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China for Travelers

Nanjing to Shanghai by High-Speed Train

Fastest 1h · from ¥55 second class · 346 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

Map of the Shanghai Hongqiao–Nanjing South high-speed rail corridor: 301 km from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Nanjing South Railway Station, 1h on the fastest G-train.
The 301 km Shanghai Hongqiao → Nanjing South corridor — 1h on the fastest G-train.

The Nanjing to Shanghai corridor is 301 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Nanjing South Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 1h and the longest about 1h 45m. Second-class seats start at ¥55 – ¥171. No commercial flights. G-trains every ~15 min.

Quick facts

Distance
301 km
Train types
G
Duration
1h – 1h 45mtypical mainline services
Daily departures
346 trains
Service window
00:19 → 23:51
Second class
¥55 – ¥171
First class
¥238 – ¥274
Business class
¥459 – ¥497
Scenery
★★☆☆☆our editorial rating

Train vs flight

MetricTrainFlight
Fastest1h—
Door-to-door~2h—
Price¥55 – ¥171—

Editor: No commercial flights. G-trains every ~15 min.

Stations

  • Departing from
    Nanjing South Railway Station
    Nanjing · G/D/C-class · ~25 min to city centre

    One of Asia's largest HSR stations. Beijing–Shanghai G-trains stop here.

  • 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 Nanjing to Shanghai train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 301 km in 1h, with most services in the 1h–1h 45m range. Trains are G-class.
How much is a Nanjing to Shanghai train ticket?
Second class is ¥55 – ¥171, first class ¥238 – ¥274, business class ¥459 – ¥497. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Nanjing to Shanghai each day?
About 346 trains a day each way, with the first around 00:19 and the last around 23:51.
Is there a flight between Nanjing and Shanghai?
There is no practical commercial flight on this corridor — the high-speed train is the standard way to travel between Nanjing and Shanghai.
How do I book Nanjing 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

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