The high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai takes 4 hours 18 minutes at its fastest and about 4.5 to 5 hours on most express trains. Around 40 direct trains a day run from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao. Second class costs from about CNY 525 (about US$78); fares vary by train and date. Book on 12306 with your passport.
- Stations: Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao
- Fastest: 4 h 18 min (G25, as of November 2026)
- Fares: second class from about CNY 525, first class from about CNY 883, business class from about CNY 1,744
- Booking: 12306 website or app, with your passport; sales open 15 days ahead
- Boarding: your passport is your ticket; arrive 45–60 minutes early
Why take the train
You board in the city and step off in Shanghai four to five hours later, with time to read or watch the countryside go by. There’s no airport check-in, and you keep your suitcase with you the whole way.
Times, classes and fares
These figures come from the 12306 timetable and fare query for a sample travel date, Thursday 12 November 2026. Fares in China are dynamic, so treat them as a guide and check 12306 for your own date.
| Item | Beijing to Shanghai |
|---|---|
| From / to | Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao |
| Fastest train | 4 h 18 min (G25, 17:00–21:18) |
| Other express trains | 4 h 27 min to 4 h 54 min |
| Trains with more stops | 5 h 30 min to 6 h 40 min |
| Direct trains a day | 39 on the sample date |
| Second class | about CNY 525–692 (about US$78–103) |
| First class | about CNY 883–1,107 (about US$132–165) |
| Business class | about CNY 1,744–2,420 (about US$260–361) |
Fares vary by train and departure time, and the fastest trains sit near the top of each range: on the sample date, G25 was CNY 661 in second class, CNY 1,058 in first and CNY 2,315 in business. In May 2026 the line’s operating company raised its published ceiling fares, while the fares actually sold are set below that ceiling. That’s why we always quote “from about” and check 12306 for each booking.
Second class is comfortable for a four-hour ride, and it’s the class we include on our multi-city tour. First class gives you more room, and business class the most, from about CNY 1,744 (about US$260) on the sample date. Children aged 6 to 14 pay a child fare, anyone over 14 pays the full fare, and each adult may bring one child under 6 free without a seat of their own.
How to book
Book on China Railway’s 12306 English website, 12306.cn/en, or in the 12306 app. Tickets are real-name: the English site accepts only valid foreign passports, and your identity is checked automatically, by uploading your passport photo page, or at a station ticket window. You can pay online with a Chinese or foreign bank card or a mobile payment app.
- When sales open: 15 days before departure, counting the travel day. On Beijing–Shanghai, a trial advance-reservation service has run since 27 October 2026, letting you place a request 30 to 17 days ahead.
- Sales hours: 5:00 to 1:00 the next morning (5:00 to 23:30 on Tuesdays).
- Changes: free if made more than 48 hours before departure, subject to the rules.
On our Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai tour, second-class train tickets are already included and we book them for you.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Which station, and how to get there
Most direct trains leave from Beijing South railway station and arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao. On the sample date, 39 of the 53 trains between Beijing and Shanghai used this pair; the rest started or ended at other stations, so read both station names on your booking before you set off.
Beijing South is on subway Lines 4 and 14. From Wangfujing or Qianmen, a taxi or private car is the easiest choice with big suitcases, since the subway means carrying bags through stations. If you arrive back at Beijing South late in the evening, free shuttle buses often run after 10pm, and ride-hailing pick-ups are on the underground level.
Boarding with a foreign passport
There is no paper ticket. Your e-ticket is linked to the passport you booked with, and that original passport gets you into the station and through the ticket gate. Here’s how to plan the departure:
- Arrive 45–60 minutes early. This is our advice rather than a rule: Beijing South is a large station, and the security queue and the walk to your gate take time.
- Go through security at the entrance. All passengers and bags are screened. Power banks must be clearly labeled and no more than 100 Wh (27,000 mAh) each.
- Use the staffed channel. Foreign passports usually go through the manual gate, where staff check the passport against your booking.
- Find your gate and wait. Gates close a few minutes before departure, commonly 3–5 minutes (5 minutes is common at big stations), and there are no exceptions after that. If you miss your train, 12306 customer service has said you can change to another train that day from the same station if seats are free.
Luggage
Each adult may carry 20 kg of luggage free, and each child 10 kg. There is no checked baggage on the train: you take your bags on board yourself and use the overhead racks or the space at the end of the carriage. A normal large suitcase is fine. If lifting is hard for anyone in your group, give each person a lighter case of their own, which is easier to get up onto the rack.
Departure times and a stop in Xi’an
The fastest train, G25, leaves at 17:00 and gets in at 21:18, so you can spend most of a last day in Beijing. If you’d like to reach your Shanghai hotel before dinner, take an earlier train. Many visitors break the journey in Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors, taking the train from Beijing to Xi’an first and continuing to Shanghai later.
To decide how long to stay before you leave, read how many days in Beijing, and for the ride to the station see getting around Beijing. Our list of things to do in Beijing helps you fill the days before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Beijing to Shanghai?
The fastest train, G25, took 4 hours 18 minutes on our sample date in November 2026. Other express trains take 4 hours 27 minutes to 4 hours 54 minutes, and trains with more stops take 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 40 minutes.
How much is the Beijing to Shanghai train ticket?
Fares are dynamic and vary by train and date. On a sample date in November 2026, second class cost from about CNY 525 (about US$78), first class from about CNY 883 and business class from about CNY 1,744. Check 12306 for your date.
Which station does the Beijing to Shanghai train leave from?
Most direct trains run from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao: 39 of 53 on our November 2026 sample date. Beijing South is on subway Lines 4 and 14. The rest use other stations, so check both station names on your booking.
Where can I book Beijing to Shanghai train tickets?
On China Railway's 12306 English website or the 12306 app, using your passport. Sales open 15 days before departure. On our Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai tour, second-class tickets are included and we book them for you.
Do I need a printed ticket to board?
There is no paper ticket. Your e-ticket is linked to the passport you booked with, so bring that original passport: you show it to enter the station and at the ticket gate, usually through the staffed channel for foreign passports.
How early should I get to Beijing South station?
We suggest 45–60 minutes before departure. There is security screening at the entrance, the station is large, and ticket checks stop a few minutes before departure, commonly 3–5 minutes, with no exceptions after the cut-off.
How much luggage can I take on the train?
Adults may carry 20 kg free and children 10 kg. There is no checked baggage, so you take your bags on board and use the overhead racks or the space at the end of the carriage. A normal large suitcase is fine.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.