How to Get from Beijing to Shanghai 2026: Train vs. Flight

Written by Natalia | Updated April 24,2026

Traveling from Beijing to Shanghai is extremely easy as they are the most popular destinations for tourists and business travelers to China. Beijing is the capital city, the political heart, a major historical capital for thousands of years, while Shanghai is very much the “image of modern China” and “dynamic culture”. A common question is how to get from Beijing to Shanghai. This article will help you find your way through the options, understand the differences between them, and find what’s right for you.

Both located in eastern China, Beijing is in the north, and Shanghai is on the southeastern coast. The total driving distance between them is about 1,200 km (750 miles). There are mainly three options for traveling from Beijing to Shanghai, by high-speed train, flight, and overnight sleeper train.

Tian'anmen Square in Beijing — Tian’anmen Square in Beijing

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How to Travel from Beijing to Shanghai: A Quick Comparison
Option 1: By High-Speed Train
Option 2: By Flight
Option 3: By Overnight Sleeper Train
How to Plan a Beijing-Shanghai Tour
Plan a Beijing-Shanghai Trip with China Xian Tour
FAQs on Traveling from Beijing to Shanghai

How to Travel from Beijing to Shanghai: A Quick Comparison

Generally, taking the high-speed rail is the best way to get from Beijing to Shanghai for travelers. Although it may seem to take longer than flying, it usually ends up being about the same because taking the train is a lot more convenient. It’s a great way of traveling for families with kids or elders.

If you prefer more privacy and comfort during your travel, or if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, you can choose to take a flight.

Overnight sleeper trains should not be a first choice unless they are an important consideration in your travel plans due to cost. You have to decide if the cost savings equals the value of additional travel time.

Options	Travel Time	Cost (Second-Class/Economy)	Pros	Cons
High-Speed Train	4.5-6.5 hours	CNY 550-700	convenient, fixed price, mostly stick to the schedule	longer travel time in comparison
Flight	2 hours	from CNY 700	shortest travel time	fluctuation in price, may be affected by the weather condition or air traffic
Overnight Sleeper Train	12-15 hours	CNY 180-400	cheap	long travel time, less comfort, less services

Option 1: By High-Speed Train

Total Travel Time: 4.5-6.5 hours
Operating Hours: 6 am – 7:30 pm
Frequency of Service: every 15-30 minutes
Stations: Beijing South/Beijing Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao/Shanghai Railway Station
Cost: CNY 553-2,341

Taking a bullet train is the best way to get from Beijing to Shanghai. With trains, you won’t have to arrive early at the station like you do with flying. Stations are usually more centrally located in the cities than airports. The travel experience will be a lot less stressful and easier. The prices and schedules are fixed. It’s unlikely to encounter delays.

There are over 40 bullet trains from Beijing to Shanghai (G-series trains) each day which means you’ll have a lot of options, and in case of unexpected events, you can make changes to your schedule easily. Plus, a China train tour will allow you to look out the window on your journey and observe the change of scenery.

Ticket for Different High-Speed Train Seat Classes

You will encounter five different seat classes on China high-speed trains.

Seat Class	Price	Features
Second-Class/Standing Ticket	CNY 553-669	adjustable reclining seats, small foldable tables, charging ports
First-Class	CNY 930-1,070	wider seats, more leg room, footrest
Upgraded First-Class (Available on some trains)	CNY 1,278-1,471	larger seats and leg room, access to business class lounge area, free beverages, blankets, snacks, slippers, and cushions
Business-Class	CNY 1,873-2,341	most privacy, fast channel, leather seats with massage function, 180-degree reclinable seats, free meals

Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: Most Common Service

Most high-speed services run from Beijing South Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, the two most frequently used high-speed rail stations in Beijing and Shanghai. You may arrive easily at Beijing South Railway Station on Beijing subway lines 4 and 14. Below is a table showing some services for reference, including the earliest, latest, fastest and cheapest.

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time	Second-Class Ticket Price
G547	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	06:18 – 12:11	05h53m	CNY 598
G7	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	09:00 – 13:37	04h37m	CNY 662
G733	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	11:25 – 16:59	05h34m	CNY 598
G19	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	14:00 – 18:32	04h32m	CNY 662
G25	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	17:00 – 21:18	04h18m	CNY 662
G805	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	17:31 – 23:46	06h15m	CNY 553
G35	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	19:24 – 23:51	04h27m	CNY 662

Services to and from Other Railway Stations

There are few high-speed services between Beijing and Shanghai that travel to and from different stations, Beijing Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station.

Compared to Shanghai Hongqiao Station, Shanghai Station in Jing’an District is more centrally located in the city. It is likely to be closer to your hotel. Both stations have metro services that will get you to your destination easily.

To get to Beijing Station, you can take metro line 2.

Here’s the complete timetable:

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time	Second-Class Ticket Price
G3	Beijing South – Shanghai	06:52 – 11:33	04h41m	CNY 669
G5	Beijing – Shanghai	07:42 – 12:32	04h50m	CNY 673
G5	Beijing South – Shanghai	07:59 – 12:32	04h33m	CNY 669
G741	Beijing South – Shanghai	11:50 – 18:02	06h12m	CNY 606
G17	Beijing South – Shanghai	13:00 – 17:35	04h35m	CNY 669
G29	Beijing South – Shanghai	18:00 – 22:43	04h43m	CNY 633
G33	Beijing South – Shanghai	19:00 – 23:35	04h35m	CNY 669

Option 2: By Flight

Total Travel Time: around 2 hours
Operating Hours: 7 am – 10 pm
Frequency of Service: every 15-30 minutes
Major Airlines: China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines
Airports: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport – Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Cost: from CNY 700, varies by season

Air travel in China is very convenient for international travelers as the airports have signs in English. Overall if you value your privacy and comfort then this is the way to travel.

In terms of travel time, it maybe a little faster than by train as you lose a bit of time checking in and getting through security and boarding. Flights are normally on time unless bad weather conditions or other delays.

Compared to train ticket prices, airfare sees a lot more fluctuation. Prices are higher during the day and lower at night or early in the morning.

Season is the biggest factor. Prices soar during national public holidays, summer months, as well as weekends. CNY 700 is the average price for a weekday during low travel season. If you’re traveling during other times, high-speed trains may be a lot cheaper.

Timetable of Selected Flights

Flight No.	Airline	Dep. – Arr. Airports	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
MU5138	China Eastern Airlines	Beijing Daxing – Shanghai Hongqiao	07:00 – 09:10	02h10m
MU5100	China Eastern Airlines	Beijing Capital – Shanghai Pudong	07:00 – 08:55	01h55m
CA1519	Air China	Beijing Capital – Shanghai Hongqiao	09:30 – 11:55	02h25m
CZ8879	China Southern Airlines	Beijing Daxing – Shanghai Hongqiao	12:00 – 14:10	02h10m
HU7605	Hainan Airlines	Beijing Capital – Shanghai Hongqiao	15:35 – 17:45	02h10m
MU5130	China Eastern Airlines	Beijing Daxing – Shanghai Pudong	20:00 – 21:55	01h55m
MU5166	China Eastern Airlines	Beijing Capital – Shanghai Hongqiao	21:30 – 23:25	01h55m
CA8341	Air China	Beijing Daxing – Shanghai Pudong	22:00 – 23:45	01h45m

Airport Transportation

The airport you travel from in Beijing, will depend on where you’re staying as to where you depart from. The travel times or distances could vary a little between Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport. The easiest way to get to either airport is by metro. There’s an airport express line traveling between each airport and the city center.

The same goes for Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong Airport. They are both well-connected to the city center by metro. You can take Shanghai subway line 2 and 10 at Hongqiao, line 2, the Suburban Railway Airport Link Line, and Maglev at Pudong.

Option 3: By Overnight Sleeper Train

Total Travel Time: 12-15 hours
Operating Hours: mostly in the evenings
Frequency of Service: less than 10 services per day
Stations: Beijing/Beijing South/Beijing Fengtai Railway Station, Shanghai/Shanghai South/Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station
Cost: from CNY 170

The overnight sleep trains (D/T/Z-series trains) are a lot cheaper but slower than high-speed trains. They may be a good option for budget travelers who have little pressure in terms of time. These trains are older and have less facilities comparing to bullet trains. The seats are less comfortable. You can book a bunk bed and share a cabin with several other passengers.

The cheapest seat class is a second-class ticket or hard seat ticket which are only seats without a bunk bed. D-series trains have second-class beds and first-class beds. T and Z-series trains have hard beds and soft beds.

Here’s a timetable of daily overnight sleeper trains from Beijing to Shanghai.

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time (+1 day)	Travel Time	Second-Class Bed Ticket Price
1461	Beijing – Shanghai	11:59 – 06:45	18h46m	CNY 283.5
D17	Beijing – Shanghai Songjiang	19:10 – 07:31	12h21m	CNY 447
Z281	Beijing Fengtai – Shanghai Songjiang	19:21 – 08:44	13h23m	CNY 304.5
D7	Beijing Fengtai – Shanghai	19:32 – 07:25	11h53m	CNY 436
D9	Beijing South – Shanghai South	19:36 – 08:00	12h24m	CNY 510
T109	Beijing – Shanghai	20:04 – 11:02	14h58m	CNY 304.5
D5	Beijing – Shanghai	21:21 – 09:27	12h06m	CNY 474
D11	Beijing South – Shanghai Songjiang	21:22 – 09:45	12h23m	CNY 479

How to Plan a Beijing-Shanghai Tour

Here is some other essential information for planning a Beijing-Shanghai tour.

How Many Days & Sample Itinerary

We recommend spending 3-5 days in Beijing and 2-3 days in Shanghai. As the two most famous and representative cities in China, there are plenty of iconic attractions and fun things to do. Here’s a sample Beijing-Shanghai itinerary for your reference:、

6 DAYS

Beijing Shanghai Group Tour

Day 1: Beijing Arrival – optional evening exploration

Day 2: Tian’anmen Square – Forbidden City – Temple of Heaven – Summer Palace

Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall hiking trip

Day 4: High-speed train to Shanghai – optional evening exploration

Day 5: Yuyuan Garden – the Bund – Nanjing Road – Xintiandi – Jade Buddha Temple – M50 Creative Park

Day 6: Shanghai Departure

Read More about:

Best Time for a Beijing-Shanghai Tour

A good travel experience in Beijing and Shanghai isn’t too dependent on the season. Generally, the best time to visit China is in spring and autumn. These months have the best weather conditions and sceneries. As mentioned before, public holidays and summer months are peak tourism seasons. We usually recommend avoiding those times for a better experience.

Plan a Beijing-Shanghai Trip with China Xian Tour

Planning a trip on your own can be quite a hassle, from transportation, attraction tickets to accommodation and travel itinerary. How about going on a trip with China Xian Tour? We can help you with all the questions you may have, customize your perfect itinerary and arrange private transportation services for you during your trip.

FAQs on Traveling from Beijing to Shanghai

What are some things I’ll need and required documents for traveling from Beijing to Shanghai?

Required documents include your passport, Chinese visa if you have one, and your travel tickets either physical copies or on your phone. Other things you’ll need include payment methods in China either electronic or cash. You’ll also need network connections. You can purchase a plan with a local provider before your trip.

How to book high-speed train tickets in China?

The best way to buy train tickets in China is to do so online. You can create an account on the official website for China railway, 12306.cn. Select the date of your travel. You’ll be able to see all the options and proceed to payment.

How to take the high-speed train in China?

Taking the high-speed train is also easy for international travelers. We usually recommend arriving 20-30 minutes before your departure time. Make sure you’re heading to the correct station as there can be multiple train stations in one city. Go through security and identity verification. Head to your designated boarding gate and wait for your train. Once it arrives, go through ticket check in and head to your platform. On the platform, find your carriage number to queue for boarding.