Travelling from San Diego to Shanghai: what you need to know
San Diego's main base, San Diego International Airport (SAN), is where plenty of awesome adventures begin. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from San Diego to Shanghai.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's chief entry points.
Shanghai's timezone is UTC+8, which makes Shanghai 15 hours ahead of San Diego.
Leave plenty of time to catch your San Diego to Shanghai flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Shanghai
Booking ahead of time is often the key to securing a cheap San Diego to Shanghai flight. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the closer you get to departure, the more it could cost you.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from San Diego to Shanghai across each month. It's an easy way to find a bargain if your plans are flexible.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from San Diego to Shanghai by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Find a cheap San Diego to Shanghai flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your San Diego to Shanghai flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from San Diego International Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Travelling from central San Diego to SAN takes about 20 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 3 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a convenient hotel near San Diego International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from San Diego to Shanghai, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
Of all flights departing from San Diego International Airport, 71.38% land on schedule at their destination.
You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is approximately 32 kilometres from central Shanghai. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 50 minutes.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 40 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from San Diego to Shanghai, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near PVG:
Set your own pace with a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Hertz to explore parts of Shanghai that most tourists miss.
Increase your chances of snagging the best deal by booking as early as you can. Reserving your vehicle from Shanghai Pudong International Airport several weeks in advance is a good move.
PVG is situated at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
As soon as your flight from San Diego to Shanghai has hit the tarmac, you can make your way to the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is approximately 13 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
After your flight from San Diego to Shanghai, kick back at a hotel near SHA. These are some great options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Why be tied to someone else's timetable? Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and stay in control of your journey. Book a set of wheels here with Hertz.
Pick the vehicle you actually want, not just whatever's left, by booking your ride from SHA ahead of your arrival. You can also avoid last-minute price surges, especially when the airport is busy.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is located at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
April is the busiest month for flights from San Diego to Shanghai. To skip the crowds, head to Shanghai in April.
Lock in a San Diego to Shanghai ticket departing in August if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Shanghai to range from 23ºC to 34ºC.
Look for cheap flights from San Diego to Shanghai in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 10ºC on average.
More about Shanghai
Start your Shanghai trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from San Diego to Shanghai, check out our range of accommodation options including:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are must-visits when exploring Shanghai.
Explore more of China
You've visited Shanghai, now it's time to explore other corners of China. Journey about 274 kilometres west to Nanjing to check off its leading sights. From Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Suzhou is another standout destination in China and is around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. No journey is complete without visiting Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower.
