Best Travel Options from Hong Kong to Shanghai: Flights, Trains, and More

Written by Natalia | Updated April 14,2026

There’s a reason why Shanghai has found its way onto so many travellers’ lists. While many know it as China’s economic center and largest trading port, the city doesn’t stop there: it’s also a major hub for science, technology, culture, and history. It’s no wonder, then, that more and more people from Hong Kong are traveling to and even living in Shanghai.

If you want to join the trend and plan a trip to Shanghai from Hong Kong, this is the guide for you. We’ve gathered all the information you’ll need to pick the travel option that best suits you, from time and schedule comparisons to ticket prices, and we’ve also answered some common travel questions. No matter what challenge you might encounter while travelling from Hong Kong to Shanghai, this article will help you find your way through it.

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• Options at a Glance
• Option 1: Flights (The Top Choice for a Reason)
• Option 2: By High-speed Train (AKA Sleep Your Way to Shanghai)
• Option 3: Cross-border Bus + Transfer
• Plan a Hong Kong + Shanghai Tour with China Xian Tour
• FAQs about Traveling from Hong Kong to Shanghai

Options at a Glance

If your travel plans are time-sensitive, then there’s no better choice than flying, as it’s both fast and flexible – just remember to set aside around 2 hours for airport procedures. Still, given its unbeatable convenience, it makes sense that it’s the top choice for so many travellers.

If you prefer to balance price and convenience, however, the high-speed train is for you. It runs from city-center to city-center and avoids the hassle and long lines of airport security.

Lastly, for those on a budget, we recommend a transfer route via Shenzhen. For example, you can take a bus across the border, then catch a high-speed rail to travel to Shanghai. This method saves money while still maintaining a reasonable travel time.

Option 1: Flights (The Top Choice for a Reason)

• Travel Time: 2 hours and 15 mins to 2 hours and 45 mins
• Price: CNY 728 – 2471 or $104 – 353, and even under $104 during the off-season (from mid-March to mid-May & from mid-September to mid-November)
• Route: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) OR Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
• Main Airlines: Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, China Eastern, Greater Bay Airlines, and others

Best Airport to Fly Out Of Hong Kong and How to Get There?

The good news is that Hong Kong only has one international airport, the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). So the real question is: how do you get not just yourself but your souvenir-stuffed luggage from the city to the terminal?

Arriving in Shanghai: Hongqiao vs. Pudong

The airport you land at is the deciding factor of how much you’ll enjoy the first few hours of your tour of Shanghai. Our advice? Avoid Pudong if at all possible. Here’s a quick breakdown to explain why:

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA)

• Distance to city: Super close – only about 13 km from downtown
• Transit Convenience: Five Metro lines 2, 10, and 17 all have stops there. Even better, the airport is directly connected to the high-speed train station, so you can walk from your plane to a bullet train and get to your destination in no time.

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)

• Distance to city: More than twice as far at about 30 km from Even with no traffic, a taxi ride takes 45 – 60 minutes.
• Transit Convenience: There’s no lack of options, but they take The maglev (8 minutes to Longyang Road, CNY 50 / $7) and Metro Line 2 (90 minutes to downtown) are the best options.

Quick tip: If you’re staying in Puxi (Jing’an, Huangpu, Changning), pick Hongqiao. If you’re heading to Pudong (Lujiazui, Zhangjiang) or catching a connecting flight, however… Well, unsurprisingly, Pudong airport might be a good choice choice.

Which Are the Best Airlines that Go from Hong Kong to Shanghai?

Cathay Pacific ★★★★★

Best overall experience. Great service, decent meals (they often serve Häagen-Dazs), comfortable seats, and very frequent flights (6 – 8 scheduled per day).

Hong Kong Airlines ★★★★

Best value for money. Close to Cathay in service and comfort, but with a more friendly price. Perfect if you care about quality but want to save a bit.

China Eastern ★★★

A major mainland carrier with good frequent flyer benefits. Plenty of flights (7 – 9 scheduled per day).

Juneyao Airlines ★★★

Best for tight budgets. The ticket price is usually CNY 609 to 1300 or $87 – 187. They’re a semi-low-cost carrier, so tickets can be surprisingly cheap.

Note: Always check baggage rules. Cathay, HK Airlines, and China Eastern include a free checked bag weighing up to 23kg, while Greater Bay’s (should this be Juneyao’s?) cheapest fares don’t. That means an additional CNY280 ($40) for each piece of 20kg baggage.

Option 2: By High-speed Train (AKA Sleep Your Way to Shanghai)

• Travel Time: Daytime trains take about 8 – 9 hours; the overnight train takes around 11 hours
• Price: CNY 532 – 1711 / $76 – 245  for second class and at least 840 CNY / $122  for a sleeper
• Luggage: Basically no limits
• Route: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Station

If you hate stressing over luggage limits or love scrolling your phone and watching the scenery rush by, then there’s no better choice than the bullet train. The One Stop,

Two Check customs process at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is very smooth and convenient as well. It starts with a real-name verification, then a quick security check, followed by both exiting Hong Kong and entering the mainland before finally boarding.

Our tip: The 8 PM to 7 AM sleeper train is a lifesaver if you’re not in a rush. You save the cost of a hotel for one night, then wake up in Shanghai ready to explore.

Additionally, each four-person cabin comes with clean bedding, a reading light, and USB ports. There’s hot water and restrooms at the ends of the car, and in the morning the crew hands out snacks. So really, it’s often more fun to just grab a couple of friends and book the night trip.

How to buy the ticket?

• Buy tickets online: The most reliable option to buy online tickets is through China Railway 12306, either on the official website or in the Third-party platforms like Trip.com also work as they’re simple to use and provide multilingual interfaces.
• Buying tickets in person: Head to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, then go to the ticket windows or self-service machines. Remember to bring your ID documents – not copies! The machines take credit cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, but not cash.

How to Get to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station?

• MTR: Austin Station (Tuen Ma Line), Exit C, then walk for 2-minute.
• Bus: Plenty of routes run to West Kowloon Station or Jordan
• Walking: From Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City, it takes just 10 – 15 minutes.

How to Clear Customs (One Stop, Two Check)

Conveniently, you get both Hong Kong exit and mainland entry out of the way at the same time at West Kowloon Station – no need to drag your stuff through another checkpoint in Shenzhen.

Here’s how it goes:

• Buy tickets and enter the station with a valid passport or permanent resident ID
• Head to the B1 Ticket Hall and tap your passport at the self-service gate for ticket verification.
• Get to the B3 Departure Hall and go through baggage & security
• Show your passport to Hong Kong immigration at Hong Kong Exit (in the same B3 area).
• Enter the mainland with your passport and Chinese

The whole process takes around 20 – 30 minutes total. Once you’re through, you’re officially in the mainland. Just find your gate in the B3 departure hall and wait for the train.

Option 3: Cross-border Bus + Transfer

Hong Kong’s cross-border bus network is pretty solid. The main land crossings are Huanggang, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, and Shenzhen Bay. And then there’s the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge, which gets you straight to Zhuhai or Macau.

Here’s the breakdown by city:

• Hong Kong – Shenzhen: The easiest route. Huanggang Port is open 24/7. Buses leave from Mong Kok, Prince Edward, Wan Chai, and Jordan, each taking around 45 – 60 minutes. There’s also the Huangba shuttle from Huanggang to Lok Ma Chau, running 24/7 every 5 – 10 minutes for $1 – 4 / 7 – 28 CNY.
• Hong Kong – Guangzhou: You can leave from Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Tsui and cross at Shenzhen Bay or Huanggang. The total travel time is 3 – 3.5 hours. Multiple companies run this line, and tickets cost around $13 – 19 / 90 – 135
• Hong Kong – Zhuhai: Take the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau The bridge itself takes around 40 minutes to cross, while the whole trip takes 1.5 – 2 hours. But buses aren’t frequent, though, so you’ll need to book ahead.
• Hong Kong – Foshan: Takes around 3 – 5 hours, with tickets costing $15 – 20 / 105 – 140 CNY. Again, there are fewer buses than the Guangzhou route.

Recommended Tours

4 Days Hong Kong and Shenzhen Tour by High-speed Train
6 Days Hong Kong-Guangzhou-Macau Cultural Tour

Plan a Hong Kong + Shanghai Tour with China Xian Tour

If you’re not familiar with Hong Kong or Shanghai, taking a professional tour is the best way to minimize stress while getting the most out of your time. Planning a trip on your own is both time-consuming and difficult, which is where China Xian Tour comes in: we handle the headaches for you. Trips with us are fully customizable – feel free to throw any special requests or strange whims our way. We’ll make an itinerary that’s meant for you, not just a generic “tourist”.

FAQs about Traveling from Hong Kong to Shanghai

What are the visa requirements if I travel from Hong Kong to Shanghai?

Today China offers a series of visa-free policies for different countries to maximize travel experience. For example, the unilateral visa-free entry for up to 30 days to citizens of over 50 countries including the UK, Canada, France, and more. Additionally, other visa-free policies are available to other nationalities at different ports such as 240-hour visa-free transit (in 60 Ports) and the Pearl River Delta 6-Day visa exemptions for tour groups from Hong Kong and Macau. You can check requirements at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website. Typically, the documents required include a valid passport and either visa-free eligibility or a Chinese visa.

Are there any cruises from Hong Kong to Shanghai?

Currently, there are no non-stop cruise from Hong Kong to Shanghai. If you want to experience a cruise, you can take one that follows a detour. For instance, the 5-day Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas allows you to departs from Hong Kong Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, goes through Japan Ishigaki Port International Terminal and finally arrives in Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.

Which Shenzhen-Hong Kong border crossing stays open 24 hours?

Huanggang Port. It’s in Shenzhen’s Futian District and runs 24/7.