included, and you pick your ground transport at checkout: shared taxis and metro, or a private Buick 7-seater with a dedicated driver if you want more comfort after a long flight.

The Bund is a waterfront stretch of neoclassical and art deco buildings that once housed Shanghai's trading houses, now lined with restaurants and shops. You walk at your own pace along the Huangpu River, with the Pudong skyline across the water: the Nanpu Bridge, one of the world's longest cable-stayed structures, frames the view. From there, the tour moves to Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden built in 1559, and the narrow "Nong Tang" alleyways nearby, where traditional courtyard houses and small eateries show daily life as it was centuries ago.

The wet market is where the sensory shift happens: narrow aisles packed with fresh produce, seafood, and meats, vendors calling out prices, locals haggling and shopping. Your guide navigates you through it and stops at nearby food stalls for authentic Shanghai bites (noodles, dumplings, stir-fries) plus bottled water. The whole day is built around the maglev schedule, so everything fits inside 4 hours and you're back at the station in time for your flight.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and maglev round-trip ticket.
• private guide service in English or Chinese.
• ground transport via shared taxi and metro or private Buick 7-seater with driver (your choice at checkout).
• food tastings at wet market stalls and nearby eateries.
• bottled water.

Options for this experience

2 options

Round trip on the Maglev with taxiGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 9 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:30Pickup is included

Round trip on the Maglev with a BuickGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 9 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:30A Buick GL8 seven-seater: the Buick GL8 provides generous legroom and headroom, so every traveler can enjoy the journey in comfort. Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by iTour Shanghai

Is this one for you?Book the Buick option if you're landing tired and want a comfortable seat between stops instead of navigating shared transit after a long flight. The shared taxi and metro option works if you travel light and don't mind moving quickly: either way, the maglev and guide handle the hard parts, so a layover that could have been a layover becomes a real glimpse of Shanghai.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How does the maglev train work, and is the ride included in the tour price?

The maglev is a commercial levitation train that floats on magnetic fields and reaches downtown Shanghai in 8 minutes at speeds up to 300 km/h. The round-trip maglev ticket is included in both tour options.

What is Yu Garden, and do I have to pay extra to enter it?

Yu Garden is a classical Chinese garden dating to the Ming Dynasty in 1559, located in Shanghai's Old City near the City God Temple and traditional alleyways. Entry costs 40 RMB per person and is not included in the tour price, so you can choose whether to go inside.

What happens at the wet market, and will I have time to eat there?

The wet market is a crowded, colorful space filled with fresh produce, seafood, and meats where locals shop daily. Your guide takes you through the aisles, and the tour includes stops at nearby food stalls where you taste authentic Shanghai dishes like noodles, dumplings, and stir-fries, plus bottled water.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between the airport and the Bund, or is it included?

Your guide picks you up at the airport and accompanies you on the maglev to downtown. For ground transport between stops, you choose at checkout: shared taxis and metro, or a private Buick 7-seater with driver. Either way, your guide ensures you return to the maglev station in time for your flight.

Is this tour possible if I only have 4 hours between flights?

Yes, the tour is designed to fit within 4 hours, and your guide times everything around the maglev schedule so you're back at the station with time to spare before your connection.