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The Beijing to Shanghai (Jinghu) high-speed rail line is one of the country’s most popular train routes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your trip on the tourist-friendly Beijing-Shanghai sleeper train, or if you are in a hurry, why not embark on the world’s fastest passenger train travelling at a staggering speed of 217mph!
Trains to Shanghai vary in cost depending on whether you choose the high-speed or overnight sleeper train as well as on the chosen ticket class. A standard second-class train ticket for the high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai will cost from 553 CNY (£63), 933 CNY (£106) for first class, and 1748 CNY (£198) for business class. The sleeper train works out much cheaper from 386 CNY (£44) for a second-class seat, 550 CNY (£62) for a hard sleeper ticket, and from 740 CNY (£84) for a soft sleeper ticket.
Beijing – Shanghai Hexie Train
The perfect choice for business commuters, G trains run in the daytime and can take as little as 4 ½ hours to make the journey between Beijing and Shanghai. Two types of G class trains run this route, Hexie (harmony) and Fuxing (revival). Heixie trains usually take a little longer and typically have 3-digits after the G, e.g. G115. Fuxing trains usually have a single or 2-digits after the G on timetables and can reach staggering speeds of up to 217mph, making them the fastest trains in the world.
G class trains include second, first and business class.
2nd class includes: Seats are arranged in one row of 2 and another row of 3 across the car width, you will be assigned a seat.
1st class includes: Seats are arranged in two rows of 2 across the car width, you will be assigned a seat. Each row of two will have access to a power socket and have more space than seats in second class.
Business class includes: Seats are arranged in one row of 2 and another row of 1 across the car width, you will be assigned a seat. All seats include a power socket and recline at the touch of a button. Your ticket entitles you to one hot tray meal and unlimited Chinese tea, coffee, juices or soft drinks. You ticket will also allow access to a VIP lounge for business class passengers at Hong Kong West Kowloon Terminus.
China Railways CRH High-Speed Sleeper Train
User:Bvehk / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
D category trains consist of three different models, the CRH2E standard and capsule high-speed sleepers, as well as CR200J revival green sleepers. The layout of the trains differ depending on the train you take, however all include a buffet car and wash areas. D category trains are the perfect choice for tourists not pressed for time or that prefer to travel during the night to free up some sightseeing time in the day.
T category trains are slower than D category sleepers and so are used less frequently by tourists. They do have a greater variety of sleeper classes compared with D category trains and do not include seats. Due to the greater variety of sleeper class options, passengers can often get cheaper tickets than D category trains.
D overnight sleeper trains have 2 classes to choose from: 2nd class seated or 4-berth soft sleeper. T category trains have 3 classes including hard sleeper, soft sleeper and deluxe sleeper.
2nd class seated: Standard second-class seat adjacent to sleeper compartments.
4-berth soft sleeper: A 4-berth sleeper compartment consisting of two bunk beds.
Hard sleeper: Door-less compartment consisting of 6 berths, two lower, two middle and two upper. Each ticket includes fresh sheets, duvet and a pillow.
Deluxe soft sleeper (T category): All of the benefits of a soft sleeper with 1st class privileges.
Here we have included a timetable showing the trains running between Beijing – Shanghai. The trains and times shown are correct as of 16th April 2020, however to see live schedules for this route, please use the Beijing – Shanghai booking engine below.
Beijing to Shanghai High-Speed trains:
Train No. |
Depart | Arrive | Travel Time |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Beijing South | Shanghai Hongqiao | Shanghai Main | ||
G101 Daily |
06:43 |
12:40 |
– | 05hr57 |
G105 Daily |
07:20 | 13:08 | – | 05hr48 |
G5 Daily |
07:00 | – | 11:40 | 04hr40 |
G111 Daily |
08:35 | 14:22 | – | 05hr47 |
G1 Daily |
09:00 | 13:28 | – | 04hr28 |
G41 Daily |
09:15 | 14:49 | – | 05hr34 |
G115 Daily |
09:20 | 15:10 | – | 05hr50 |
G117 Daily |
09:25 | 15:37 | – | 06hr12 |
G7 Daily |
10:00 | 14:28 | – | 04hr28 |
G119 Daily |
10:05 | 15:47 | – | 05hr42 |
G121 Daily |
10:20 | 16:25 | – | 06hr05 |
G125 Daily |
11:10 | 16:59 | – | 05hr49 |
G9 Daily |
12:00 | 16:36 | – | 04hr36 |
G129 Daily |
12:10 | 17:56 | – | 05hr46 |
G131 Daily |
12:20 | 18:10 | – | 05hr50 |
G133 Daily |
12:50 | 18:40 | – | 05hr50 |
G135 Daily |
13:05 | 18:54 | – | 05hr49 |
G137 Daily |
13:35 | 19:33 | – | 05hr58 |
G139 Daily |
13:45 | 19:53 | – | 06hr08 |
G3 Daily |
14:00 | 18:28 | – | 04hr28 |
G43 Daily |
14:05 | 19:45 | – | 05hr40 |
G141 Daily |
14:10 | 20:05 | – | 05hr55 |
G145 Daily |
14:35 | 20:34 | – | 05hr59 |
G11 Daily |
15:00 | 19:28 | – | 04hr28 |
G155 Daily |
15:45 | 21:41 | – | 05hr56 |
G147 Daily |
15:50 | 22:00 | – | 06hr10 |
G169 Daily |
16:40 | 22:42 | – | 06hr02 |
G151 Daily |
16:45 | 23:02 | – | 06hr17 |
G13 Daily |
17:00 | 21:36 | – | 04hr36 |
G153 Daily |
17:15 | 23:11 | – | 05hr56 |
G157 Daily |
17:36 | 23:40 | – | 06hr04 |
G15 Daily |
18:00 | 22:36 | – | 04hr36 |
G17 Daily |
19:00 | 23:18 | – | 04hr18 |
G21 Daily |
19:08 | – | 23:36 | 04hr28 |
Beijing to Shanghai Sleeper trains:
Train No. |
Depart | Arrive | Travel Time |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beijing Main | Beijing South | Shanghai Main | Shanghai South | ||
Z281 Daily |
18:58 |
– |
– |
09:53 |
14hr55 |
T109 Daily |
20:05 | – | 11:00 |
11:00 |
14hr55 |
D701 Daily |
19:22 | – | 07:25 |
07:25 |
12hr03 |
D709 Daily |
– | 19:42 | 07:42 |
07:42 |
12hr00 |
T109 Daily |
21:21 | – | 09:20 |
09:20 |
11hr59 |
Shanghai has four major train stations, and most of these run trains to Beijing. Therefore, it is crucial that you double-check your train ticket before leaving to ensure you are heading to the right station since some of these are not within a walkable distance of the city centre.
Before travelling to China, you will need to make sure you have a Chinese visa that is valid for the dates you are staying in the country. You can find out more about the type of visa you need and how to apply by visiting our Chinese visa hub page.
Although snacks are available on the train, we recommend packing water, dry food and any medicine. Other useful items include phone chargers, hand sanitizer, books and games. Passengers on sleeper trains will have access to bed linen, pillows and a duvet regardless of ticket class.
We offer E-tickets for most destinations including Beijing to Shanghai, so you are only a few clicks away from booking your journey!
You can search for a specific train station using the ‘advanced search’ option and typing in the name of your chosen station. If you cannot locate your train station, please contact our travel team.
Our services are online, trackable, competitively priced and managed to the highest standards by our rail experts.
For general information on booking Chinese rail tickets through Real Russia please see the following links:
If you need information on visas for these journeys, please see the following link:
We try to make the information and services on our site as clear, complete and honest as possible, if you have further questions please feel free to contact us or refer to our Chinese trains FAQ. We are always happy to help!
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