Terminal T2 hosts 3 airlines. It's China Eastern Airlines's home turf at PVG. You'll find 18 dining options, 9 lounges, 24 shops here.
Most China Eastern long‑haul flights out of PVG use Terminal 2
T2 handles China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, and Juneyao, plus many SkyTeam and partner international routes, so odds are high your PVG connection runs through this building. It opened after T1 and feels newer, with taller ceilings and long straight piers that stretch a good 10–15 minutes’ walk from central security to the far international gates. Lines at immigration and security swing between 10 minutes and 45 minutes depending on the China Eastern bank, so build the buffer.
Check‑in islands, left‑luggage at Island L, and money exchange landside
The departure hall uses lettered islands (A–L); China Eastern usually sits across multiple central islands, while smaller SkyTeam carriers cluster toward the sides. Near Island L you’ll find the Terminal 2 left‑luggage counter, which regulars use before heading into Shanghai on the Maglev or Metro. Trip.com lists currency‑exchange desks behind Island D and in both departure and arrival halls, and frequent flyers swap cash here because airside banking options thin out quickly once past security.
Immigration, security, and long walks to distant gates
From check‑in to your gate, expect one long straight line: check‑in at the islands, down to immigration, then security, then a march along the concourse that can reach 800–1,000 meters to remote international gates. Skytrax reviews from 2023 mention “surprisingly efficient” queues off‑peak, with some passengers clearing both immigration and security in under 25 minutes, but others report 30‑minute waits during big China Eastern departures. If you’re connecting international‑to‑international, plan for at least 60–75 minutes gate to gate because of those walking distances.
Fourth‑floor dining level: Ajisen, KFC, Xiaonanguo, and more
Once you clear security in T2 departures, escalators lead up to a fourth‑floor food level that FlyerTalk regulars treat as their main waiting area. Up here you’ll find Ajisen Ramen, Xiaonanguo for Shanghainese dishes, KFC, Pizza Hut, Yoshinoya, Kungfu, and chains like Burger King and Subway. Portions at Ajisen hover around 50–70 RMB for a noodle bowl, while a KFC combo sits closer to 40–60 RMB, so you can price out a quick meal before heading to the gate.
Gate‑area snacks: Starbucks, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, Häagen‑Dazs
Closer to the gates, the options shift toward grab‑and‑go. There’s a Starbucks on the satellite concourse’s third floor, handy for early‑morning China Eastern flights leaving before 08:00. McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, and Häagen‑Dazs kiosks dot the main concourse; expect a McDonald’s meal in the 35–50 RMB range and ice cream from around 25 RMB. If you’re boarding from one of the outer gates, buy drinks and snacks before you walk all the way out, as outlets get sparser near the ends.
Lounges: China Eastern No. 77, SilverKris, Cathay, and more
China Eastern’s No. 77 Lounge in T2 caters mainly to SkyTeam elites and premium‑cabin passengers and sits near the mid‑concourse gates; don’t waste a lounge visit here on a 30‑minute domestic hop. Star Alliance and oneworld have a footprint too, with Air China’s VIP Lounge, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, and a Cathay Pacific Lounge serving their respective elites and business‑class travelers. Other options include the China Southern Sky Pearl Lounge, No. 2 Passenger Lounge, First Class Lounge V5, and VIP Lounge 145, often used by independent lounge programs and some credit card networks.
Shopping: Sunrise Duty Free, Hermès, Gucci, Apple reseller, and books
Right after security you hit Sunrise Duty Free, which stretches across a large chunk of central T2 with liquor, cosmetics, and cigarettes at typical Chinese duty‑free pricing. Farther along the concourse, you’ll pass luxury names like Hermès, Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Montblanc, Swarovski, and Sunglass Hut. For basics, there’s WHSmith, Relay, and C‑Store for snacks and bottled water, plus an Apple Authorized Reseller where you can pick up chargers or cables if yours died somewhere between gate 210 and 230.
Arrivals, Maglev, Metro Line 2, and stashing bags for a city run
On arrival into T2, baggage claim feeds into a long arrivals hall where signs point toward the Maglev and Metro Line 2; first‑timers often report backtracking here because the signage isn’t intuitive. Regulars drop checked bags at the left‑luggage counter near Island L upstairs, then ride the Maglev (around 8 minutes to Longyang Road, first train 07:02, last scheduled around 21:42 plus two extras at 22:15 and 22:40) or Metro Line 2 (roughly 06:00–22:00) into town. If your layover is under 4 hours, most flyers skip the city run and stay in T2.
What regulars do and one tip to copy
Flyers who use T2 often build in a 2‑hour minimum for international departures and 75 minutes for domestic, then clear security and immediately ride the escalator to the fourth floor instead of lingering by the gates. Many stash bags at Island L and hop the Maglev when they have 6–8 hours to spare between long‑hauls. One simple tip: before you go airside, sort your currency exchange and power needs in the landside hall, then eat on the fourth floor after security and only walk down to your gate at boarding minus 30 minutes.