China train guide · checked October 2026
Beijing to Shanghai by train (and back)
The Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line, opened in 2011, is China's busiest: about 40 trains a day link Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao, the fastest in well under four and a half hours.
- Journey timeabout 4.5–6 hours
- Fastest train4 h 18 min
- Second classfrom ¥553 (about 322 PLN) – up to ¥692
- How oftenaround 40 high-speed trains a day from Beijing South
Timetable and fares
Direct high-speed trains (G, D and C) on a normal weekday, from the China Railway 12306 timetable for Wednesday 4 November 2026.
| Trains a day | 39 (Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao); 46 in all, including a few to Shanghai station |
|---|---|
| First and last train | 06:18 / 19:24 |
| Fastest train | 4 h 18 min (G25) |
| Typical journey | 5 h 52 min |
| Second class | ¥553–692 |
| First class | ¥929–1107 |
| Business class | ¥1870–2420 |
| Shanghai → Beijing | 38 trains, 06:31–19:25, fastest 4 h 24 min (G12) |
Fares vary by train and time of day, and timetables change several times a year – check Trip.com or 12306 before you book.
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
The main high-speed station for Shanghai, south of the centre (metro lines 4 and 14).
Next to Hongqiao airport in western Shanghai – metro lines 2, 10 and 17 run into the centre in about 30–40 minutes.
Good to know
- The fastest trains stop at only a few big stations, while most others take 5.5–6 hours – check the journey time before you book.
- Second class is fine for the trip, but on a 5-hour ride first class (four seats in a row instead of five) is worth considering.
Train or plane?
Flights take about 2 hours 15 minutes, but with the trip to Beijing Capital or Daxing, security and the ride in from Pudong or Hongqiao airport, it's 5 hours or more door to door – no faster than the train, which runs from city to city. Flights on this route can be delayed; trains rarely are.
On the way
The line runs almost due south: past Tianjin, across the North China Plain to Jinan, past Mount Tai near Tai'an and Confucius's home town of Qufu, then over the Yangtze at Nanjing on the Dashengguan Bridge. Much of the way is farmland and new towns seen from viaducts.
When you arrive
From Hongqiao take metro line 2 or 10 into the centre – People's Square or East Nanjing Road for the Bund – in about 30–40 minutes. Hongqiao airport (Terminal 2) is in the same complex, a short walk away.
Shanghai to Beijing by train
Trains back to Beijing leave from Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥站), on metro lines 2, 10 and 17 – set off about 1.5 hours before departure. Almost all of them end at Beijing South (北京南站, metro lines 4 and 14). Times and fares are the same in both directions. A few daytime trains and the evening sleepers use other Shanghai stations – check your ticket.
How to book
- This is China's busiest route: for weekends, Chinese New Year, the May Day holiday and Golden Week in October, book as soon as sales open, 15 days ahead.
- Buy on Trip.com (English, foreign cards) or in the official 12306 app – tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- Your passport is your ticket: you book with its number and scan it at the gates. Bring the same passport you booked with.
- Be at the station 40–60 minutes early: there is a security check at the entrance, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
- Big suitcases fit at the end of each carriage or on the racks above the seats.
Trip.com and 12306 step by step, classes and seats, refunds, changes and the station: How to buy train tickets in China. For hotels and flights with a foreign passport: Hotels, trains and flights in China.
Times and fares are typical values for second class, checked in October 2026. Fares are dynamic (peak trains cost more) and timetables change – check the live timetable on Trip.com or 12306 before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Beijing to Shanghai?
The fastest train (G25) takes 4 h 18 min, and a typical journey takes about 5 h 52 min. There are 39 direct trains a day from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao, the first at 06:18 and the last at 19:24.
How much is a train ticket from Beijing to Shanghai?
Usually ¥553–692 in second class, ¥929–1107 in first class and ¥1870–2420 in business class. Fares from the 12306 timetable for Wednesday 4 November 2026; they vary by train and time of day.
Is it better to take the train or fly from Beijing to Shanghai?
Flights take about 2 hours 15 minutes, but with the trip to Beijing Capital or Daxing, security and the ride in from Pudong or Hongqiao airport, it's 5 hours or more door to door – no faster than the train, which runs from city to city. Flights on this route can be delayed; trains rarely are.
Is there a night train from Beijing to Shanghai?
Yes: sleeper D trains leave Beijing (Beijing and Beijing South stations) in the evening, roughly between 19:00 and 21:30, and reach Shanghai, Shanghai Songjiang or Shanghai South at about 7:30–9:30 the next morning – about 12 hours. They save a night in a hotel, but a daytime G train is twice as fast.
Can I stop in Nanjing or Suzhou on the way?
Yes: many trains stop at Nanjing South and some at Suzhou North, so you can split the trip with two separate tickets – for example Beijing → Nanjing (about 3.5–4 hours) and Nanjing → Shanghai (about 1–1.5 hours).