Pudong airport leads China in intl passenger traffic

As of July 19, Shanghai Pudong International Airport had processed more than 20 million inbound and outbound passenger crossings this year, the highest total among China's airport immigration checkpoints.

The airport also handled 2.28 million transit passengers under the 24-hour direct transit policy, which allows eligible travelers to transfer without completing immigration inspection procedures.

Foreign nationals accounted for 3.29 million arrivals through the airport as of July 19, up 22 percent year-on-year, as inbound tourism continued to grow, further highlighting Shanghai's appeal as a first stop for inbound travelers to China.

South Korean nationals accounted for 430,000 arrivals, the highest number among all foreign countries, followed by travelers from Russia, the United States, Thailand, and Malaysia.

International conferences and exhibitions have also contributed to passenger traffic through the airport. Events held in Shanghai this year included the 2026 Appliance and Electronics World Expo, the SNEC PV+ 19th (2026) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition, and the recently concluded 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

From July 14 to 20, a dedicated immigration service team at the airport assisted nearly 300 conference guests and delegation members attending the WAIC.

Source: The Paper