Delhi to Shanghai Pudong flights — Air India non-stop where available, 1-stop options via SIN/HKG/BKK, fare trends, baggage and China L visa rules for Indians.
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Quick answer: Delhi to Shanghai non-stop flights take about ≈ 6h non-stop, operated by Air India, China Eastern non-stop; IndiGo (737 MAX, phased); Cathay Pacific (HKG), Singapore Airlines (SIN) 1-stop, Non-stop resumed in 2026 (Air India, China Eastern; IndiGo ≈ 3/wk) + 1-stop options. Indian passport holders should check the visa requirement summarised below. Use the live search above to compare today's cheapest DEL–PVG fare across every airline, OTA and travel agent in one place.
Last reviewed July 2026 by the FlightGPT flights desk · route facts cross-checked against DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) · how we collect fares · editorial policy · fact-checking · fares are live — verify the final price in search before booking.
Looking for cheap flights from Delhi to Shanghai? FlightGPT compares live DEL to PVG fares across every connected source — Indian carriers, Gulf hubs, OTAs and trusted travel agents — and shows the cheapest options side by side. Whether you want a Delhi to Shanghai non-stop tomorrow, a last-minute weekend deal or the lowest price three months out, every active Delhi-Shanghai fare is one search away.
With India–China services resuming in 2026, Delhi–Shanghai again has non-stop flights. Air India and China Eastern operate the direct route, and IndiGo has added a phased Delhi–Shanghai non-stop on the Boeing 737 MAX, beginning at roughly three flights a week and expected to grow — so check the exact day pattern when you book. If a non-stop time doesn't suit, classic one-stops still work well: Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Singapore Airlines via Singapore offer premium connections, with Thai (Bangkok) and Korean/Asiana (Seoul) as further options. Because schedules are still ramping up, frequencies can change at short notice.
The non-stop Delhi–Shanghai flight covers about 4,760 km in roughly 6 hours (a little under 6 hours eastbound, a little over westbound with headwinds). Shanghai is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of India, so a morning Delhi departure lands in Shanghai in the evening local time. One-stop routings via Hong Kong total about 9–12 hours, and via Singapore around 11–12 hours, depending on the layover — noticeably longer, so the resumed non-stops are the standout choice when the timing works.
Avoid China's domestic travel surges, when flights and hotels spike: Chinese New Year (late January or February), the May Day holiday and the National Day Golden Week (early October). Shanghai's weather is most pleasant in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), which are also the prime business-travel windows. The cheapest fares tend to appear in the quieter weeks of late winter and mid-summer. Since the route is newly resumed, introductory fares can be competitive — booking early on the non-stops is wise while capacity is limited.
Compare the new non-stops against the established Hong Kong and Singapore one-stops — while capacity ramps up, a connecting fare is sometimes cheaper than the direct, though it costs you hours. Mid-week departures usually price lower. IndiGo's low-cost model can undercut the full-service carriers, but read what each fare bundles for bags and meals — see the IndiGo baggage rules. Booking 6–10 weeks ahead and avoiding Chinese public-holiday weeks makes the biggest difference. Open the FlightGPT search for live fares — we don't publish fixed prices because they move daily.
Delhi departures use Indira Gandhi International Terminal 3 (T3); arrive about 3 hours ahead for an international flight. Shanghai has two airports — long-haul and most international flights use Pudong International (PVG), east of the city, while domestic-heavy Hongqiao (SHA) is closer in. From Pudong, the Maglev train hits 300+ km/h to Longyang Road metro in about 8 minutes, or the metro Line 2 runs directly into the city. Confirm whether your ticket is PVG or SHA, as they are far apart.
Allowances depend on the carrier. Air India and China Eastern economy on this route typically include 2 x 23 kg checked + 7 kg cabin for international travel. IndiGo, as a low-cost carrier, usually bundles a smaller allowance with extra weight as a paid add-on — check the current IndiGo baggage rules and pre-buy online if needed. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines economy generally allow 2 x 23 kg or a 30 kg weight concept depending on fare. Always confirm against your ticket.
Indian passport holders need a visa for mainland China — the popular 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit does not apply to Indian nationals. For tourism you must obtain a traditional tourist (L) visa in advance through the Chinese visa application centre, with a passport valid six months, photos, itinerary, flight and hotel bookings and the application form. Business travellers use an M visa. The only visa-free allowance is a 24-hour airside transit if you stay within the airport and have an onward international ticket. Apply well ahead and reconfirm the latest requirements with the official Chinese visa centre before you travel.
If a non-stop doesn't fit, the legacy hubs are excellent. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is the shortest one-stop and a comfortable widebody experience; note Hong Kong itself has separate entry rules from mainland China. Singapore Airlines via Changi is consistently top-rated, with the world's best airport for a layover. Keep at least 90 minutes–2 hours for the transfer, and on a single through-ticket your bags go straight to Pudong. These options also let you add a stopover in Hong Kong or Singapore.
Shanghai blends the historic Bund waterfront, the futuristic Pudong skyline, the French Concession's leafy streets and classic gardens like Yuyuan. Download an offline map and a translation app, since many Western apps and sites are restricted — set up a VPN before you arrive if you need them. Mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat Pay, now linkable to foreign cards) dominates, so set one up; cash and cards are less widely accepted. The metro is vast, cheap and English-signed, making the city easy to explore.
Shanghai is China's dazzling commercial capital — a global city of soaring towers, world-class dining, designer shopping and a skyline that defines modern China, balanced by colonial-era architecture and tranquil gardens. It's a magnet for business travellers and a thrilling first taste of China for tourists, with high-speed rail onward to Hangzhou, Suzhou and beyond. With direct flights restored, it has become one of the most accessible major Asian cities from Delhi again.
Yes. After India–China services resumed in 2026, Delhi–Shanghai is flown non-stop by Air India and China Eastern, with IndiGo adding a phased Boeing 737 MAX service (around three weekly initially). Non-stop block time is about 6 hours.
Air India and China Eastern operate non-stop, and IndiGo runs a growing Delhi–Shanghai service on the 737 MAX. One-stop options include Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Singapore Airlines via Singapore.
The non-stop flight takes roughly 6 hours over about 4,760 km. One-stop routings run longer — around 9–12 hours via Hong Kong and 11–12 hours via Singapore, depending on the layover.
Yes. Indian passport holders need a tourist (L) visa obtained in advance through the Chinese visa application centre. The 240-hour visa-free transit does not apply to Indians; only a 24-hour airside transit is visa-free if you stay within the airport.
No. Indian nationals are not on the list of countries eligible for China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, so a tourist or business visa is required for any visit beyond a 24-hour airside airport transit.
Long-haul and most international flights use Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), east of the city. The closer Hongqiao (SHA) is mainly domestic. Confirm your ticket, as the two airports are far apart.
Shanghai is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of India year-round. China uses a single time zone and does not observe daylight saving, so the gap stays constant.
Avoid Chinese New Year (late January or February), the May Day holiday and the National Day Golden Week in early October, when domestic travel surges push fares and hotel rates sharply higher across China.
FlightGPT is a natural-language flight search: ask the way you'd ask a friend, and it compares live DEL–PVG fares across every airline, OTA and travel agent. Try one:
There is no single "cheapest day" to fly Delhi to Shanghai — the lowest fare is the one you find by comparing live. Open the search above to line up Delhi–Shanghai prices across Air India, China Eastern non-stop; IndiGo (737 MAX, phased); Cathay Pacific (HKG), Singapore Airlines (SIN) 1-stop; booking ahead and avoiding peak weekends typically trims 25–40 percent off the walk-up fare.
Flying Delhi to Shanghai at short notice doesn't always mean overpaying. Off-peak departures and unsold seats on Air India, China Eastern non-stop; IndiGo (737 MAX, phased); Cathay Pacific (HKG), Singapore Airlines (SIN) 1-stop can surface real same-week deals. Put your date into the FlightGPT search above and we'll show every available DEL–PVG fare side by side in seconds.
Most travellers prefer the Delhi to Shanghai non-stop option. The direct Delhi-Shanghai flight time is ≈ 6h non-stop. If you are flexible, 1-stop alternatives through major hubs can be 15-30 percent cheaper. FlightGPT lets you filter by "Direct only" or compare both side by side — useful when you want the cheapest Delhi Shanghai ticket but are open to a layover.
Delhi–Shanghai pricing rewards comparison over loyalty: the best value rotates between low-cost and full-service carriers depending on the date. FlightGPT's grid surfaces every Delhi Shanghai fare with baggage and meals counted in, so the genuinely cheapest all-in ticket is the one that rises to the top.