Shanghai Maglev

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to travel at speeds upward of 260 miles per hour (418 kilometers per hour), the Shanghai Maglev train is your chance. Using magnetic levitation technology that allows the train to literally “float” along the tracks, the  world’s fastest train can take you from the Pudong International Airport to Shanghai proper in a quick 8 minutes.

Using technology purchased from Germany, construction of the Shanghai Maglev began in 2001, and by the time the project was completed two and a half years later, it had racked up a $1.2 billion price tag.

If you’re planning to ride the Shanghai Maglev to or from the airport, you’ll have to get on or off at the Longyang Road Station in the outskirts of Shanghai and switch to the subway or hail a taxi from there. If you want to know more about the Shanghai Maglev project and the technology behind the train, spend a few minutes browsing the Shanghai Maglev Museum, located within the Longyang Road Station.

Practical Info:

Routes to take by transit: Line 2, Line 7, Maglev train (at Longyang Rd Station).