Guilin to Shanghai by High-Speed Train
Fastest 11h · from ¥317 second class · 4 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
The Guilin to Shanghai corridor is 1,900 km of G/D-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Guilin North Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 11h and the longest about 15h. Second-class seats start at ¥317 – ¥761. 11-hour train vs 3-hour flight — flight wins unless scenery is the point.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 1,900 km
- Train types
- G, D
- Duration
- 11h – 15htypical mainline services
- Daily departures
- 4 trains
- Service window
- 07:50 → 12:30
- Second class
- ¥317 – ¥761
- First class
- ¥1214 – ¥1218
- Business class
- ¥2096 – ¥2396
- Scenery
- ★★★★★our editorial rating
Train vs flight
| Metric | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 11h | 2h 50m |
| Door-to-door | ~12h | 5h 50m |
| Price | ¥317 – ¥761 | ¥700 – ¥1500 |
Editor: 11-hour train vs 3-hour flight — flight wins unless scenery is the point.
Stations
- Departing fromGuilin North Railway StationGuilin · G/D-class · ~20 min to city centre
No metro; take bus 100 or taxi (~¥25) to downtown. For Yangshuo, use Yangshuo HSR station (~30 min south).
- Arriving atShanghai Hongqiao Railway StationShanghai · 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.
- 12306 (official): face price, no booking fee. Requires a passport-bound account. Step-by-step 12306 walkthrough →
- Trip.com: English UI, foreign cards work, small markup. Best when 12306 frustrates you. Search Guilin → Shanghai on Trip.com →
- Compare the two: read 12306 vs Trip.com →
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Guilin to Shanghai train?
- The fastest high-speed train covers the 1,900 km in 11h, with most services in the 11h–15h range. Trains are G/D-class.
- How much is a Guilin to Shanghai train ticket?
- Second class is ¥317 – ¥761, first class ¥1214 – ¥1218, business class ¥2096 – ¥2396. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
- How many trains run from Guilin to Shanghai each day?
- About 4 trains a day each way, with the first around 07:50 and the last around 12:30.
- Is the train or the flight better for Guilin to Shanghai?
- 11-hour train vs 3-hour flight — flight wins unless scenery is the point. Door-to-door the train is ~12h vs ~5h 50m flying.
- How do I book Guilin 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 to Shanghai
- Beijing → Shanghai · 4h 18m
Or explore the full interactive HSR map with all 24 cities and 36 corridors.