A new 24/7 one-stop service station for international travelers has begun trial operations at Terminal 2 of Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. The station, located directly outside the terminal’s international arrival exit, offers essential services such as purchasing local SIM cards, currency exchange and withdrawal, mobile payment consultation, and transportation pass sales. Portable WiFi equipment will be available soon.
“The station aims to welcome and assist expatriates upon their arrival in Shanghai, showcasing the city’s efficiency and convenience,” said Qian Jia, the operation manager. Under an LED screen ring displaying “International Services Shanghai,” four staffed counters provide services in communication, payment, tourism, and transportation. “We will continually update information and expand services based on expatriates’ needs,” Qian added.
Next to the station are an ATM for cash withdrawal with international bank cards, a machine for exchanging 20 currencies into renminbi, and a public telephone offering 3-minute free calls within mainland China. “They gave us a booklet with all the attractions. We’re here for four days, so it should be helpful,” said Arturo Achard, a visitor from Mexico on his first trip to Shanghai with his family. Excited about their plans, Achard looks forward to seeing skyscrapers, enjoying Chinese food, visiting museums, and potentially taking a short trip using the express train.
Dan Peachey from California praised the station’s top-notch service. “I always love Shanghai, and I’m excited to be back after 10 years,” he said.
The station is a collaborative effort by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Shanghai Head Office of the People’s Bank of China, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Shanghai Communications Administration, Shanghai Airport (Group) Co Ltd, and Shanghai Foreign Service (Group) Co Ltd affiliated with Donghao Lansheng (Group) Co Ltd. Similar service stations at Terminal 1 of Pudong International Airport and Terminal 1 of Hongqiao International Airport are expected to open in October.
In the first half of this year, Shanghai Pudong International Airport saw a substantial rise in inbound flights and passenger volume. From January 1 to June 26, the airport handled 49,031 flights from cities and regions outside mainland China, a 91.5% year-on-year increase, and 7.06 million passenger trips of overseas travelers, up 180.2% from the same period last year.
