- Must visit
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai's flagship museum at People's Square, renowned for bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, and ancient Chinese art.
Cheapest price on Aug 29
$27
Average ticket price on Aug 29
$105
Fastest journey on Aug 29
4 h 18 m
Average journey duration on Aug 29
4 h 27 m
Trains on Aug 29
51
Distance
1068 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Beijing to Shanghai is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Beijing to Shanghai will cost around $105 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $27.
On Sat, Aug 29, we found 51 trains from Beijing to Shanghai, including 51 direct services.
On Sat, Aug 29 the direct trains cover the 1068 km distance in an average of 4 h 27 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 18 m .
On Sat, Aug 29 the slowest trains will take 4 h 32 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
1461
T109
D5
D7
G805
G25
G35
G13
G19
G27Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Beijing to Shanghai among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $110 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 49m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $110, while a flight costs an average of $569.
Distance: 663 miles (1068 km)
| Train | Most popular Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$110 Average price Cheapest | $569 Average price | $171 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 6m Average total duration 5h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 49m Average total duration Fastest 3h 49m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 11h 43m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Beijing to Shanghai:
A train is $459 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Beijing to Shanghai costing on average $569.
Other travel options to Shanghai take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 36m.
The journey is about 6h 7m faster (5h 36m by train vs 11h 43m by car) and roughly $61 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($110 vs $171). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with China Railway, China Railways G-Class, China Railways D-Class.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Beijing to Shanghai trains for today, Friday, August 28. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D5 | 9:21 PM Beijing | 12h06 | 9:27 AM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, August 29 | |||||
G531 | 6:08 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h56 | 12:04 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G547 | 6:18 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h53 | 12:11 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G1 | 6:30 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h54 | 11:24 AM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G3 | 6:52 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h41 | 11:33 AM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G565 | 7:07 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h05 | 1:12 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G549 | 7:13 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h50 | 1:03 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G5 | 7:40 AM Beijing | 4h52 | 12:32 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G597 | 7:42 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h07 | 1:49 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G37 | 7:52 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h43 | 12:35 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G5 | 7:59 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h33 | 12:32 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G599 | 8:15 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h59 | 2:14 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G633 | 8:37 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h24 | 3:01 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G7 | 9:00 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h37 | 1:37 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G669 | 9:07 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h52 | 2:59 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G643 | 9:18 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h02 | 3:20 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G693 | 9:47 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h09 | 3:56 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G9 | 10:00 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h35 | 2:35 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G11 | 10:03 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h36 | 2:39 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G657 | 10:47 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h05 | 4:52 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G23 | 11:00 AM Beijing (北京西) | 4h37 | 3:37 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G735 | 11:13 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h25 | 5:38 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G737 | 11:17 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h05 | 5:22 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G733 | 11:25 AM Beijing (北京西) | 5h34 | 4:59 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G741 | 11:50 AM Beijing (北京西) | 6h12 | 6:02 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
1461 | 11:59 AM Beijing | 18h46 | 6:45 AM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G15 | 12:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h38 | 4:38 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G2573 | 12:11 PM Beijing (北京西) | 7h47 | 7:58 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G745 | 12:21 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h00 | 6:21 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G747 | 12:47 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h11 | 6:58 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G17 | 1:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h35 | 5:35 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G749 | 1:19 PM Beijing (北京西) | 5h45 | 7:04 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G19 | 2:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h32 | 6:32 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G795 | 2:13 PM Beijing (北京西) | 5h52 | 8:05 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G799 | 2:26 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h24 | 8:50 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G751 | 2:56 PM Beijing (北京西) | 5h37 | 8:33 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G21 | 3:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h34 | 7:34 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G801 | 3:07 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h03 | 9:10 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G803 | 3:42 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h37 | 10:19 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G13 | 4:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h28 | 8:28 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G805 | 4:30 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h41 | 11:11 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G25 | 5:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h18 | 9:18 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G27 | 5:04 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h32 | 9:36 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G807 | 5:19 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h06 | 11:25 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G809 | 5:31 PM Beijing (北京西) | 6h15 | 11:46 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G29 | 6:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h43 | 10:43 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G31 | 6:04 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h54 | 10:58 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
G33 | 7:00 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h35 | 11:35 PM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
D7 | 7:18 PM Beijing | 12h07 | 7:25 AM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
G35 | 7:24 PM Beijing (北京西) | 4h27 | 11:51 PM Shanghai Hongqiao | 0 transfersDirect | |
T109 | 8:04 PM Beijing | 14h58 | 11:02 AM Shanghai | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Beijing to Shanghai run on average 40 times per day, taking around 5h 36m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $98 if you book in advance.
There are 40 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:15, the last at 23:07. The fastest train covers the 663 miles (1068 km) distance in 4h 18m.
Distance 663 miles (1068 km) |
Average train duration 5h 36m |
Cheapest ticket price $98 |
Trains per day 40 |
Direct trains 40 |
Fastest train 4h 18m |
First train 12:15 AM |
Last train 11:07 PM |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Shanghai — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Shanghai trip today.
Shanghai's flagship museum at People's Square, renowned for bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, and ancient Chinese art.
Striking Bund museum focused on modern and contemporary art, with major exhibitions in a landmark former bank building.
Large modern art museum in Pudong, praised for international shows, vast galleries, and bold architecture by the river.
Legendary waterfront promenade with colonial-era facades and dramatic skyline views, essential for first-time visitors.
Lively old-city market area around classical gardens, ideal for traditional architecture, snacks, and souvenir browsing.
Elegant former French Concession avenue shaded by plane trees, loved for walking, heritage buildings, and boutiques.
Soup-filled steamed pork dumplings with a thin wrapper. A Jiangnan classic strongly associated with Shanghai teahouses and snack shops.
Thick wheat noodles stir-fried with pork, bok choy, and soy sauce. A hearty everyday Shanghai staple with a smoky wok aroma.
Braised pork belly in soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine until glossy and tender. It is one of Shanghai's signature sweet-savory dishes.
High-end restaurant in The Peninsula Shanghai known for polished service, Jiangnan specialties, and sophisticated views over the Bund area.
Established fine-dining restaurant serving refined Shanghainese and Jiangnan dishes in an elegant historic Bund setting.
Popular casual chain famed for xiaolongbao and other Jiangnan dim sum. Clean, efficient, and ideal for a first taste of classic Shanghai snacks.
Moderate for a major global city: metro and casual meals are cheap, while central hotels and upscale dining can be costly compared with many cities in East Asia.
Tipping is generally not expected. Restaurants and cafes usually do not require tips, and taxi drivers are not normally tipped.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Beijing to Shanghai by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Shanghai, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Beijing to Shanghai trains use the Beijing (北京西) to Shanghai Hongqiao station pair. Use this guide to compare Beijing and Shanghai train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need