Shenzhen to Shanghai by High-Speed Train
Fastest 10h 20m · from ¥552 second class · 22 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 Shenzhen to Shanghai corridor is 1,580 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Shenzhen North Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 10h 20m and the longest about 12h. Second-class seats start at ¥552 – ¥710. 10+ hour train is rarely worth it — fly.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 1,580 km
- Train types
- G
- Duration
- 10h 20m – 12htypical mainline services
- Daily departures
- 22 trains
- Service window
- 06:52 → 20:15
- Second class
- ¥552 – ¥710
- First class
- ¥1076 – ¥1134
- Business class
- ¥2260 – ¥2660
- Scenery
- ★★★☆☆our editorial rating
Train vs flight
| Metric | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 10h 20m | 2h 30m |
| Door-to-door | ~11h 20m | 5h 30m |
| Price | ¥552 – ¥710 | ¥700 – ¥1700 |
Editor: 10+ hour train is rarely worth it — fly.
Stations
- Departing fromShenzhen North Railway StationShenzhen · G/D/C-class · ~30 min to city centre
Main HSR gateway to Hong Kong. Passport self-service machines on ground floor.
- 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 Shenzhen → Shanghai on Trip.com →
- Compare the two: read 12306 vs Trip.com →
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Shenzhen to Shanghai train?
- The fastest high-speed train covers the 1,580 km in 10h 20m, with most services in the 10h 20m–12h range. Trains are G-class.
- How much is a Shenzhen to Shanghai train ticket?
- Second class is ¥552 – ¥710, first class ¥1076 – ¥1134, business class ¥2260 – ¥2660. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
- How many trains run from Shenzhen to Shanghai each day?
- About 22 trains a day each way, with the first around 06:52 and the last around 20:15.
- Is the train or the flight better for Shenzhen to Shanghai?
- 10+ hour train is rarely worth it — fly. Door-to-door the train is ~11h 20m vs ~5h 30m flying.
- How do I book Shenzhen 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.