China train guide · checked October 2026
Shanghai to Hangzhou by train
Hangzhou and West Lake are less than an hour from Shanghai by high-speed train – close enough for a day trip, though the lake deserves a night.
- Journey timeabout 45 minutes – 1 hour
- Fastest train45 min
- Second classfrom ¥70 (about 41 PLN) – up to ¥90
- How oftenevery few minutes
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
Metro lines 2 and 10; next to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2.
Metro line 1 reaches West Lake in about 30 minutes. A few trains go to Hangzhou station (杭州站), closer to the lake.
Good to know
- Trains also leave from Shanghai station and Shanghai South, but Hongqiao has by far the most.
- On a day trip, leave your luggage at the station left-luggage office (行李寄存).
Other ways: Buses take about 2.5 hours – the train is faster and costs about the same.
On the way
The line crosses the flat, watery delta south-west of Shanghai – canals, fish ponds and the city of Jiaxing – at up to 350 km/h.
When you arrive
From Hangzhou East, metro line 1 reaches the north-east shore of West Lake (Longxiangqiao station) in about 30 minutes. Walk or cycle along the Bai and Su causeways, and in the hills west of the lake visit the Longjing tea villages and Lingyin Temple.
How to book
- 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.
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
Can I visit Hangzhou as a day trip from Shanghai?
Yes: with trains every few minutes and a 45–60-minute ride, a day is enough for a walk around West Lake. If you can, stay the night – the lake is most beautiful early in the morning and in the evening.
Which Hangzhou station is closest to West Lake?
Hangzhou station (杭州站), about 2–3 km from the lake, but only a few trains from Shanghai stop there. Most arrive at Hangzhou East, 30 minutes from the lake by metro.
