How to Travel from Shanghai to Beijing: by Flight or Train?

When you plan a continued tour to the capital Beijing from “Paris of the East” - Shanghai, transportation is the priority you will think about. How far is it from Shanghai to Beijing? Is there a bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing? Which is more recommended? Train or flight? Here we give you overall traffic information from Shanghai to Beijing, to help you enjoy a Shanghai Beijing tour conveniently.

Distance from Shanghai to Beijing

Beijing is located about 1,100 km (683.5 mi) far away from Shangai. The two cities are both top tourist destinations as well as the most popular gateway cities to China. Shanghai lies on the east coast of China, while the capital Beijing is situated in Northern China. Currently, travelers can either choose a flight or train (bullet train or overnight sleeper train) to get from Shanghai to Beijing within a few hours. Check more about the time needed, frequency, and transportation details to choose a better way to go.

Shanghai to Beijing Transportation Map

Travel from Shanghai to Beijing by Flight

Flight Time: about 2.5 hours

From: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

To: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Taking an airplane may be the choice of most people due to its time-saving and convenient quality. Every day, over 40 direct flights fly from Shanghai to Beijing. The scheduled leaving time is from 06:00 to 22:00. Major airlines include China Eastern Airlines, Air China, etc. You can book a ticket based on your schedule and budget.

Transfer Tips: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is about 20 km from the Bund in the downtown area. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi or metro (Shanghai Metro Line 10). Shanghai Pudong International Airport is located about 40 km from the city center, taking nearly 1 hour to arrive.

Recommended Tour: ✔6 Days Shanghai Beijing Tour by Flight

• Check the Real-Time Flight Schedules: Shanghai to Beijing | Beijing to Shanghai

Note: The above flight schedules are listed for reference only, for more details please feel free to contact our private consultant.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport

Travel from Shanghai to Beijing by Train

If you love slow-paced travel to view different landscapes on the way, train travel is a good choice for you. There are advanced and fast high-speed bullet trains taking you to Beijing from Shanghai in half a day, and cheap overnight trains are available too.

1. Shanghai to Beijng High-Speed Bullet Train

Train Type & Running Speed: G Trains, 300~350 km/h (Fuxing Trains)

Train Time: about 4.5~6 hours

Departure & Arrival Stations: Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai Railway Station - Beijing South Railway Station

With a much more comfortable environment than traditional trains, quick speed, and cheaper prices than flights, bullet trains are becoming more popular these days. Nowadays, there are over 20 high speed bullet trains running from Beijing to Shanghai daily. They leave between 06:30 am and 7:00 pm daily, which means you can arrive in Beijing thousands of kilometers away on the same day. Nearly all trains start off from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Nanjing, Suzhou, Jinan, Tianjin are the main midway station you will stop for several minutes. Second Class Seat (the cheapest), First Class Seat (moderate-priced) and Business Class Seat (the most expensive and luxury type) are the three kinds of tickets provided on the high-speed train.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (上海虹桥站)

Location: No.1500, Shengui Road, Minhang District, West Shanghai (上海市闵行区申贵路1500号)

Shanghai Railway Station (上海站)

Location: No.303, Moling Road, Jingan District, North Shanghai (上海市静安区秣陵路303号)

Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站)

Location: No.12 Yongwai Avenue, Fengtai District, South Beijing (北京市丰台区永外大街12号)

• Check the Real-Time Train Schedules: Shanghai to Beijing | Beijing to Shanghai

Note: The above train schedules are listed for reference only. You can click Shanghai to Beijing High Speed Train Schedules to get all real-time train information.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

Beijing South Railway Station

2. Shanghai to Beijing Overnight Train

Train Type & Running Speed: Z & T Trains, about 120 km/h

Train Time: nearly 15 ~ 22.5 hours

Departure & Arrival Stations: Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station - Beijing

In such a high-speed train era, some traditional normal-speed trains are also kept to offer different train travel experiences from Shanghai to Beijing. Every day, Shanghai still sends 3 overnight trains to Beijing, and all leave in the afternoon hours and reach Beijing the next morning. It can be 15 hours long and even over 20 hours depending on which overnight train you take. You can book a train ticket for a Soft Sleeper (most recommended), Hard Sleeper, Luxury Soft Sleeper, or a Hard Seat at a lower price than a high-speed train. Thus, you can save one-night accommodation onboard.

Shanghai Railway Station

How to Plan Your Shanghai Beijing Tour

Known as an important gateway city to China, Shanghai preserves the mixed culture of the western and eastern. The duration and theme of your Shanghai tour can be flexibly arranged based on your time and interests. Usually, tourists spend 2 to 3 days on sightseeing the most famous landmarks in Shanghai, including the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai World Financial Center (WFC) - the highest breathtaking skyline in Lujiazhui, various historical architectures, Yu Garden, City God Temple along the Bund and busy Nanjing Road. Local culture lovers can use one extra day to visit Tianzifang, Zhujiajiao Water Town, while family travelers can have fun in Shanghai Disney Resort. Meanwhile, you can also expedience Maglev Train and energetic nightlife, taste diverse snacks to make your Shanghai tour interesting and memorable.

Useful Links about Shanghai: Shanghai Beijing Tours/ Popular Shanghai Tours / Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou Tours / Shanghai Huangshan Tours

✔ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour
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Travel from Shanghai to Beijing

Beijing and Shanghai are two most popular tourist destinations in China. They are two of the places you must go, if you visit China for the first time, both having diverse things to do, high-quality accommodation, amazing food, featured cultural activities. You can travel either from Beijing to Shanghai or from Shanghai to Beijing. In Shanghai, you can visit the Bund, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, etc. While in Beijing, you can spend 2 to 4 days to hike different sections of Great Walls, visit Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, traditional Hutongs, etc. Meanwhile, you can also experience the local Beijingers' lifestyle, taste diverse Chinese food and snacks to make your Shanghai Beijing tour interesting and memorable.

Useful Links about Beijing: Top Beijing Tours / Things to Do in Beijing / Popular China Tours from Beijing

✔ 7 Days Shanghai Beijing Essence Tour (By High Speed Train)
✔ 6 Days Shanghai Beijing In-depth Tour (by Flight)

Travel Beijing, Shanghai, Xian & More China Destinations

Beijing Xian Shanghai are golden triangle cities often visited together for a week holiday. Besides Beijing and Shanghai, you can use 2 or 3 days to visit the main attractions in Xian including the incredible man-made wonder, the Terracotta Warriors, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Muslim Quarter, and Xian Ancient City Wall. Or, with more time in Shanghai, you can extend the trip to the nearby cities of Shanghai such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan Mountain, and further to Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Chengdu, Yunnan, Silk Road, Tibet and more phenomenal destinations to enrich your China discovery.

✔ 8 Days Best of China Tour
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Travel with China Discovery

As a leading travel agency in China which dedicates to offering high-quality China tours, China Discovery has helped thousands of travelers enjoy their trips to Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, etc., in China. Travel with us, you can enjoy worry-free tour services as well as well-organized itineraries, even our assistance of Chinese Visa application, convenient airport/train station pick-up & drop-off and transfer between all scenic spots, knowledgeable tour guide, safe & licensed private vehicle, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on. You are free to choose from our most popular Beijing Shanghai tour packages or contact us to design a memorable holiday in China.

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Questions & Discussions

Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.

Sean

Trains and Province

This question might sound really stupid, but I will be taking a train from Shanghai to Beijing, and need to book accommodation. In which Province/area is the main sights ie wall etc. and will this affect the train route or is there just one line?

2017-05-05 12:27

Dear Sean,

Thanks for your question. The number of daily commuting bullet trains between Shanghai and Beijing are nearly 40. Among them, G trains take up a great proportion. Taking a G train will cost you about 5 to 6 hours, and it’s scheduled leaving from around 07:00 to 21:00. Its leaving station is Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, while its arriving station is Beijing South Railway Station. Only two D trains are commuting between Shanghai and Beijing. Normally, D train will cost you about 12 hours. However, due to they are overnight trains, you can just sleep over the night. D trains are arranged to leave from Shanghai Railway Station and arrive at Beijing South Railway Station. The rail routes are not the same because there are many different midway cities. But the final city is Beijing for all rail routes.

As for the main sights, they are all in Beijing and its surrounding. It usually takes about 3~4 days to visit the famous sights in Beijing, such as Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Summer Palace, etc. You can book a hotel near Forbidden City or Temple of Heaven area so that you can conveniently walk around to other sights.

Louis 2017-05-09 01:52

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