There is no ideal way to get there. It is either via Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok. Some of them involves going via Mumbai or long stays in the airport - 8 hours +
I took the Singapore route - well connected into town and the clean toilet factor! This flight is painful It reaches Singapore at 6.300 am but your body is at 3.30am, the deepest of sleep.
BIAL was efficient, except for a 20 min wait at a dhaba for the Vajra crew to get their dinner. Checked in within 10 min and passed through immigration. The processes get better each time!
Try to buy a phone card but the Crossword store there are jokers. Buying anything ends up - no change, person is not there to process the bill or the person is clueless. I walk off in a huff. The right person appears so they call me and I buy the card.
Board the flight and sleep. Web check in meant I got a good seat. Arrive in Singapore and am a bit of a zombie. First priority is to get Chinese Currency as I previously remember huge queues for ATM's and currency exchange.
Transfer and catch flight to Shanghai. Both flights were half full so plenty of space. We touch down in Pudong airport. The place is big and takes a good 15 min for the plane to reach the terminal.
We are in what is Terminal 2, a new building, it is big, plenty of ATM's etc. We are first screened for Piggie Flu. Our details like seat location are recorded. Immigration is a breeze and my bags are waiting.
Now it is time to get to town
Although i printed the hotel details in Chinese of the web. I visit the hotel counters of both the hotels so that i can get the printed cards.
I have two options- the taxi - 1 hour and approx 150 rmb or the 430km/h Maglev 50 rmb + 30 rmb taxi = 30 min
Its a no brainer. It is a bit of a walk. I buy the card and put my baggage through screening and take the escalator down,
The train approaches and passengers disembark, it moves on the returns on our track. We board!
Train takes off. It accelerates briskly. It feels like a Merc- no excitement but making good progress. The cars seem to be going backwards. Only jerk is when another Maglev passes. It touches 430 km/h and powers down.
30km in 7 min. Irving Wallace wrote 300 pages bout 7 min !
Enjoy the journey!
Disembark at LongShua Station and take the escalator down.
Clear signs for taxi's are posted. We join a queue. It is supervised and the guides make sure you know and the driver knows your destination. 20 min later, I am at the Shangri La