Shanghai’s second airport, Hongqiao, is located in Puxi – Western – side of Shanghai, about a 30 min cab ride from the commercial centre. Betraying its non-commercial origin, the airport from the outside looks slightly dates, from the 1980s, but none more so than Luton or even Heathrow.
Inside is a different story, nicely refurbished with a long corridor running the breadth of the main terminal, polished floors and glass paneling adding to the noughties look. Everything else much like a modern airport, except for the painfully annoying lack of departure boards once you pass through security – the same problem I encountered at Dalian International Airport.
I hope this doesn’t turn out to be the status quo in all regional and secondary airports in China.
For all the traffic that passes through, to have a handful of single screen departure display boards that prolong the agony by displaying all the day’s flights in one action – meaning that if you miss your one you have to wait a good 5 minutes to see it again – its rather surprising.
Seemingly the airport designers decided to allocate their budget to installing top quality urinals, toilets and sinks, instead of a decent amount of departure boards, opting for the uber trendy Japanese brand Toto (if you don’t believe how trendy Toto is, check out the Yuppies alamanc, Monocle magazine).
Successful Japanese manufacturing companies naturally have a range of products, catering from end-user to business and commercial clients, but the reputation and cost of the average Toto product makes you wonder about the commitment to providing a top service.
I have to admit I don’t check out the toilet brands employed at British transport sites, but I’d put a few quid on it being that household staple, Armitage Shanks.
