From Tianjin 天津 to Shanghai 上海

I have barely cooled my feet at the Tianjin Binhai International Airport 天津滨海国际机场, when I needed to take another flight from Tianjin 天津 to Shanghai 上海. Entering Chinese immigration from Tianjin was a breeze, I did get asked by customs of all places where I was going. I told them I was on a connecting flight to Shanghai and showed them my booking. I would be puzzled too if I was told the same thing since flying to Kuala Lumpur to Tianjin to go to Shanghai isn’t exactly the straightest of paths. I didn’t bother telling him the story.

My flight was was in another couple of hours and it was actually my first time staying at Tianjin Binhai International Airport. The previous trip I only breezed through the terminal because heading directly to Beijing. This time I would be taking a flight out of it. I got hold of tickets from what is probably one of China’s first and most well known budget airline. This was Spring Airlines 春秋航空, it would be interesting how their budget scene would be like. Several airlines actually have counters at the terminal and I asked around how much a flight to Shanghai would cost. It turns out that booking ahead is still cheaper.

I had several options on how to go to Shanghai other than flying. One would be to take the high speed train down to Shanghai which would probably take around 5 hours. However, there was no high speed train going to Shanghai from Tianjin which fits my schedule. Another option would be to go to Beijing then take the train to Shanghai. However, I will not make the last trip as I would arrive in Beijing too late. Besides, flying would actually be cheaper and faster.

Spring Airlines is true to the spirit of budget airlines. This was a no frills airline, just like its counterparts in Southeast Asia. The plane was old, the seats were cramped and the plane was packed with people. There was this group of aunties which chatted constantly throughout the flight, irritating their neighbors, me included, to no end.

The plane landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport 上海虹桥国际机场. Unfortunately, I was too tired to be taking photos of the airport, there was nothing much to see anyway. It was an old airport and it reminded me of the old Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong or event the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I. The planes parked a distance away from the terminal and we were fetched by bus. Since it was a domestic flight, there was no immigration to go through. Fortunately, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport was linked by subway so it was very convenient to go to my hostel. I was familiar with the city so I didn’t have to scramble to get my bearings right.

I took the train to the Nanjing Road East Station 南京东路, where I then proceed to the hostel by foot. I had a map ready with me and I had a vague idea where the hostel was. I actually found the place in no time. Amusingly, my friends told me they had to go around bringing their packs for 30 minutes looking for the place. After dropping my stuff, I hurried out for dinner at a nearby Muslim place and contacted my friend. I hardly ever have someone I know during my trips, so this was a chance I couldn’t miss. I could say it was still worth the trouble.

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