16-hour layover at Shanghai Airport

hi

we’ve got a 16-hour layover at Shanghai Airport in March 2026—is it easy to leave and come back? Do we still need a visa? Or do we have to return to clear customs? Do we need to buy another ticket? Thanks for your help

Hi there, No problem leaving the airport. When you depart, you’ll be given both boarding passes, and your luggage will go straight to your final destination, so you won’t need to pick it up during the layover. When you get off the plane, just act like you’ve arrived—go through border control, then head out. You’ll just need to fill out the arrival card on the plane or at the airport. For the address, write "transit." The agent might ask to see your boarding pass or flight ticket, then take metro line 2 (green) to the city center. It costs less than a euro—check the metro map to see where you want to go. On your way back, plan to be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before your flight. Since you’ll already have your boarding passes, head straight to immigration. For money, there are ATMs. I always use the ones from "Bank of China"—no bank fees (unless your bank charges you). The exchange rate for cash isn’t great at the airport, so it’s better to withdraw money from an ATM.

Thanks so much for your quick reply! What can we visit?

Well, it's a matter of taste—check out this link and pick what you like! Shanghai layover without a visa – what to do in 1 day?

Thanks so much

get off at People's Park station. Very central