Shanghai's Eastern Hub advances to strengthen global connectivity

by LIU Sunan

The Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone (EIBCZ) in Shanghai is set to open the first phase of its Pilot Area by year-end, according to Zhang Lulu, deputy director of the Pudong New Area Sub-Institute of the Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Research Institute. The hub's long-term passenger volume is projected to reach 170 million to 200 million annually.

The Eastern Hub — a centerpiece of Shanghai's major infrastructure initiatives — has made steady progress. The Regulatory Plan for EIBCZ has been officially approved. In late May, the final roof slab for the underground section of Shanghai East Railway Station was completed, marking the structural completion of the station.

Located in central Pudong, the Greater Eastern Area spans about 510 square kilometers, covering Zhuqiao, Chuansha, Huinan, Xuanqiao, and Laogang towns. It is designed to complement the Hongqiao Hub, establishing a dual-core gateway for international passenger transport.

The Eastern Hub integrates Shanghai East Railway Station and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The airport is designed to handle 130 to 140 million passengers annually, while the railway station targets 40 to 60 million. The new station, situated about five kilometers from Pudong Airport's Terminal 1, will cover 1.3 million square meters with 15 platforms and 30 tracks. It is expected to be operational by mid-2027 and will combine high-speed rail, suburban rail, metro, and airport express services.

While comparable in size to Hongqiao, the Eastern Hub is geared more toward international connectivity, with international flights accounting for 35 percent of total air traffic, and 60 percent of those linked to the Asia-Pacific region. It is expected to support 40,000 daily air-rail transfers, four times that of Hongqiao.

The hub plays a key role in Shanghai's broader opening-up strategy. Located at the intersection of the Pudong New Area, Lin-gang Special Area, Southern Section of the Airport Economic Zone, and the Comprehensive Bonded Zone of Pudong Airport, it benefits from multiple policy advantages to pioneer institutional innovation.

Adjacent to the station, the Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone will be China's first area dedicated to maximizing cross-border mobility. According to the Regulatory Plan, the 0.88-square-kilometer EIBCZ will leverage bonded area advantages and direct airside access to explore new business rules and cross-border facilitation policies. Overseas visitors arriving via Pudong International Airport can enter without a Chinese visa using a pre-filed invitation and stay for up to 30 days, with extensions available.

The EIBCZ will focus on three core areas: a global business exchange center, an international talent training hub, and a world-class exhibition destination. It aims to support cross-border investment, international training in biomedicine, digital trade, and AI, and host global product launches and technology showcases.

Beyond transport, the Greater Eastern Area is preparing to become a future industrial powerhouse. Already home to the final assembly base of large aircraft and multiple national and municipal development zones, the area will focus on three sectors: aviation, airport-based industries, and high-end services.

Plans include strengthening the aviation supply chain around Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) facilities, promoting sectors such as aircraft maintenance and aviation finance. For airport-based industries, the focus is shifting to high-value international transfers and express cargo.

The "2+3+10" industrial framework will guide development: two innovation engines (Zhangjiang Science City and the Eastern Hub core area), three major industrial clusters (high-end equipment, civil aviation, and biomedicine), and ten specialized industrial towns. Logistics networks are also being upgraded with plans for a new intermodal hub at Xiayan and expanded port facilities at Huinan to integrate sea, land, air, and rail transport.

Officials believe the Eastern Hub will serve not only as the Yangtze River Delta's international gateway but also as a model for China's next phase of global engagement.