Route guide · High-speed rail
Nanjing to Shanghai by High-Speed Train (2026)
301 km across the Yangtze delta, about 1h on the fastest non-stop G-trains, 346+ a day — one of the busiest one-hour corridors in the world, an easy hop straight into the heart of Shanghai. No flight competes.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Published Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥55 – ¥171
- cheap & easy
- Frequency
- 346/day
- 00:19 – 23:51
- Train types
- G
- G = fastest
- Flight
- None
- no useful flight
Leave from Nanjing South 南京南 (not Nanjing Railway Station) — trains run every few minutes and most arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao 上海虹桥站, on Metro 2, 10 & 17 straight into the centre.
The route at a glance
Nanjing to Shanghai is one of the busiest stretches of the original Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line: 301 km, about 1h on the fastest non-stop G-trains, with on the order of 346 trains a day each way from roughly 00:19 – 23:51. There is no useful flight — the high-speed train is faster door-to-door and drops you in the centre of Shanghai. The only two questions worth answering are which station at each end and how to get from the station to your hotel.
Which station — at both ends
Both cities have more than one rail station, and they are not interchangeable — getting the wrong one costs you the time you saved on a cheap ticket.
Leaving NanjingSouth, not central
Almost all Shanghai trains leave Nanjing South (南京南站), one of Asia’s largest stations, on Metro Lines 1, 3, S1 and S3, with a departure every few minutes. A handful use the older central Nanjing Railway Station (南京站) up by Xuanwu Lake — they are well apart, so check the departure station on your ticket. The station follows a “南大北小” rule: gates 15–28 use the South Plaza (Metro Exit 4, up to the 3F south hall) and gates 1–14 the North Plaza (Metro Exit 7) — match your gate number to the plaza. Arrive about 1 hour ahead (1.5 at holiday peak); the DiDi / 网约车 pickup is in the P2 car park B1, zone B (allow ~15–20 min in peaks).
Arriving in Shanghaicentral
Most trains arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) on Metro 2, 10 & 17, all direct into the centre with no transfer. A smaller share reach the more central Shanghai Station (上海站) on Metro 1, 3 & 4, near the Bund and People’s Square — handy if you are staying central. Layout and exits in the Hongqiao station guide.
Classes and price
For a one-hour ride the class barely matters, but for completeness:
| Class | Price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥55 – ¥171 | 3+2 seating, power at every seat — what almost everyone buys. |
| First class | ¥238 – ¥274 | 2+2 seating; a small upgrade for an hour, rarely necessary. |
| Business class | ¥459 – ¥497 | Overkill for 60 minutes, but available on most departures. |
Trains are frequent enough that you rarely pre-book on a weekday — turn up and take the next one. On weekends and Chinese holidays, book ahead: this is one of the busiest corridors in the country.
What's waiting in Shanghai
Shanghai rewards a couple of days, so plan an overnight-plus stay rather than a rushed turnaround. The headline draws cluster along the river: the Bund (外滩) and its colonial waterfront, the Pudong skyline across the water with the Oriental Pearl and the supertall towers, the classical Yu Garden (豫园) and old town, and the plane-tree lanes of the former French Concession. Families add Shanghai Disneyland out east. For a full plan see things to do in Shanghai and the Shanghai city guide.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel: face-value fares, no booking fee. The trade-off is hassle — passport registration must be approved before you can buy (often slow), and customer service is Chinese-first and limited if a booking goes wrong.
Trip.com ↗ — the same China Railway seats, booked in English with a foreign Visa or Mastercard, no verification wait and 24/7 multilingual support. Prices track 12306, and with new-customer promotions Trip often comes out level or cheaper. As China’s largest OTA you can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Turn up or book ahead? On a normal weekday just take the next train — they run every few minutes. The name and passport number on the ticket must match what you present; e-tickets are scanned at the gate, no paper pickup needed. Pre-book for weekends and Chinese holidays.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
The international arm of Ctrip — one of the few platforms selling real China Railway tickets in English, to a foreign passport and card. (Is it legit? — 12306 vs Trip.com )
Booking through our Trip.com links costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent research — we earn a small commission. How we’re funded.
Arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao — getting to your hotel
Shanghai Hongqiao 上海虹桥站 sits out in the western suburbs, but it is wired straight into the metro — Lines 2, 10 and 17 share one concourse a 4–5 minute indoor walk from the platform, and you transfer without being re-screened (one-way security recognition since 2018). Line 2 runs east through the centre (People’s Square, Nanjing East Rd, Lujiazui); Line 10 serves Xintiandi and the old town. For a car, the DiDi / taxi pickup is on the B1 level at the P9 (north) and P10 (south) car parks — a 10–15 minute walk. Times below are for the three areas foreign visitors most often base in. Picking an area first? See where to stay in Shanghai.
| City area | Metro | Taxi / DiDi |
|---|---|---|
| The Bund / People’s Square 外滩·人民广场 (central) | Metro Line 2 direct → People’s Square (人民广场); one more stop to Nanjing East Rd for the Bund. ~45 min, ¥5. | ¥65–90, ~35–50 min (19 km) |
| Lujiazui / Pudong 陆家嘴 (skyline, CBD) | Metro Line 2 direct → Lujiazui (陆家嘴). ~50–55 min, ¥6. | ¥75–100, ~40–55 min (23 km) |
| Xintiandi / French Concession 新天地·法租界 | Metro Line 10 direct → Xintiandi (新天地). ~45 min, ¥5. | ¥60–90, ~35–50 min (19 km) |
Transit times and driving distances via Amap (高德地图) routing, checked 2026-06-28. Shanghai Hongqiao is on Metro 2, 10 & 17, all direct into the centre. Taxi ranges reflect off-peak meter fares; surge during weekday rush hours. The no-re-screening transfer and the B1 P9/P10 pickup notes are from current traveller reports.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Nanjing to Shanghai train?
The fastest non-stop G-trains do Nanjing South to Shanghai Hongqiao in about 1 hour. Most run 1h–1h30m depending on stops. It is one of the easiest hops in China.
How do I get from Nanjing to Shanghai?
By high-speed train — it is the only sensible option. G-trains run Nanjing South to Shanghai Hongqiao about 346 times a day, take ~1 hour, and cost from ¥55 in second class. Book on the official 12306 app (face price) or on Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards), or just turn up and take the next departure. Make sure your train leaves Nanjing South (南京南), not the older Nanjing Railway Station.
Which Nanjing station do trains to Shanghai leave from?
Almost all leave Nanjing South (南京南站), one of Asia’s largest stations, on Metro Lines 1, 3, S1 and S3, with a Shanghai departure every few minutes. A handful use the older central Nanjing Railway Station (南京站) up by Xuanwu Lake — they are well apart, so check the departure station printed on your ticket.
Which Shanghai station does the Nanjing train arrive at?
Most arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥), the big HSR hub on Metro 2, 10 & 17 — all direct into the centre. A smaller number reach the more central Shanghai Station (上海站) near the Bund and People’s Square; if your hotel is central, those save the trek in from Hongqiao.
How much is a Nanjing to Shanghai train ticket?
Second class is about ¥55–¥171 depending on the train, first class ¥238–¥274, business class ¥459–¥497. Second class is what almost everyone buys for the one-hour ride.
How often do trains run from Nanjing to Shanghai?
About 346 each way — effectively every few minutes through the day. You rarely need to plan around the timetable; turn up within a couple of hours of when you want to travel, except during Chinese public holidays when even this dense corridor fills up.
Is there a flight from Nanjing to Shanghai?
No useful one. The cities are about 300 km apart and the high-speed train beats any door-to-door air option. Take the train.
Verification scope
Route data — distance, journey time, fare bands and daily frequencies — is sampled from China’s national rail system and refreshed monthly. The Shanghai Hongqiao metro lines, walking times and arrival distances are from Amap (高德地图) routing, checked 2026-06-28.
Traveller detail: the Nanjing South departure notes (the 南大北小 gate-to-plaza rule with Metro Exit 4/7, the P2 B1 DiDi pickup) and the Shanghai Hongqiao no-re-screening transfer + B1 P9/P10 pickup are from current 小红书 traveller reports.
Confirm before booking: exact schedules and fares vary by train and season. Make sure the departure is Nanjing South (南京南), not the older Nanjing Railway Station (南京站); most trains arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥), a few at the central Shanghai Station.
Once the train gets you to Shanghai
The corridor is the easy part — here is what to do with your days at the other end.
