Shanghai - First time traveller

Question

I am visiting Shanghai for the first time in December this year. Traveling from NZ

So have a few questions

1) At the airport is it possible to get a Wifi device to which all my family can hotspot to. In Japan and Korea I have rented these devices before and were very useful when you travel in a group. Or Esim the only option available?

2) I have my google ID registered for all most all my online profiles- http://Booking.com/ Airlines etc. If I get an international plan in my local mobile will I be able to access gmail in China

3)What could be the best option to reach Hanzhong Road Subway Station from PVG airport?

Answer

Visiting Shanghai for the first time in December is exciting! Here’s detailed guidance on your questions regarding connectivity, Google access, and airport transfers.

1. Internet Options at PVG Airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) does offer options for staying connected, but there are some limitations due to China’s internet regulations.

Portable Wi-Fi Devices: Unlike Japan or Korea, renting a pocket Wi-Fi device for international use is not as common in China, but some vendors at PVG may offer local SIM-based Wi-Fi devices. Availability can be limited and coverage outside urban areas may vary.
eSIM / Local SIM: Purchasing a local SIM card or using an eSIM with a Chinese carrier (China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom) is the more reliable option. You can share mobile data via hotspot for your family.
Airport Wi-Fi: PVG provides free airport Wi-Fi, but it may be restricted to basic web browsing and does not reliably allow access to blocked services like Gmail or Google Maps.

2. Accessing Gmail and Google Services

China restricts access to most Google services, including Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube. Simply using an international roaming plan from New Zealand does not bypass this restriction.

You will not be able to access Gmail, Google Maps, or other Google services without a VPN. Some travelers use a pre-installed VPN on their devices to access these services, but note that not all VPNs work reliably in China.
Alternative options include using email apps that support IMAP/POP for Gmail, or other messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, or Telegram (though Telegram is also blocked).

3. Reaching Hanzhong Road Subway Station from PVG

There are multiple ways to reach Hanzhong Road, depending on convenience, budget, and luggage.

Metro: Take Line 2 from PVG Airport Station. Hanzhong Road is directly on Line 1, but you can transfer from Line 2 at People’s Square to Line 1. Travel time is about 90–100 minutes. Cost is around CNY 7–10 per person.
Airport Shuttle / Maglev + Metro: Take the Maglev train to Longyang Road (approx. 8 min) then transfer to Line 2 towards People’s Square and then Line 1 to Hanzhong Road. This is faster but slightly more expensive.
Taxi or Didi: Direct taxi or Didi ride from PVG to Hanzhong Road takes 50–70 minutes depending on traffic. Cost is approx. CNY 200–250. Convenient if traveling with luggage or family.

In summary:

Best internet option is a local SIM or eSIM with hotspot capability. Pocket Wi-Fi is less reliable.
Google services will be blocked without a VPN; roaming alone won’t work.
Fastest airport-to-Hanzhong Road route depends on preference: Metro for budget, Taxi/Didi for comfort and convenience.

Plan your first day accordingly, considering travel time from PVG and potential need for VPN to access familiar online services.