Beijing - Shanghai High-Speed Train: 2026 Schedule & Tickets

Written by Catherine | Updated March 05,2026

Beijing and Shanghai are two of China’s most popular destinations for international travelers, showcasing the country’s imperial past and futuristic modernity respectively. Traveling between these two cities is incredibly convenient thanks to the many transportation options available. Among them, the high-speed train is the most recommended choice, offering comfort, efficiency and flexibility.

The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is a world-class railway. It spans 1,318 km and connects 7 provinces/municipalities from north to south. Its highest operating speed reaches 350 km/h and the fastest train can transport you between Beijing and Shanghai in no more than 4.5 hours, with the price (for a second-class seat) ranging around CNY 300 – 650.

Another advantage of the high-speed train ride is its frequent departures, which allow you to board a train at almost any time of the day. For example, between 07:00-08:00, the busiest travel period of the day, there are even 3 – 5 departures.

Beijing's transportation — Beijing’s transportation

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2026 Beijing – Shanghai High-Speed Train Schedule
Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Train Ticket Prices & Seat Class Features
G Trains vs. D Trains: What’s the Difference?
Major Train Stations
Alternative Option – Overnight Sleepers on Normal Train
High-speed Train vs Plane vs. Overnight Sleeper of Normal Train
Essential Travel Tips For Taking a Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Train
Planning a Beijing-Shanghai tour with China Xian Tour

2026 Beijing – Shanghai High-Speed Train Schedule

Before planning your China train tour from Beijing to Shanghai, the following quick facts and schedules will give you an overview of the journey and different train types.

Distance: 1,318 km
Train types: G trains operating in day time; overnight D trains.
Operating hours: G Trains: 06:00 – 19:30; D Trains: 19:00 – 21:30
Duration: G Trains: about 4.5 – 7.5 hours; D Trains: 12 – 12.5 hours
Ticket: G Trains: CNY 553 – 2341; D Trains: CNY 293 – 610
Average daily departures: G Trains: about 40; D Trains: about 5
Terminals: Beijing, Beijing South, Beijing Fengtai, Shanghai, Shanghai South, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Songjiang
Main stops: Tianjin South, Qufu East, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Wuxi East

Beijing to Shanghai Bullet Train Schedule

G Trains Schedule

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
G531	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	06:08 – 12:04	05h56m
G7	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	09:00 – 13:37	04h37m
G733	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	11:25 – 16:59	05h34m
G19	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	14:00 – 18:32	04h32m
G805	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	16:00 – 20:28	04h28m
G35	Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao	19:24 – 23:51	04h27m

Overnight D Trains Schedule

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
D17	Beijing – Shanghai Songjiang	19:10 – 07:31	12h21m
D7	Beijing – Shanghai	19:18 – 07:25	12h07m
D9	Beijing South – Shanghai South	19:36 – 08:00	12h24m
D11	Beijing – Shanghai Songjiang	21:15 – 09:45	12h30m
D5	Beijing – Shanghai	21:21 – 09:27	12h06m

Shanghai to Beijing Bullet Train Schedule

G Trains Schedule

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
G532	Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing South	06:31 – 12:18	05h47m
G10	Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing South	09:00 – 13:26	04h26m
G734	Shanghai – Beijing South	11:15 – 17:20	06h05m
G20	Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing South	14:00 – 18:36	04h36m
G24	Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing South	16:00 – 20:35	04h35m
G30	Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing South	18:52 – 23:21	04h29m

Overnight D Trains Schedule

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
D18	Shanghai Songjiang – Beijing	18:42 – 07:09	12h27m
D8	Shanghai – Beijing	19:08 – 07:18	12h10m
D10	Shanghai South – Beijing South	21:05 – 09:24	12h19m
D12	Shanghai Songjiang – Beijing	21:14 – 09:40	12h26m
D6	Shanghai – Beijing	21:15 – 09:25	12h10m

Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Train Ticket Prices & Seat Class Features

G Train

Seat Type	Ticket Fare	Features
Business-class seat	CNY 1873 – 2341	Highest privacy, exclusive lounge, 2+1 or 1+1 layout, fast channel, guided service, leather seat with massage function. The seat can lie flat at 180 degrees. Free meals, beverages, snacks, blankets, slippers, eye masks, headphones, towels, etc
Upgraded First-class seat (Available in some trains)	CNY 1278 – 1471	Enjoy business class lounge area, 2 + 2 layout, power seat, larger space and table than the first-class seat. Free beverages, blankets, snacks, slippers and cushions. The backrest and leg rest can be adjusted.
first-class seat	CNY 930 – 1070	2+2 layout, basic seat adjustment, power charge, wider seat and larger space than a second-class seat, manually or electrically adjusted backrest, a foot pedal and a hidden small table.
second-class seat	CNY 553 – 669	The most economic choice, 3 + 2 layout, smallest space, manually adjusted backrest (45°), a foldable small table at the back of the front seats

Overnight D Train

Seat Type	Ticket Fare	Features
Soft Sleeper	CNY 558 – 610	Four berths and a sliding door for each compartment, high privacy, quiet and safe, more comfortable bedding, independent reading lamp, charging port, coat hook, slippers. Some are equipped with a TV.
Hard Sleeper	CNY 440 – 482	Open berth with upper, middle and lower berths. There are partitions but no independent private rooms, lower privacy, provide bedding, lamps, power sockets and luggage racks.
second-class seat	CNY 293 – 321	Fixed seat, can not lie down, compact space, adjustable back seat, foldable small table, power socket.

G Trains vs. D Trains: What’s the Difference?

In China, the high-speed trains are primarily categorized into G trains and D trains. What are the differences? The obvious difference is that G trains are operating during the daytime and D trains depart in the evening and arrive the next morning. Besides, there are also differences in speed, facilities, experiences, etc. Refer to the table below for detailed information.

Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway LCD Display

Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway Meals

Aspects	G Trains	D Trains
Highest Speed	300 – 350 km/h	200 – 250 km/h
Travel Time	4.5 – 7.5 hours	12 – 12.5 hours
Ticket Price	CNY 553 – 2341	CNY 293 – 610
Daily Departures	About 40	About 5
Facilities and Environment	Barrier-free restrooms, baby care tables, automatic sensor doors, charging port, spacious luggage rack. Some trains also offer free WiFi. The trains run stably and offer a quiet environment and bright light, suitable for working and reading.	Sleepers have better facilities, including bedding, lamps, sockets, hooks, slippers, etc. Some are equipped with LCD. After 22:00, all the lights will be dimmed to create a sleeping environment. And to ensure comfort, the temperature will be constantly controlled at 24 – 26 ℃.
Service	The business-class seat can enjoy an exclusive channel and a waiting lounge. Meals, drinks, blankets are provided on board.	Provide one-on-one arrival reminder for sleepers. The dining carriage is open all the time.

Then, which one suits you more? For business travelers and tourists who are short of time, G trains are undoubtedly the best choice. For budget travelers and tourists who want to have a good rest, D trains are better, which can also save on hotel cost.

Major Train Stations

Beijing South Railway Station (Beijingnan Railway Station)

Address: 12, Chezhan Road, Yongwai Street, Fengtai District
Transportation:Metro line 4, 14: Beijing Railway Station

Beijing South Railway Station is the main train station for Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train. It is relatively far from the downtown area, about 8 km. Inside the station, there are free charging ports and children entertainment area. When meeting problems, you can also ask for help at the service counter.

To improve efficiency, the station also designates ticket gates for Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Tian and normal trains. Usually, the ticket gate for the Beijing-Shanghai bullet train is No. 6 – 17 and all are on the second floor. The fastest way is to leave from exit A and take the elevator to the waiting hall on the second floor directly.

For passengers whose train departs within 20 minutes, there are 3 quick check-in halls for Beijing-Shanghai high-speed trains on the B1 floor, which are No.1 – 3 halls. They correspond to the ticket gates 6 – 9, 10 – 13, 14 – 17, respectively. In this case, you need to leave from exit B. The waiting halls are next to Burger King.

Note: The three halls are not connected to each other. Make sure your ticket gate before entering.

Beijing Railway Station

Address: 13, Maojiawan Hutong, Dongcheng District
Transportation:subway line 2: Beijing Railway Station

Beijing Railway Station is very close to the downtown area and only about 3.3 km from the Forbidden City. For tourists who want to enjoy their Beijing tour immediately after arriving, it offers great convenience. About facilities, parcel lockers are near security check area. Passengers can deliver the restricted item. The baby-care rooms are in the 3rd and 5th waiting hall. There is also a cultural and creative store for tourists to buy souvenirs.

How to enter the station? After getting off the subway, leave from exit C, and then turn right and walk for about 2 – 3 minutes to entrance of the North Square of the station. The No. 1 – 3 waiting halls are on the first floor, and the No. 4 – 8 waiting halls are on the second floor.

Note: Exit C is closed after 10:00, then you need to leave from exit B, which will take 3 more minutes from the metro station to the train station.

Shanghai Hongqiao Station

Address: 1500, Shengui Road, Xinhong Street, Minhang District
Transportation:Metro lines 2, 10, 17: Hongqiao Railway Station or Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2

Shanghai Hongqiao Station is the busiest transportation hub in Asia, which integrates high-speed train, metro and Hongqiao airport. Several high-speed railways are operated here, including Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train, Shanghai-Suzhou high-speed train, etc. It seems difficult to find the correct way to the station. Don’t worry, just follow the guide below.

Your ticket gate will decide the metro station you get off at. If it is No. 1 – 15 ticket gate, it is faster to get off at Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2. After exiting the metro station, you will see both the escalator and the elevator. It is recommended to take the escalator and arrive at the 3^rd floor. Then turn round and follow the blue sign of “train” overhead. After passing three conveyor belts, you will see the 2F East Gate.

If it is No. 16 – 30 ticket gate, getting off at Hongqiao Railway Station is more convenient. After disembarking, find and follow the sign of “Area C, D” to the exit. Then turn left, you’ll see a convenience store. Walk there and turn left again. Continue walking, there will be an elevator that can transport you to the second floor. You can see the security check right after getting out of the elevator.

Shanghai Railway Station

Address: 303, Moling Road, Jing ‘an District
Transportation:Metro lines 1, 3, 4: Shanghai Railway Station

Shanghai Railway Station is an old train station and mainly runs trains to and from Beijing, Kunming, Nanjing, etc. It is also close to the attractions in the city center, thus more suitable for tourists who are planning a Shanghai tour.

It has two entrances: South and North Entrances. It also has 12 waiting halls and all are on the second floor. The No.1 – 6 waiting halls are closer to South Entrance and the No. 7 – 12 waiting halls are closer to North Entrance. To get to South Square, you can take metro line 1. The station hall is located underground in the square and the exit 2 is right next to the entrance of South Square. The station halls of Metro Lines 3 and 4 are on the ground floor of North Square. Leaving from exit 7 or 8, the entrance of North Square is in front of your eyes.

Alternative Option – Overnight Sleepers on Normal Train

Besides the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train, there are also 3 normal trains running between the two cities. The operating stations are Beijing, Beijing Fengtai, Shanghai and Shanghai Songjiang. All are overnight trains and depart at noon or in the afternoon and arrive in the morning on the next day. Though taking a long time, its cost is only half that of the bullet train. For budget travelers, it can be a good alternative option.

Schedule from Beijing to Shanghai

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
Z281	Beijing Fengtai – Shanghai Songjiang	19:21 – 08:44	13h23m
T109	Beijing – Shanghai	20:04 – 11:02	14h58m
1461	Beijing – Shanghai	11:59 – 06:45	18h46m

Schedule from Shanghai to Beijing

Train No.	Dep. – Arr. Station	Dep. – Arr. Time	Travel Time
Z282	Shanghai Songjiang – Beijing Fengtai	19:17 – 09:52	14h35m
T110	Shanghai – Beijing	16:30 – 08:33	16h03m
1462	Shanghai – Beijing	12:15 – 10:46	22h31m

Ticket Fare:

Soft Sleeper: CNY 443.5 – 476.5
Hard Sleeper: CNY 275.5 – 304.5
Hard Seat: CNY 152.5 – 177.5

High-speed Train vs Plane vs. Overnight Sleeper of Normal Train

There is a frequently-asked question: which to choose from Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train, plane or an overnight sleeper of a normal train? To facilitate your decision, we compare the key aspects in the table below.

Aspects	High-speed Train	Plane	Overnight Sleeper
Total Travel Time (including the transportation from downtown)	G Trains: 6 – 9 hours D Trains: 13 – 14 hours	5 – 8 hours	14 – 23 hours
Cost	Second-class seat: CNY 300 – 670	Economic Class: CNY 500 – 1,300	Sleeper: CNY 280 – 480
Comfort Level	Stable, quiet, wider space, more facilities and more meal options	Crowded seat, limited space, simple meals, basic service, may experience turbulence	Sleepers offer a better environment, relatively noisy, obvious turbulence, simple facilities
Convenience	Close to downtown with subway connection, the process for security check and check-in is fast, punctual	Far from downtown, the process for security check, check-in and waiting is lengthy, may be delayed	Basically in city center, simple process, moderate punctuality rate

In general, the high-speed train is suitable for most travelers, especially for business travelers and families. It perfectly balances travel time, comfort level, convenience and cost. A plane can be the best choice for travelers who value time and have sufficient budgets because of its fastest speed. For budget travelers, the overnight sleeper is an economical way, saving you a night’s hotel fee and maximizing your sightseeing time.

Essential Travel Tips For Taking a Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Train

Ticket booking: The online platforms, such as com and Klook, may be more user-friendly for international travelers. The official 12306 China Railway website and app offer the most accurate information and have no additional fees. It has launched anEnglish version. Remember to book the ticket 2 weeks earlier. Read How to Book China Train Tickets for a detailed guide.
Amenities: power sockets, clean restrooms(usually one sitting toilet and one squatting toilet on each coach), free water. The Fuxinghao train is equipped with free WiFi.
Food: The attendants will offer snacks, beverages, boxed meals and fruits on board. There is also a dedicated dining car in the middle of the train, which offers more options. You can also take some food with you.
Luggage: The sum of the length, width and heightof each item shall not exceed 130 cm and the limited weight is 20kg for adults and 10 kg for children.

Planning a Beijing-Shanghai tour with China Xian Tour

If you are the first time to visit China, Beijing and Shanghai are the best destinations for you to know about the past and present of China. Whether you want to visit either of the cities or both cities, China Xian Tour can tailor a satisfying trip based on your requirements. Besides the attractions, we can also arrange some special experiences, such as taking a rickshaw in Beijing’s hutong. To ensure you enjoy a smooth tour, our travel consultant will provide 24/7 service for you during the trip. Just contact us now.

Content Preview

2026 Beijing – Shanghai High-Speed Train Schedule

Beijing to Shanghai Bullet Train Schedule

Shanghai to Beijing Bullet Train Schedule

Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Train Ticket Prices & Seat Class Features

G Trains vs. D Trains: What’s the Difference?

Major Train Stations