On my last day in WUXI last week, I put up a night in the airport hotel before the returning day on Sunday.
The airport hotels in Pudong International Airport
My flight was 1605 then and with half a day available, I planned to go to the Shanghai Science and Technology Center with an important mission.
Hence, i woke up pretty early @ ~0800 Sunday morning, then started my journey at 0845. To go by cab, it will take me more than 45 mins to reach the destination thus I chose the faster way instead. It was the Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid (上海磁浮示范运营线). Mind you, this is my first time in taking a magnetic levitated train with cruising speed exceeding 300-400km/h, equivalent to F1 racing cars.
The world's 1st commercial Maglev Train in Shanghai
The Maglev station is strategically located at the airport’s underground as well as the airport hotel. You can look for the signboard easily in the airport. The station looks like this:
上海磁浮示范运营线 station (Shanghai Maglev)
and the brand logo is as this:
SMT=Shanghai Maglev Train
The ticket counter:
Single-way ticket costs 50¥. 20% discount off the ticket’s price if you can proof you’ve just landed (boarding pass or air ticket). For a round trip, 80¥ for a person. So for me, I bought this round trip. I got 2 rides then.
The round trip ticket
It was absolutely an eye-opening experience for me, not only because it was my first time on a maglev train, but also because it traveled at 431 km/h for <10 minutes. Everything outside the train passed by in split seconds. Inside the train, it was pretty quiet too,really amazed with this technology.
The max speed for my ride!!
Though some may think the price is expensive but if you take a taxi ride will cost you more to the same destination, >100¥. It was worth it! How else can I travel at 431 km/h on ground?! The train stops at the only station in financial district called Longyang.
The Maglev station is clean and spacious
LongYang Station for the SMT
The RED line indicates the route of the SMT
One thing special about this train is its tracks:
The track is super clean....full of magnets!!
And the train’s interior:
Once you step out from the LongYang station, there is a stall selling the secret of this Super Fast Train, watch this video clip :
Fantastic, isn’t it? You can buy this at 50Y if not mistaken.
Maglev Toy!!
Maglev train…….Superb!!!
After taking this Superfast train, I got to take the Metro Line 2 (equivalent to MRT in SG) in order to reach my final destination. It is not far, just beside the Maglev station.
The Metro Line 2--the MRT in Shanghai
The fare is very cheap= 3Y only per way.The Science and Tech center is just 2 stations from Long Yang st.
Actually, I wasn’t visiting the Science center (since i know what makes the sky blue & what LHC is for), but more on the interesting bazaar which lies just beside this Metro station.
The shopping bazzar at the Metro St. of Shanghai Science & Tech Center
The famous AP plaza
Altogether, it took me less than 20 mins to travel from the airport hotel to this bazaar, of course after checking the train’s timetable. With this train service, I was able to spend my half day fruitfully considering my harvests for the short excursion. I reached the airport at 1410,plenty of time for a coffee in the airport.
My flight-MH389
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