How to Get from Beijing to Shanghai
Compare trains and flights from Beijing to Shanghai. See which trains run, how long they take and which airports and stations to expect.
Photo: shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Contents
Beijing and Shanghai are linked by frequent high-speed trains and by flights. The fastest G trains take around 4.5 hours from city station to city station,[1] so for many travelers the train is the simpler choice, while a flight makes sense if you start or finish close to an airport or connect to another flight.
Beijing to Shanghai by Train
China Railway's ticket search listed 55 trains from Beijing to Shanghai for 18 October 2026. They leave from Beijing South, Beijing Fengtai or Beijing station and arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai station, Shanghai South or Shanghai Songjiang.[1] Most fast trains run between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao.[2] Beijing South is an interchange of Metro Lines 4 and 14.[3] Timetables change, so check the date you plan to travel on 12306.
High Speed G Trains
G25 leaves at 17:00 and arrives at 21:18 (4h18), G35 leaves at 19:24 and arrives at 23:51 (4h27), G13 leaves at 16:00 and arrives at 20:28 (4h28), and G9 and G17 take 4h35 (10:00 to 14:35 and 13:00 to 17:35). The slowest G train on the list, G2573, takes 7h47 (12:11 to 19:58).[1]
Sleeper Trains
Overnight D trains leave in the evening and arrive the next morning after about 12 hours, for example D7 at 19:18 to 07:25 (12h07) and D5 at 21:21 to 09:27 (12h06). Z281 leaves at 19:10 and arrives at 08:44 (13h34), and T109 leaves at 20:04 and arrives at 11:02 (14h58).[1]
Beijing to Shanghai by Flight
Several airlines fly between Beijing and Shanghai. Both cities have two main airports, and the choice changes the transfer time more than the flight itself. Beijing Daxing International Airport lies 46 km south of Tiananmen Square.[4] Beijing Capital Airport has airport express lines, airport buses and car-hailing services to the city.[5]
In Shanghai, Hongqiao is about 13 km from the city center and handles mainly domestic and East Asian regional flights. Metro Lines 2 and 10 serve its Terminal 2 and Line 10 serves Terminal 1. Pudong lies about 30 km from downtown.[6] Confirm the airports on your ticket before you book a hotel or arrange a pickup.
Which Option Should You Choose?
Choose the train if you want to travel between city stations without airport procedures. Choose the flight if you start or finish close to an airport or connect to another flight. Whatever you pick, add the transfers, check-in and security time to the journey time before you compare.
Tips for Traveling from Beijing to Shanghai
- Check the stations and airports. Both cities have several stations and two main airports, so read the names on your ticket.
- Booking: 12306 sells tickets 15 days ahead, and for travel after 30 December the sales period is 30 days.[1] Tickets sell out quickly around the Spring Festival and National Day holidays.
- Passport: Foreign travelers can buy real-name tickets with a valid passport and must show the same document to enter the station and board.[7]
Timetable
| Flight Beijing - Shanghai $ 95.00–338.29 1h 55m – 2h 35m | |
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| Train Beijing - Shanghai $ 33.15–344.66 4h 33m – 14h 58m | |
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| Train Beijing - Shanghai Hongqiao Airport $ 27.67–383.97 4h 52m – 18h 46m | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Beijing to Shanghai, including current prices and schedules.
On 18 October 2026 the fastest G train, G25, took 4h18 from city station to city station. A flight is shorter in the air, but you need to add the transfers to and from both airports.
On 18 October 2026 the fastest G trains took between 4h18 and 4h35, the slowest G train on the list 7h47, the overnight D trains about 12 hours, Z281 13h34 and T109 14h58.
Trains leave from Beijing South, Beijing Fengtai or Beijing station and arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai station, Shanghai South or Shanghai Songjiang. Most fast trains run between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao.
Beijing has Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX), and Shanghai has Hongqiao (SHA) and Pudong (PVG). Check which airports your ticket uses before you book a hotel or pickup.
Yes. 12306 sells real-name tickets to foreign travelers who have a valid passport, and you must show the same document to enter the station and board the train.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] China Railway (12306): 12306 ticket search: Beijing to Shanghai, 18 October 2026. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
- [2] China Railway (12306): 12306 ticket search: Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing South, 16 October 2026. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [3] Beijing MTR: Beijing South station (Line 4 and Line 14). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [4] Xiamen Airlines: Xiamen Airlines moves its Beijing flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport (27 April 2020). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [5] Beijing Municipal People's Government: PEK Transport Between Airport and City Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [6] Shanghai Municipal People's Government: Transportation at Shanghai airports. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [7] China Railway (12306): 12306 FAQ: real-name tickets, ID and free cabin luggage. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.