China train guide · checked October 2026
Xi'an to Shanghai by train
One of the longer high-speed rides on our routes: most of a day on board, but from one city centre to the other without airport queues.
- Journey timeabout 6–7 hours
- Fastest train6 h
- Second classfrom ¥650 (about 377 PLN) – up to ¥750
- How oftenseveral direct G trains a day
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
Metro line 2 from the Bell Tower takes about 30 minutes; allow time for the security check.
Joined to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 – metro lines 2 and 10 go to the centre.
Good to know
- Bring food and water – most trains have a dining car and hot water dispensers for tea or instant noodles.
- A morning departure gets you to Shanghai in time to see the Bund lit up in the evening.
Other ways: Flights from Xi'an (XIY) take about 2.5 hours; with transfers to and from the airports the whole trip takes about as long as the train.
On the way
The line follows the Yellow River valley east to Zhengzhou, crosses the plains of Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu and passes over the Yangtze near Nanjing – more than 1,400 km from the Loess Plateau to the river delta.
When you arrive
From Hongqiao, metro line 2 takes about 40 minutes to People's Square and Nanjing Road. Walk down the Nanjing Road pedestrian street to the river and you reach the Bund: the Lujiazui skyline across the water looks best just after dark.
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
How long is the train from Xi'an to Shanghai?
The fastest direct G trains take about 6 hours, most 6–7 hours. With a morning departure you're in Shanghai by mid-afternoon.
Is first class worth it on such a long ride?
It's worth considering: first class (一等座) has four seats in a row instead of five and more legroom, for roughly 1.6 times the second-class fare.
