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China for Travelers

Guangzhou to Shanghai by High-Speed Train

Fastest 6h 45m · from ¥810 second class · 24 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–Guangzhou South high-speed rail corridor: 1,800 km from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Guangzhou South Railway Station, 6h 45m on the fastest G-train.
The 1,800 km Shanghai Hongqiao → Guangzhou South corridor — 6h 45m on the fastest G-train.

The Guangzhou to Shanghai corridor is 1,800 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 6h 45m and the longest about 9h. Second-class seats start at ¥810 – ¥919. Flight ~3 hours faster door-to-door; train is scenic but long.

Quick facts

Distance
1,800 km
Train types
G
Duration
6h 45m – 9htypical mainline services
Daily departures
24 trains
Service window
06:51 → 20:05
Second class
¥810 – ¥919
First class
¥1292 – ¥1460
Business class
¥2690 – ¥2904
Scenery
★★★☆☆our editorial rating

Train vs flight

MetricTrainFlight
Fastest6h 45m2h 30m
Door-to-door~7h 45m5h 30m
Price¥810 – ¥919¥700 – ¥1700

Editor: Flight ~3 hours faster door-to-door; train is scenic but long.

Stations

  • Departing from
    Guangzhou South Railway Station
    Guangzhou · G/D/C-class · ~40 min to city centre

    Main HSR hub for the Pearl River Delta. Connects to Hong Kong West Kowloon in ~50 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 Guangzhou to Shanghai train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 1,800 km in 6h 45m, with most services in the 6h 45m–9h range. Trains are G-class.
How much is a Guangzhou to Shanghai train ticket?
Second class is ¥810 – ¥919, first class ¥1292 – ¥1460, business class ¥2690 – ¥2904. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Guangzhou to Shanghai each day?
About 24 trains a day each way, with the first around 06:51 and the last around 20:05.
Is the train or the flight better for Guangzhou to Shanghai?
Flight ~3 hours faster door-to-door; train is scenic but long. Door-to-door the train is ~7h 45m vs ~5h 30m flying.
How do I book Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou

Other trips to Shanghai

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