Beijing and Shanghai are the biggest two cities in China. The distance between the two cities is a little far: 1,463 kilometers by railway, 1,262 kilometers by highway and 1,084 kilometers by air. However, the transportation between Shanghai and Beijing is very convenient, and trains, airplanes and coaches are all available.
Air Transport
The length of the time for a journey between Beijing and Shanghai is about 2 hours by air, and the fastest type of airplane is 737planes (generally takes 1 hour and 40 minutes). Every day, the flights between Shanghai and Beijing are available from 07:00 to 23:00, and the general departure interval is about 30 minutes. The ticket fare is about 1,000 yuan. Sometimes the discounted tickets may be available, and the price can be reduces by more than 300 yuan.
The places for embarkation or disembarkation can be Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Putdong International Airport. Passengers are advised to check out the air route before purchasing the flight tickets. Check out the transportation for Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Putdong International Airport.
Train Transport
Every day there are 47 pairs of trains running between Beijing and Shanghai, including three kinds of trains: train numbers begin with G, D, T and figure. G trains have the fastest speed (the speed can reach to 350 kilometers or 217 miles per hour) and run on the Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway and then followed by D trains, T trains and regular trains (train number begins with figure).
High-Speed Trains (G/D Trains) — Duration, Price, Stations, and Timetable
There are many high-speed trains running between Beijing and Shanghai, with G trains operating during the daytime and D trains during the nighttime. It's one of the most popular rail routes in China.
- Distance: 1,318 kilometers (819 miles)
- Shortest duration: 4 h 48 min
- Number of trains: 46 pairs of high-speed trains (43 daytime trains and 3 overnight trains)
- Ticket fares: ¥553 ($84) for a second class seat and ¥1,748 ($266) for a business class seat
You can click Beijing – Shanghai High-Speed Trains to check out the detailed information.
There are 3 overnight high-speed trains running between Beijing and Shanghai, which can save your time and money on hotel and transportation. the journey is about 12 hour, and ticket fares are ¥1,428 ($216) for a deluxe sleeper, and ¥696 ($106)for a soft sleeper. See How to taking an overnight train in China
Normal Speed T Trains and Regular Trains
Besides G/D trains, three pairs of T trains and one pair of regular trains are also available for the transportation between Beijing and Shanghai (or between Beijing West Railway Station and Shanghai South Railway Station). The following is the timetable for the four T trains and regular trains.
| Train | Departure Time in Beijing | Departure Time in Shanghai | Approximate Duration | Approximate Ticket Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T109/T110 | 19:33 (arrival time: 10:43 + 1 day) | 18:02 (arrival time: 09:30 + 1 day) | 15 hours and 28 minutes | 900 yuan (137 USD) |
| 1461/1462 | 11:54 (arrival time: 08:03 + 1 day) | 12:18 (arrival time: 10:46 + 1 day) | 20 hours and 09 minutes | 290 yuan (44 USD) |
How to Buy A China Train Ticket
Valid ID is required when buying a ticket AND boarding a train:
- Foreign passengers: passport
- Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan passengers: Mainland Travel Permit
Online Booking — the Most Convenient Way
You can book train tickets online easily through China Highlights Train Ticket Service. We provide detailed and helpful English guidance, a 24/7 service, and also a ticket delivery service. You only need to complete three steps to get your train tickets.
or see more helpful information on How to Buy a China Train Ticket.
Coach/Bus Transport
Beijing-Shanghai expressway is 1,262 kilometers (miles), running through Tianjin City, Hebei Province, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province and Shanghai City. The length of the time for a journey is about 18 hours, and the approximate ticket fare is about 350 yuan (the ticket price might be different for the comfort level of the different coaches). Gennerally speaking, taking a coach to travel between Beijing and Shanghai is not so convinient as by air or by train, hence, the departure frequency of the coaches running between Beijing and Shanghai is not high. For long-distance travelers (such as travelling from Beijing to Shanghai), taking coaches is not recommended, but for short-distance travelers, it should be better to take coaches.
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