Pudong Airport T2 Behind the Security Gate

I took many photos of the Pudong Airport new Terminal 2 after it is completed and opened to public. However, the previous entries only described the area outside the Security Gate. It is just because my flight was in T1 at that time. Recently, I traveled to Beijing via Air China, which departs at T2, so I can complete my report about T2 of Pudong International Airport.

In case you are interested, check out my previous entries on T2

The Area

The T2 is of the curve shape from the side, and you won’t miss the boarding area by looking up – there are big sign saying: Domestic Boarding on top of the roof. I love the bold and very visible signs in public spaces like airport.

At the time I write this article, they have a special security checking line for flights to Beijing. Hopefully after Beijing Olympic, they don’t need to bother to strengthen the security as much as before.

The shape of T2:

The Carpet

One of the key difference between T2 and the older, smaller, and colder T1 is, T2 starts to use carpet. The whole area after the security check counter is covered by nice brown carpet, which makes it more like an international standard airport.

The Gates

All the gates in T2 are named using convention like Cxxx. Here is the display board:

Look at the gates. The T2 is just like T2 – a very very long line of gates with stores on both sides:

It looks like me that the gates are arranged this way:

    54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94

52

50

51

53

    55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69      71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93

On the right side of the terminal are four gates:

96 98 97 95

just in the opposite position of gates 52, 50, 51, and 53.

(Some gates in the range of 70 – 79 are not available or opened).

Basically, the whole area is divided into section 5 (50 to 59), section 6 (60 to 69), section 7 (73 to 79), section 8 (80 – 89), and section 9 (90 to 98). Try to get your section first, and then get some idea about where your boarding gate is. Mine was C85 last time.

This is the what the new gate looks like:

In the middle of the two wings, there are four additional far-parking-flights boarding gates:

On the left are gates C220, C221

On the right are gates C222, C223.

Although there are only four gates, I suspect that they are highly utilized. Passengers need to take the shuttle bus to get to plane, something I will avoid if I can.

Boarding Bridge

The boarding bridge of Pudong Airport T2 is also different from T1. The main difference is, it offers two bridges, one to the upper level (for arrival) and one for the lower level (for departure passengers). That makes the logistic much easier because the two group of people now never see each other and don’t share public area, and can avoid many mistakes.

Special Rear Areas

The gate C50 – 53, and gate C95 to C98 are at the north and south end of the whole T2. Unlike other gates, the area only have one level. That is where is the lower roof covers if you see from outside (the roof of the two rears are significantly lower than the main part). But from inside, it is much higher since it is two level combined:

Chinese Elements

Just on the south side of the middle point of T2, they have a water frontier.

Water flows quietly along the wall:

and stones sitting in the water.

This is the entrance of the whole T2. You need to clear all the security check before you use the elevator to go downstairs to arrive at T2. Pretty strange design: you need to use elevators to go up for the security check and use it immediately after you complete it.

The Stores

There are much more stores in T2 than T1. However, their business is no so good since the T2 is just put into use.

They have some nice brand shops immediately on the left hand and right hand when you arrive at T2:

As a new father, I found the children’s place in section 7 of the T2 very cute:

Internet Access

They have a big badge saying: Wireless Internet for Free. The area is just at the side of gate C52 on the north end of the T2. You need to really walk hard to get there.

If you also visit the T2 of Pudong Airport, please feel free what you see in the comment section.

9 thoughts on “Pudong Airport T2 Behind the Security Gate

  1. Hi JS,

    For your international travellers readers:

    One additional details about the buses to Shanghai city.

    When you arrive in the terminal hall, after passing the immigration and luggage checks, you have to head for the “bridge” connecting the T2 with the T1 terminal.

    Have to walk quite a lot, approximatively until half of the bridge, then need take electric stairs or elevators to reach the street level.

    When you take the bus FROM Shanghai city, beware that now, the buses will stop first in T1 , then will continue until T2…If you go down to T1, you will have to walk all the way to T2 through the bridge…I did it by mistake 2 months ago going back to Macau and Taipei, and it took me 20 mn.. ^__^

    Another detail: Customs have now sniffing dogs on the luggage carousels, and ALL luggage need go through X-ray scans machines… if you carry large quantities of foods, liquids, etc..beware, they can be confiscated

  2. I really hope more mainland airports start to move towards more international standards especially in regards to shops, restaurants etc. I recently had a 4 hour delay in Pudong T1 and there really wasnt anything to do, after going to Hong King’s airport it shows how you should outfit your airport with things for delayed travellers to do (and ways for the airport to suck every last bit of revenue from travellers :) at times it seems like more of a shopping mall than a airport )

  3. I will be flying next week into Shanghai Pudong, flying DL, and I have a few questions about Shanghai Pudong Airport.

    A. I Know we’ll be arriving in term 2 – our flight usually uses gate 73. Since our bags’ll be checked thru to our final destination (PEK), is there a transfer belt after clearing customs, or will we have to do a bag drag over to Air China to recheck them?

  4. I’m flying to Shanghai next month for the first time since the new T2 has opened and I hope that with the new Terminal the problem of the exceedingly long taxi waiting queues will be solved or at least be alleviated. Thanks for the extensive review and the photos. Looking forward to my touchdown at “new” Pudong. :)

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