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China for Travelers

Chengdu to Shanghai by High-Speed Train

Fastest 10h 55m · from ¥721 second class · 15 daily trains · Flight wins vs flight

By China for Travelers · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-05-30 · Verified against 12306 on 2026-04-30

Map of the Shanghai Hongqiao–Chengdu East high-speed rail corridor: 1,988 km from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Chengdu East Railway Station, 10h 55m on the fastest G/D-train.
The 1,988 km Shanghai Hongqiao → Chengdu East corridor — 10h 55m on the fastest G/D-train.

The Chengdu to Shanghai corridor is 1,988 km of G/D-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Chengdu East Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 10h 55m and the longest about 14h. Second-class seats start at ¥721 – ¥992. 11-hour train vs 3-hour flight. Take the train only for the mountain scenery.

Quick facts

Distance
1,988 km
Train types
G, D
Duration
10h 55m – 14htypical mainline services
Daily departures
15 trains
Service window
06:01 → 18:44
Second class
¥721 – ¥992
First class
¥1153 – ¥1602
Business class
¥2948 – ¥3153
Scenery
★★★★☆our editorial rating

Train vs flight

MetricTrainFlight
Fastest10h 55m3h
Door-to-door~11h 55m6h
Price¥721 – ¥992¥900 – ¥1900

Editor: 11-hour train vs 3-hour flight. Take the train only for the mountain scenery.

Stations

  • Departing from
    Chengdu East Railway Station
    Chengdu · G/D-class · ~20 min to city centre

    Gateway for pandas (bus to Research Base). Chengdu–Chongqing G-trains run every 15 min.

  • Arriving at
    Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
    Shanghai · G/D/C-class · ~35 min to city centre

    Co-located with Hongqiao Airport. Huge; budget 20 min from metro to platform.

How to book

Two paths for foreign travelers — either the official Chinese system at face price, or a Western OTA for an English-first checkout with a small markup.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Chengdu to Shanghai train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 1,988 km in 10h 55m, with most services in the 10h 55m–14h range. Trains are G/D-class.
How much is a Chengdu to Shanghai train ticket?
Second class is ¥721 – ¥992, first class ¥1153 – ¥1602, business class ¥2948 – ¥3153. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Chengdu to Shanghai each day?
About 15 trains a day each way, with the first around 06:01 and the last around 18:44.
Is the train or the flight better for Chengdu to Shanghai?
11-hour train vs 3-hour flight. Take the train only for the mountain scenery. Door-to-door the train is ~11h 55m vs ~6h flying.
How do I book Chengdu to Shanghai tickets with a foreign passport?
Two ways: the official 12306 English app (face price, passport-bound account, no booking fee) or Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards accepted, small markup). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.

Related routes

Other trips from Chengdu

Other trips to Shanghai

Or explore the full interactive HSR map with all 24 cities and 36 corridors.