Route at a glance
- From: Shanghai Hongqiao
- To: Beijing South
- Distance: 1,318 km
- Fastest: 4h 24m
- Frequency: Frequent (multiple per day)
High-speed rail · 1,318 km
Shanghai to Beijing by high-speed rail
China's flagship HSR corridor. The fastest G-trains cover the 1,318 km Shanghai–Beijing run in about 4h 24m, competing directly with flying once you count airport time. Fastest 4h 24m, around US$98 second class on Trip.com (sampled 2026-06-02).
Fare (second class, sampled)
US$98
on the fastest service, via Trip.com. Their USD price includes fees and FX — not the 12306 face fare. Live price and other classes on Trip.com. Snapshot 2026-06-02.
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Tips for the Shanghai–Beijing ride
- Filter by duration when booking — the fastest non-stop G-trains save well over an hour versus the all-stop services.
- Beijing South (北京南) connects to metro lines 4 and 14; Shanghai Hongqiao shares its building with Hongqiao Airport (SHA).
- Business class on this line is among the most comfortable in China, at a steep premium over second class.
Booking as a foreigner
China HSR accepts foreign passports, but the official 12306 platform is awkward with non-Chinese cards. Trip.com is the practical English option — see our guides before you book.
On a 240-hour transit?
If you're riding this leg as part of a China visa-free transit, your route, ports, and stay window all have to line up. Run it through the checker before you commit to the booking.
Popular high-speed rail routes
- Beijing to Xi'an — 4h 10m, from US$85
- Xi'an to Chengdu — 3h 7m, from US$44
- Chengdu to Chongqing — 1h 15m, from US$19
- Shanghai to Hangzhou — 45m, from US$13
- Shanghai to Suzhou — 23m, from US$6
- Guangzhou to Hong Kong — 48m