Beijing to Shanghai Train – New Bullet and Sleeper Trains

A complete guide to taking the new fast bullet trains between Beijing and Shanghai including the G series bullet trains and the fast D series overnight train. Both services travel on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway which covers some 1,318km’s (819 miles) in distance with the fastest train completing the journey in just over 4 hours.

 

Beijing to Shanghai High-Speed Rail (aka bullet trains)

There are approximately 38 fast train services departing Beijing South Station daily which terminate at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway and two services that terminate at Shanghai Railway Station.

The Chinese name for these trains is 高铁(gāo tiě) and the Chinese name for the Beijing-Shanghai fast train is 京沪高铁 (Jīng Hù Gāo Tiě).

The fastest service is the G17 which takes around 4h 18m with the slowest of the fast trains taking just over 6h. All the trains are G series trains and offer second class, first class, and business class.

Train Class Fare
G Train – Beijing to Shanghai Second Class  553 RMB
First Class  933 RMB
Business Class  1,748 RMB

 

Seat Class Guide

Second Class Seats

First Class Seats

Business Class Seat

Beijing to Shanghai by Overnight Train

These are D series trains which are modern and comfortable and have a high speed of 250 km/h. Currently, there is one daily service departing from Beijing South which arrives at Shanghai Railway Station being the D311.

The D311 is a little special being China’s modern version of the old sleeper trains. It is the new CRH2E train which has a similar look to the bullet trains yet it is two levels and contains only sleeping berths. It’s more or less a rolling hotel. The individual sleeping compartments feature small table, reading light, power outlets, fresh sheets, pillows, and privacy curtain.

The journey time is approx 12h. There is only one type of ticket.

Train Class Fare
D Train – Beijing to Shanghai Sleeper  630 RMB

 

Getting to Beijing South Station

Via Subway: Take subway line 4, or line 14, to Beijing South Station (北京南站)

Via Taxi: from the central area a taxi would cost around 25 RMB, simply show the driver “Beijing South Station (北京南站)”

More details about Beijing South Station

 

Getting from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station & Shanghai Railway Station

Both railway stations are connected to the Shanghai Metro system making it very easy to get to the central area. For more details see Train Stations in Shanghai.

 

Station Names in English Chinese

Beijing South Railway Station 北京南站
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station 上海虹桥站
Shanghai Railway Station 上海站

 

Buying Tickets

You can purchase your ticket online between 30-60 days in advance and then pick the tickets up at your departing station by showing your original passport/s. Most online ticket sellers add a small fee, a popular choice is trip.com/trains/.

You can also buy tickets at any train station.

There are also hundreds of ticket offices located across Beijing where you can take your passport, or a photocopy, and purchase tickets. There is a fee of 5 RMB.

The Chinese name for train ticket office is 火车票代售点 (Huǒchē piào dài shòu diǎn). Here is a link to a Baidu map of those selling points Map of Train Ticket offices in Beijing and a more detailed guide to buying tickets in Beijing.

Ticket offices in Central Beijing near attractions

1. No. 101, Yongwai Street; 08:30 – 20:30
2. No. 103, South Dongsi Street; 08:00 – 18:00
3. No. 168, Andingmen Inner Street; 08:00 – 20:30
4. No. Jia 12, Qianmen Street; 08:30 – 17:00
5. No. 64, Dongdan North Street; 08:00 – 21:00
6. Kailong Hotel, 1F, No. 2, North Chaonei Street; 08:00 – 18:00
7. Fenghuo Lianfa Hotel, No. 8, Dongjiaomin Lane; 08:30 – 17:30
8. Zijingong Hotel, Room no. 507, No. 86, Nanheyan Street; 08:30 – 17:30
9. No. 97, Chaoyangmen Inner Street; 09:00 – 20:00
10. Poly Plaza Hotel, No. 14, Dongzhimen South Street; 08:30 – 17:30
11. No. 89-3, Tiantan Road; 08:30 – 18:00
12. No. 6, Guangqumen Inner Street; 08:00 – 19:30
13. Super 8 Hotel,1F, No. 64, Andingmen Outer Street; 08:30 – 18:30
14. China National Tourism Administration, No. Jia 9, Jianguomen Inner Street; 08:30 – 17:30
15. Century Mansion, 1F, No. 99, Wangfujing Street; 08:00 – 22:00
16. No. 18, Laoqianju Hutong, Beijing Railway Station East Street; 08:00 – 18:00
17. CITS Mansion, Room no.818, No. 1, Dongdan North Street; 08:30 – 20:30
18. 5F, No. 5, Building no. 1, Dongzhimen Inner Street; 08:00 – 18:00
19. No. 82, Zongbu Hutong; 08:30 – 19:00
20. No. 53, Donghuamen Street; 08:00 – 18:00

 

 

Train Schedules

Train times Departure station  Arrival station Time Travel Time Fare reference
G101 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 06:43 – 12:40 5h 57m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G103 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 06:53 – 12:48 5h 55m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G5 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Railway Station 07:00 – 11:40 4h 40m  2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G105 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 07:20 – 13:08 5h 48m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G143 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 07:50 – 13:12 5h 22m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G107 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 08:05 – 13:46 5h 41m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G109 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 08:15 – 14:17 6h 2m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G111 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 08:35 – 14:22 5h 47m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G113 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 08:50 – 14:33 5h 43m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G1 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 09:00 – 13:28 4h 28m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G41 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 09:15 – 14:49 5h 34m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G115 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 09:20 – 15:09 5h 49m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G117 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 09:25 – 15:37 6h 12m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G7 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 10:00 – 14:28 4h 28m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G119 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 10:05 – 15:47 5h 42m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G121 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 10:20 – 16:25 6h 5m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G123 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 11:05 – 16:50 5h 45m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G125 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 11:10 – 16:59 5h 49m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G411 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 11:20 – 17:25 6h 5m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G127 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 11:30 – 17:20 5h 50m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G9 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 12:00 – 16:36 4h 36m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G129 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 12:10 – 17:56 5h 46m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G131 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 12:20 – 18:16 5h 56m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G133 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 12:50 – 18:40 5h 50m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G135 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 13:05 – 18:59 5h 54m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G137 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 13:35 – 19:18 5h 43m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G139 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 13:45 – 20:05 6h 20m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G3 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 14:00 – 18:28 4h 28m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G43 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 14:05 – 19:43 5h 38m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G141 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 14:10 – 20:09 5h 59m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G145 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 14:35 – 20:33 5h 58m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G11 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 15:00 – 19:28 4h 28m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G155 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 15:45 – 21:41 5h 56m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G147 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 15:50 – 22:00 6h 10m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G149 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 16:25 – 22:49 6h 24m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G169 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 16:40 – 22:42 6h 2m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G151 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 16:45 – 23:02 6h 17m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G13 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 17:00 – 21:36 4h 36m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G153 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 17:15 – 23:11 5h 56m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G157 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 17:36 – 23:40 6h 4m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G159 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 17:45 – 23:48 6h 3m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G15 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 18:00 – 22:36 4h 36m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G17 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Hongqiao Station 19:00 – 23:18 4h 18m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
G21 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Railway Station 19:08 – 23:36 4h 28m 2nd Class ¥553 1st Class ¥933
D311 Beijing South Railway Station Shanghai Railway Station 21:17 – 09:15 11h 58m Soft Sleeper ¥630