The stations are not interchangeable
| City | Station | Chinese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing South | 北京南 | Almost all Shanghai trains depart here |
| Beijing | Beijing West | 北京西 | Wrong station for Shanghai — 40 min away |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao | 上海虹桥 | Most arrivals; metro lines 2, 10, 17 |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Station | 上海站 | Some services; central but fewer |
| Shanghai | Shanghai South | 上海南 | Rarely useful for this route |
Journey times
- 4h18 — the non-stop G trains, 350 km/h, about eight per day. Best choice.
- 4h28–4h45 — one or two stops (Nanjing South, Jinan West). Most frequent.
- 6h+ — D trains, cheaper, not worth the extra two hours.
- Overnight — sleeper trains exist and save a hotel night, but the hard sleeper is an experience rather than a comfort.
Booking timing
Tickets release 15 days ahead at 08:00 Beijing time. Friday afternoon and Monday morning sell out first. If you are travelling on those, book on release day or accept a middle seat.
Which train to pick
Take a morning departure around 08:00–09:00 from Beijing South, and you are in Shanghai for a late lunch. The 4h18 non-stops leave at convenient times and are worth a small premium.
Arrive 45 minutes early at Beijing South. It is enormous, security is at the main entrance, and the walk to the platform is long.
What you see
Not much — the line runs through the North China Plain, which is flat and agricultural. Sit on the left for the better light in the morning. The interesting part is the arrival: Shanghai’s skyline appears abruptly from a landscape of fields.
Frequently asked
How long is the Beijing to Shanghai train?+
4 hours 18 minutes on the fastest non-stop G trains, 4.5 to 5 hours on most services.
Which Beijing station goes to Shanghai?+
Beijing South (北京南). Beijing West and Beijing Station are different stations entirely.
Is it better to fly or take the train?+
The train, unless you are connecting to a long-haul flight. Door to door, rail is faster and far more reliable.