Hangzhou to Shanghai by High-Speed Train
Fastest 45m · from ¥34 second class · 328 daily trains · Train wins vs flight
By China for Travelers · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-05-30 · Verified against 12306 on 2026-04-30
The Hangzhou to Shanghai corridor is 160 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Hangzhou East Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 45m and the longest about 1h 15m. Second-class seats start at ¥34 – ¥87. No commercial flight between Shanghai and Hangzhou — trains every few minutes.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 160 km
- Train types
- G
- Duration
- 45m – 1h 15mtypical mainline services
- Daily departures
- 328 trains
- Service window
- 04:32 → 23:50
- Second class
- ¥34 – ¥87
- First class
- ¥101 – ¥140
- Business class
- ¥190 – ¥275
- Scenery
- ★★☆☆☆our editorial rating
Train vs flight
| Metric | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 45m | — |
| Door-to-door | ~1h 45m | — |
| Price | ¥34 – ¥87 | — |
Editor: No commercial flight between Shanghai and Hangzhou — trains every few minutes.
Stations
- Departing fromHangzhou East Railway StationHangzhou · G/D/C-class · ~20 min to city centre
45 min from Shanghai Hongqiao. West Lake is 20 min by metro Line 1.
- 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 Hangzhou → Shanghai on Trip.com →
- Compare the two: read 12306 vs Trip.com →
Deep guide available. We have a full editorial write-up for this route — when to go, which class to pick, station tips, things to do at both ends. Read the Hangzhou ↔ Shanghai guide →
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Hangzhou to Shanghai train?
- The fastest high-speed train covers the 160 km in 45m, with most services in the 45m–1h 15m range. Trains are G-class.
- How much is a Hangzhou to Shanghai train ticket?
- Second class is ¥34 – ¥87, first class ¥101 – ¥140, business class ¥190 – ¥275. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
- How many trains run from Hangzhou to Shanghai each day?
- About 328 trains a day each way, with the first around 04:32 and the last around 23:50.
- Is there a flight between Hangzhou and Shanghai?
- There is no practical commercial flight on this corridor — the high-speed train is the standard way to travel between Hangzhou and Shanghai.
- How do I book Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou
- Hangzhou → Suzhou · 1h 25m
- Hangzhou → Nanjing · 1h 15m
- Hangzhou → Wuhan · 4h 30m
Other trips to Shanghai
- Beijing → Shanghai · 4h 18m
Or explore the full interactive HSR map with all 24 cities and 36 corridors.