Shanghai to Beijing High-Speed Train: Times, Tickets & Prices
The fastest high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing takes 4h 18m, with 40+ departures a day and second-class fares from ¥553. Tickets only go on sale 15 days ahead — check your booking window below before you plan around this leg.
Fastest
4h 18m
Trains / day
40+
From
¥553
China's flagship line — non-stop Fuxing trains at 350 km/h, plus overnight D-train sleepers (~12 h).
Route length: ~1318 km · typical journey 4h 30m
Compiled from official sources by Henry · independent · based in China
Travelling the other way? Beijing to Shanghai →
Stations on the Shanghai → Beijing leg
Departing
Shanghai
Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) is the main high-speed hub; some trains use Shanghai Railway Station downtown.
Arriving
Beijing
Beijing South (北京南) serves Shanghai and Tianjin trains; Beijing West (北京西) serves Xi'an.
Arriving in Beijing? Your passport is your ticket at the gates — no paper collection needed.
When can you book this trip?
China Railway sells tickets just 15 days ahead (counting the travel day). Pick your Shanghai → Beijing travel date and see the exact day booking opens:
Booking opens August 11, 2026
Tickets for August 25, 2026 go on sale in 16 days (Beijing time). On that day, tickets are released between 08:00 and 18:00 depending on the departure station — look up your station's exact time. Popular routes can sell out within minutes around holidays.
The presale window is occasionally adjusted around major holidays and timetable changes — details on the ticket release date calculator.
How to book
12306 — the official channel. The 12306 website and app are China Railway's only official online sellers. They accept foreign passports for real-name booking and have an English version. No paper ticket needed — your passport is your ticket at the gates.
Klook — book in English, before you fly. Klook's Shanghai–Beijing high-speed rail page resells the same seats with instant confirmation, international cards accepted and your passport linked straight to the e-ticket — handy if 12306 registration gives you trouble. It's an international site, best used before you arrive: from a mainland-China connection it switches to Klook's local app, which does not carry high-speed rail. Since tickets only open about two weeks out — when most visitors are still home — it is an easy way to lock in a busy route like this one early. Already in China? Trip.com below or 12306 above both work on local networks.
Trip.com — the English option that works inside China. Trip.com's Shanghai–Beijing train page resells the same seats with passport booking and international cards too — and unlike Klook its international site stays reachable from a mainland-China connection, so it's the easy English fallback if you only sort tickets after you land.
Avoid unofficial agents. Nobody can get you a seat that 12306 says is sold out — seats do return to the pool as refunds come in, so keep re-checking instead.
Refund fees, official rates
| Cancelling | Fee |
|---|---|
| 8 days or more before departure | Free |
| 48 hours – 8 days before | 5% of the fare |
| 24 – 48 hours before | 10% of the fare |
| Less than 24 hours before | 20% of the fare |
Booking the moment sales open is low-risk — changes more than 8 days out cost nothing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Shanghai to Beijing take?
The fastest train takes 4h 18m, and most services take around 4h 30m. There are 40+ departures a day.
How much is the train from Shanghai to Beijing?
Second-class fares start from ¥553 (¥553–673 second class; fares float by train and date). China Railway floats fares by train and date, so check the exact price for your departure.
How far in advance can I book the Shanghai to Beijing train?
China train tickets go on sale only 15 days ahead, counting the travel day — i.e. 14 days before departure. On release day, tickets appear between 08:00 and 18:00 Beijing time depending on the departure station.
Which station do Shanghai to Beijing trains leave from?
Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) is the main high-speed hub; some trains use Shanghai Railway Station downtown.
Where does the Shanghai to Beijing train arrive in Beijing?
Beijing South (北京南) serves Shanghai and Tianjin trains; Beijing West (北京西) serves Xi'an.
Can foreigners book the Shanghai to Beijing train with a passport?
Yes. The official 12306 website and app accept foreign passports for real-name booking and have an English version. International platforms like Klook resell the same seats with a small service fee and link your passport straight to the e-ticket. Your passport is your ticket at station gates.
More train routes from Shanghai
Where to go next from Beijing
Before you ride: check your visa, pick an eSIM, set up Alipay/WeChat Pay (you'll pay for tickets with them), sort your arrival card, and map your route with the itinerary builder.
Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
Affiliate disclosure: The Klook and Trip.com booking links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Route facts come from the dated sources above, never from commission rates.
Disclaimer: This page is general information. Timetables and fares change — the figures above are “from” prices and approximate frequencies, verified on the date shown against the sources listed. Always confirm on 12306 or your booking platform before planning around them. Ready Set Chinais an independent information site: we don't sell, book or procure tickets, and we're not affiliated with China Railway or any government. We're not responsible for travel decisions made on the basis of this page.