Shanghai Trip Part 1: Fly to Hongqiao International Airport with ANA

[Introduction]

I traveled to Shanghai, China, in late May. If I had been fluent in Chinese, I could have enjoyed the trip more, but I was impressed with a fine mixture of retro and modern elements in Shanghai. In this article, I will write about the flight to Hongqiao International Airport with ANA as part of Day 1. I used ANA’s international flight after a long interval and found there were several new services ANA introduced.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Fly to Hongqiao International Airport [This article]
* Day 1: Waitan (The Bund)
* Day 1: Waitan (The Bund) (Light-up)
* Day 2: Oriental Pearl Tower
* Day 2: Jin Mao Tower
* Day 2: Shanghai Tower
* Day 2: Shanghai World Financial Center
* Day 2: Pudong (Light-up)
* Day 3: Yu Garden
* Day 3: Xintiandi, Middle Huaihai Road, Hengshan Road and Tianzifang
* Day 3: East Nanjing Road (Light-up)
* Day 4: Shanghai World Expo Museum
* Day 4: Natural History Museum, Ocean Aquarium and China Art Museum
* Day 4: Yu Garden (Light-up)
* Day 5: Great World (Dashijie), Jing’an Temple and Shanghai Exhibition Center
* Day 5: Return Home from Pudong International Airport

[Travel Date]
2018.05.23 – 27

[Main Part]

It has been a while since I posted the previous article about my Kobe trip, and I will start a new series. I visited Shanghai, China, in late May.

While I have been to Hong Kong and Macau several times, I visited Mainland China (Beijing) just once on business about ten years ago. I am interested in Mainland China as well and Shanghai is the most economically developed city in China, so I thought it is easier to travel around compared with other cities in China. That’s why I decided to visit Shanghai this time.

Haneda Airport International Terminal

I started the trip at Haneda Airport International Terminal. It was just before Donald Trump, the president of the United States, came to Japan, I saw several police officers.

I will use All Nippon Airways (ANA) in this trip.

When I go overseas, I usually choose foreign airlines rather than Japanese airlines, as airfares are less expensive and I would like to experience a variety of airlines. So, I considered Chinese airlines such as “Air China” and “China Eastern Airlines”. Luckily, however, I managed to book a free round trip ticket (award ticket) with the ANA’s milage program.

To tell the truth, I used ANA’s international flights for the first time in six years and there were some changes for procedures. If passengers register necessary information (passport, email address and seat reservation) in advance, online check-in is completed automatically 24 hours before their departure and the notification email is sent to passengers.

As my online check-in was already complete, I checked my luggage at “BAGGAGE DROP” counter (- if you don’t have any luggage to check, you can go directly to security check).

Although I booked an economy seat, I had a Star Alliance Gold membership (ANA Super Flyers Card membership), so I was able use a priority lane for security check.

I stopped by ANA Lounge.

In the lounge.

As for ANA lounge, I used it three years ago when I went to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

“Flying to Singapore with Singapore Airlines’ business class”

I just had a light snack, considering in-flight meal.

Fly to Hongqiao International Airport with ANA

The flight I will use is ANA Flight 969 (NH969). It connects between Haneda Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

It seemed most passengers were Japanese.

Around the boarding gate.

I went onboard.

The aircraft was Boeing 787-8 and the seat configuration for economy class was 3-3-3. As I would like to take window view photos, I chose a window seat.

ANA has started a new in-flight safety video with a Kabuki theme since January 2019 (Link).

A Kabuki actor wearing an oxygen mask was funny.

I think foreign tourists visiting Japan would like the video.

Then, the plane took off.

The flight time was about three hours.

Here are books I bought for the trip, all of which were related to Shanghai (上海).

Then, I had an in-flight meal.

ANA international flights departing from Japan have started paid in-flight meal service for customers traveling in Premium Economy or Economy Class since April 2019 (Link). As it was a good opportunity, I ordered the paid in-flight meal.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (上海虹桥国际机场)

The plane landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (上海虹桥国际机场).

When I got off the plane, another video with Kabuki actors was played.

I saw a Japan Airlines’ aircraft.

Go to immigration.

I came to arrival lobby after immigration.

In Shanhai, there are two airports, Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. Hongqiao International Airport used to be a domestic airport, so the airport was relatively small.

Sofitel Shanghai Hyland (上海海崙賓館)

I moved to “Sofitel Shanghai Hyland (上海海崙賓館)” where I will stay for the trip.

The main reason I chose “Sofitel Shanghai Hyland (上海海崙賓館)” was the hotel was located in the middle of “East Nanjing Road (南京东路)”, one of the largest entertainment districts in Shanghai, which enabled me to have easy access to major tourist spots.

Here is my room.

East Nanjing Road (南京东路)

Today, I will mainly going around “Waitan (The Bund)”, one of the most famous tourist spots in Shanghai, but before that, I will walk around “East Nanjing Road (南京东路)”.

“East Nanjing Road (南京东路)” is a commercial district between “People’s Square (人民广场)” station and “East Nanjing Road (南京东路)” station.

I saw such a cute vehicle.

First, I moved west toward “People’s Square (人民广场)” station.

I often see these buildings in guidebooks – the left building was “Wing On (永安百貨)” and the right one was “Shanghai Fashion Store (上海时装商店)”.

Then, I will move east toward “East Nanjing Road (南京东路)” station.

The street was free of vehicle, so it was easy to walk around.

There were several art works in the street.

Then, I will move to “Waitan (The Bund)”.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about the flight to Hongqiao International Airport with ANA as part of Day 1.

As I mentioned in the article, I usually use foreign airlines rather than Japanese airlines for overseas trips and this time I used ANA’s international flight after a long interval. I found ANA has introduced new service, including automatic online check-in, in-flight safety video with Kabuki actors and paid in-flight meal service. Needless to say, cabin attendants’ hospitality was excellent. I thought it was a good idea to go abroad with Japanese airlines once in a while 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Waitan (The Bund) as part of Day 1.

[Map]

1 Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
2 Sofitel Shanghai Hyland

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