Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) serves the city of Shanghai, China, and lies approximately 19 miles from the city center. The airport sits at an elevation of just 16 feet above sea level, making it one of the lower-lying major international gateways in the region.

Pudong functions as a major long-haul hub connecting Shanghai to destinations across North America, Europe, and Asia, reflecting its role as one of China's principal international gateways. The traffic mix includes intercontinental flights spanning the Pacific to western North America as well as routes reaching into Western Europe, alongside domestic connections linking Shanghai to other cities within China. This combination of long-haul international service and domestic feeder traffic underscores the airport's function as both a global entry point and a key node in China's internal air network.

Given its low elevation near the coast, travelers departing from or arriving at Pudong should be aware that weather patterns typical of coastal, low-altitude airports can influence flight conditions. The airport's scale and its position as a hub for both transcontinental and regional Asian routes mean that flights to and from PVG often involve a wide range of flight durations, from short regional hops to long intercontinental journeys spanning many hours.