Route guide · High-speed rail
Nanjing to Hangzhou by High-Speed Train (2026)
270 km from Nanjing to Hangzhou — about 1h on the fastest G-train, with around 153 departures a day.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥115 – ¥249
- what everyone buys
- Frequency
- 153/day
- 06:06–23:56
- Train types
- G
- G = fastest
- Flight
- —
- train wins
Train wins vs flying — door-to-door about 2h by train. No direct flights worth considering. Train every 15–30 min.
The route at a glance
The Nanjing to Hangzhou corridor is 270 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Nanjing South Railway Station to Hangzhou East Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 1h and most in the 1h – 1h 45m range. Second-class seats start at ¥115 – ¥249. No direct flights worth considering. Train every 15–30 min.
Train vs flight
Both stations are in town, so the train is door-to-door; the flight adds airport transfers and security each end. Here is the trade on this corridor:
| High-speed train | Flight | |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 1h | — in the air |
| Door-to-door | ~2h | — |
| Price | ¥115 – ¥249 | — |
Editor: No direct flights worth considering. Train every 15–30 min.
Classes and price
Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band, the cheapest seats go to off-peak mid-week trains. The seat is identical across trains in the same class.
| Class | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥115 – ¥249 | 3+2 seating, a tray table and power at every seat. |
| First class | ¥187 – ¥400 | 2+2 seating, wider and quieter — worth it on a longer ride. |
| Business class | ¥368 – ¥831 | Lie-flat / deep-recline pods at the front of the train. |
Stations on this route
- Departing fromNanjing South Railway StationNanjing · G/D/C-class · ~25 min to city centre
One of Asia's largest HSR stations. Beijing–Shanghai G-trains stop here.
- Arriving atHangzhou 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.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel, straight from the source at face-value fares. 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. It sells at the same 12306 face fare with no booking fee, and new-customer promotions can bring a first trip below face price. You can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Still deciding? Read the full 12306 vs Trip.com comparison. Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure, and the good daytime slots sell first.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
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 )
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 Nanjing ↔ Hangzhou guide →
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Nanjing to Hangzhou train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 270 km in 1h, with most services in the 1h–1h 45m range. Trains are G-class.
How much is a Nanjing to Hangzhou train ticket?
Second class is ¥115 – ¥249, first class ¥187 – ¥400, business class ¥368 – ¥831. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Nanjing to Hangzhou each day?
About 153 trains a day each way, with the first around 06:06 and the last around 23:56.
Is there a flight between Nanjing and Hangzhou?
There is no practical commercial flight on this corridor — the high-speed train is the standard way to travel between Nanjing and Hangzhou.
How do I book Nanjing to Hangzhou 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, 24/7 multilingual support; the same face fare as 12306, with new-customer promos often dropping a first trip below it). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.
Once you reach Hangzhou
The train is the easy part — here’s what to do at the other end.
Sources
Checked August 2026 · Written from our own first-hand travel in China.