March 9, 2007
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
One of the most striking things observed in this enormous airport was how huge and long it was. It felt like we landed at a gate that was at the other end of the Chinese wall. It could naturally be influenced by the fact we also just had spent 9 hours in a plan but we walked and walked to get to the immigration control.
The immigration control was very efficient; there were guards everywhere to guide us in the right directions and we ended up at a wall of small control stations where they thoroughly went through the passports and the papers we had filled out.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the East Asian region, and is the primary international airport serving Shanghai of the People's Republic of China. It is located about 30 kilometers from the city centre, and it occupies a 40 kilometer square site adjacent to the coastline in the eastern edge of Pudong district within the boundaries of the Shanghai Municipality.
The immigration control was very efficient; there were guards everywhere to guide us in the right directions and we ended up at a wall of small control stations where they thoroughly went through the passports and the papers we had filled out.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the East Asian region, and is the primary international airport serving Shanghai of the People's Republic of China. It is located about 30 kilometers from the city centre, and it occupies a 40 kilometer square site adjacent to the coastline in the eastern edge of Pudong district within the boundaries of the Shanghai Municipality.
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March 9, 2007
The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid
The Shanghai Maglev or in Chinese the Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Demonstration Operation Line is the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world.
When I landed in Shanghai airport one of my targets was to have a ride with this magnetic train to feel the sensation of driving more than 430 km/h. Besides that it was the quickest way from Pudong Airport to Shanghai.
The train performed 431 km/h and did the 45 km in less than 8 impressive minutes. The tickets were ok in price; just around 10€ for the both of us.
Riding the train was quite funny; all men including myself were looking at the speedometer which was displayed in every compartment. The Japanese tourists in our section were filming it like crazy - they even got me going. It was an impressive ride.
Construction of this line began in March 2001, and public service commenced on 1 January 2004. During a test run on 12 November 2003, a maglev vehicle achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h.
The line runs from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road station in Pudong. The journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km. A train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operation speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) reached thereafter.
The service operates once every 15 minutes. It can be easier and faster for those passengers with destinations in west (Puxi) Shanghai to use a taxi directly from Pudong International Airport—although missing out the "thrill factor" of riding on the high-speed Maglev.
When I landed in Shanghai airport one of my targets was to have a ride with this magnetic train to feel the sensation of driving more than 430 km/h. Besides that it was the quickest way from Pudong Airport to Shanghai.
The train performed 431 km/h and did the 45 km in less than 8 impressive minutes. The tickets were ok in price; just around 10€ for the both of us.
Riding the train was quite funny; all men including myself were looking at the speedometer which was displayed in every compartment. The Japanese tourists in our section were filming it like crazy - they even got me going. It was an impressive ride.
Construction of this line began in March 2001, and public service commenced on 1 January 2004. During a test run on 12 November 2003, a maglev vehicle achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h.
The line runs from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road station in Pudong. The journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km. A train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operation speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) reached thereafter.
The service operates once every 15 minutes. It can be easier and faster for those passengers with destinations in west (Puxi) Shanghai to use a taxi directly from Pudong International Airport—although missing out the "thrill factor" of riding on the high-speed Maglev.
At the train station
430 km/h
