Shanghai to Beijing Train
1,318 km · about 4h 24min · 51+ trains daily · from $45
About This Route
The return leg of China's premier high-speed corridor, Shanghai to Beijing offers the same 4-hour-plus journey through the Yangtze Delta and North China Plain. With 51+ daily trains, it's one of the most frequent intercity services in the world — comparable to a shuttle service.
Which Train Should You Take?
Almost all trains are G-series bullet trains running at 300–350 km/h. The earliest departs around 6:30 AM, the last around 7:30 PM. If you prefer a window seat for the scenery (flat farmland, occasional rivers), book early — window seats fill up first on popular departures.
Seat Classes
Second class handles the 4.5-hour journey comfortably. Seats recline slightly, USB charging is standard on newer trains, and the ride is smooth enough to work on a laptop. First class is worth the 50% premium if you want guaranteed quiet and extra elbow room.
Learn more about each seat type in our complete guide to China train seat classes.
Tips for This Route
Shanghai Hongqiao station is enormous — allow 15 minutes just to walk from the metro to your platform. If departing from Shanghai station (city center), double-check your ticket. Passport control at the gate can queue up during rush hour; have your passport ready.
Shanghai to Beijing High-Speed Trains
There are 51 daily trains between Shanghai and Beijing. The fastest high-speed train (G532) departs at 06:31 and takes 5h 47min.
| Train | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G532 | 06:31 | 12:18 | 5h 47min |
| G548 | 06:32 | 12:39 | 6h 7min |
| G2 | 06:43 | 11:32 | 4h 49min |
| G4 | 07:00 | 11:37 | 4h 37min |
| G550 | 07:22 | 13:21 | 5h 59min |
| G566 | 07:27 | 13:36 | 6h 9min |
| G598 | 07:38 | 13:32 | 5h 54min |
| G8 | 08:00 | 12:26 | 4h 26min |
Schedules are for reference only. Search real-time availability →
Regular Trains
Slower but cheaper options including K-trains and T-trains with sleeper berths available for overnight travel.
| Train | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1462 | 12:15 | 10:46 | 22h 31min |
| T110 | 16:30 | 08:33 | 16h 3min |
| Z282 | 19:17 | 09:52 | 14h 35min |
Want to check tomorrow's availability and exact prices?
Search Real-Time Schedules →Ticket Prices (USD)
Prices vary by train type and seat class. Second class on high-speed trains offers the best value for most travelers.
Prices are in USD, approximate and may vary by date, availability and exchange rate. Last updated: 2026-05-30.
Things to Do in Beijing
Top attractions to visit after arriving by train.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
World's largest imperial palace — 600 years of history, 8,700 rooms, and the best rooftop view from Jingshan Park next door
Tiananmen Square
The world's largest public square — flag ceremony at sunrise, gateway to the Forbidden City
The Great Wall
Multiple sections near Beijing — pick Mutianyu for scenery, Badaling for easy access, Jinshanling for photography
Temple of Heaven
Where emperors prayed for good harvests — iconic blue-roofed Hall of Prayer, huge park with morning tai chi
Summer Palace
China's largest imperial garden — Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor, and Longevity Hill in one afternoon
Ming Tombs (Shisan Ling)
Burial complex of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors in a mountain valley
Beihai Park
Imperial garden with a 1,000-year-old white dagoba and peaceful lake boating
Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
Active Tibetan Buddhist temple with an 18-meter sandalwood Buddha
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
Ruins of a once-magnificent imperial garden, destroyed in 1860
Nanluoguxiang
Beijing's most famous hutong street — touristy but photogenic
Sanlitun
Beijing's modern shopping and nightlife district near the embassy area
Wangfujing
Beijing's main pedestrian shopping street, close to the Forbidden City
Badaling Great Wall
The most accessible Great Wall section — 70km from central Beijing
Jingshan Park
The best panoramic view of the Forbidden City, right behind its north gate
Fragrant Hills Park
Beijing's go-to spot for autumn red leaves, with hiking trails and a cable car
Prince Gong's Mansion
Beijing's best-preserved Qing dynasty royal mansion, tucked in the Shichahai hutong area
National Museum of China
World's largest museum by floor area — free entry, 1.4 million artifacts, right on Tiananmen Square
Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site
Where 500,000-year-old Peking Man fossils were discovered — a UNESCO site 50 km southwest of Beijing with a modern museum and original cave excavation
Bird's Nest & Water Cube (Olympic Park)
2008 Olympic icons side by side — Bird's Nest steel lattice, Water Cube blue glow at night
Kunming Lake
The 2.2 km² lake at the heart of Summer Palace — dragon boat rides, willow-lined shores, and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge
The Grand Canal (Tongzhou Section)
Beijing's section of the 1,800 km UNESCO Grand Canal — cruise boats, a free forest park, and the new Grand Canal Museum in Tongzhou