Shanghai is the hub of China's railway network. They are daily trains from China's main tourist city, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Kunming and much more to Shanghai. It is very easy for visitor to take a train from other places to Shanghai or vice verse. They are even train running between Shanghai and Kowloon in Hongkong, which has proved very useful to foreign visitors. The express lines between Shanghai and Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hangzhou are very popular among travelers.
The main railway station is Shanghai Railway Station, near Suzhou Creek. The ticket office is a large building located just east of the main square on the southern side of the station, with at least some windows open at all hours. Foreign visitors can buy tickets in the soft seat waiting room. Many hotels may also reserve train tickets for travelers for a small service charge.
Some trains depart from the Shanghai West Railway Station. Make sure which train station your train will depart from before moving there.
- Search for trains arriving and departing to/from Shanghai
- Check out Shanghai train schedule
- Detailed information about Shanghai Maglev Train (the fastest commercial train in the world by Guinness Records).
Shanghai has four railway stations: Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai West Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Shanghai Railway Station is the largest in Shanghai, serving more than 70 pairs of trains that run between Shanghai and large and mid-size cities in China. Trains at Shanghai North Railway Station mostly depart for Jiangxi Province, Zhejiang Province and places in South China. Eleven bullet trains depart from Hongqiao Railway Station to Hefei, Liu'an, Wuhan, Hankou and Wuchang. Shanghai West Railway Station mainly serves trains that run between Shanghai and Nanjing, Suzhou and Changzhou.
The railway stations in Shanghai offer five types of trains: a bullet train with a "D" before the train number, a direct and fast train with a "Z" before the train number, a fast train with a "T" before the train number, a common train with a "K" before the train number and a slower green train. The train from Shanghai to Beijing takes 10 hours on a "D train," 12 hours on a "Z train," 13.5 hours on a "T train," about 19 hours on a "K train" and over 20 hours on the slower green train.
The railway system is also very convenient for nearby tourist cities, including Suzhou and Hangzhou. The train between Shanghai and Suzhou takes from 40 to 90 minutes, while a trip between Shanghai and Hangzhou takes from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the type of train.
In addition, special "Holiday Trains" are available from Shanghai to several tourist destinations, such as Mt. Wuyishan in Fujian Province, Jinhu County in Jiangsu Province, Lishui City and Mt. Yandangshan in Zhejiang Province, and Mt. Sanqingshan and Mt. Longhushan in Jiangxi Province. These trains depart from Shanghai every Friday night, arrive at their destinations on Saturday morning and return the following Monday morning. Passengers can obtain detailed information by dialing 021-6325 0169, 5622 1489 and 5622 2450.
Shanghai Railway Station
Shanghai Railway Station is located in Zhabei District, and it links the city with other places in China. Trains departing from Shanghai Railway Station go to all provinces and many cities in China (such as Chengdu, Hefei, Ji'nan, Dalian, Xi'an, Harbin and Qingdao, to name a few), including bullet trains to Beijing and Tianjin and direct trains to Hong Kong. The trip from Shanghai Railway Station to Suzhou takes only 40 minutes and only two hours to Nanjing.
Shanghai Railway Station is divided into South Square and North Square. South Square passes by Subway Line 1, while North Square is a business area that includes restaurants, shopping places, hotels and entertainment facilities.
Shanghai Railway Station is divided into two square: the South Square and the North Square. The South Square is ran passed by Subway Line 1. While the North Square is a business square with services of restaurants, shopping places, hotels and entertainment facilities.
Address: 303 Moling Road, Zhabei District (闸北区秣陵路303号)
Tel: 021-6317 9090
Bus Routes
To South Square (26 lines): 64, 95, 104, 109, 113, 506, 584, 802, 837, 845, 927, 930, 941, 955, Shengfang Line, Shenchuan Line, Tunnel Line 3, Airport Line 5, Nanxin Special Line, 302 (Night Line), 308 (Night Line), 315 (Night Line), 322 (Night Line), 324 (Night Line), 328 (Night Line) and Night Tinnel Line
North Square (18 lines): 106, 115, 117, 515, 516, 517, 817, 823, 912, 928, 929, 942, 962, Xinchuan Line, 305 (Night Line), 306 (Night Line), 310 (Night Line) and 329 (Night Line)
Subway Lines: 1, 3 and 4
Shanghai South Railway Station
Shanghai South Railway Station is located in southwest Xuhui District, about five kilometers from Xujiahui (a famous business district in Shanghai). Shanghai South Railway Station's main building can be divided into three layers: the upper layer, the middle layer and the lower layer. Passengers depart from the upper layer, which is equipped with waiting rooms and a ticket channel. The middle layer is at ground level and serves as the railway platform. The lower layer is the arrival layer, where passengers can transfer to Subway lines 1 and 3.
Shanghai South Railway Station operates daily trains between Shanghai and cities to its south, such as Hangzhou, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Yantai, Guiyang, Chongqing, Wuhan, Changsha and Ningbo. Every day more that 30 trains depart from the railway station. .
Address: 289 Lao Humin Road, Xuhui District (徐汇区老沪闵路289号)
Tel: 021-5436 9511
Bus routes
To South Square: 144, 315 (Night Line), 867, 937, Airport Line 7, Shangzhu Line and Shangjia Line
To North Square: 236, 303 (Night Line), 729 and Shangcang Line
Subway Lines: 1 and 3
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is located in west Shanghai, with Terminal Building 2 of the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to its east. This railway station was built to operate the bullet trains (with a "D" or "G" before the train numbers) running between Shanghai and Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Fuzhou, Nanchang, Xiamen, Beijing, Wenzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hefei, Wuhan, Jinhua, Ningbo and several other cities in China. Taxi parking lots are located on B1 (at both the north and south sides of Hongqiao Station). Passengers are advised to walk to the taxi pick-up area via Exit 2 (North) or Exit 2 (South).
Tel: 021-5124 5555
Bus Routes: Hongqiao Shuniu 1, Hongqiao Shuniu 5, Hongqiao Shuniu 6, Hongqiao Shuniu 7, Hongqiao Shuniu 8, Hongqiao Shuniu 10, 320 (Night Line) and 806 B
Subway Lines: 2 and 10
Transferring to Shanghai Honggiao Railway Station via air transport, coach transport, subway transport and bus transport is quite convenient.
To Terminal Building 1 in Hongqiao International Airport
Passengers can take Subway Line 10 to T1 in Hongqiao International Airport from Hongqiao Railway Station.
To Terminal Building 2 in Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is not as near to T2, so after exiting the station, passengers can go along underground pass (on B1) by following the signposts. This takes about 15 minutes.
To Pudong International Airport
Passengers can take Subway Line 2, and then transfer to a block train to Pudong International Airport (the service is available before 21:00) at Guanglan Road Station (no need to get out), the entire trip takes about 1.5 hours. Passengers also can take Subway Line 2, and then transfer to a maglev train at Longyang Road Station, which takes less than 1 hour.
To Shanghai Railway Station
There are three ways to get to Shanghai Railway Station. Passengers can take Subway Line 2, and then transfer to Subway Line 1 to Shanghai Railway Station at People's Square Station (or transfer to Subway Line 3 at Zhongshan Park Station). Passengers can also take Bus Line 941 (available from 06:00 to 23:00) from T2 at Hongqiao International Airport to the South Square at Shanghai Railway Station, which takes about 1 hour.
To Hongqiao Long-Distance Bus Station
Hongqiao Long-Distance Bus Station is located to the west of Hongqiao Railway Station, with the buses mainly departing to counties and cities in Jiangsu Province and Anhui Province, including cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, Hefei and Huangshan.
Shanghai West Railway Station
Shanghai West Railway Station is the smallest of the four railway stations, and is five kilometers (3 miles) west of Shanghai Railway Station. There are several pairs of trains that run mainly between Shanghai and the cities of Yantai, Changzhou, Suzhou, Kunshan, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Ningbo. Passengers are advised to buy tickets one day before their departure day from the ticket office at 22 Taopu Road.
Address: 300 Shiquan Road, Putuo District (普陀区石泉路300号)
Tel: 021-6254 9500 / 5624 1022
Bus Routes: 1, 106, 129, 319, 516, 551, 742, 768, 807, 944 and 966
