5h 53m, Direct
06:18
BeijingBeijing Nan (South)
12:11
ShanghaiShanghai Hongqiao
from
16539 USD
1
Trains in China: Info, Map and Tickets Online
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Each ticket has information about
Departure Time
Travel time
Arrival Time
Changes
Brand name / Train type
Ticket price
Morning trains
Day trains
Evening trains
First train
06:08
Last train
21:22
Travel duration
9h 4m
Daily departures
51
Departure station
Beijing
Changes
direct
Arrival station
Shanghai
Ticket price
from $25
Fastest trip
4h 18m
Longest trip
46m
Top Routes in China
Main China Railway corridors
Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao is China's flagship high-speed corridor, covering 1,318 km in as little as 4 hours 18 minutes. Beijing West to Xian North takes about 4 hours 15 minutes and continues toward Chengdu. Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East can take around 45 minutes, while Shanghai to Nanjing often takes about 1 hour. Guangzhou South to Shenzhen North runs in about 30 minutes on frequent G trains. Chengdu East to Chongqing North takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, making it one of western China's busiest intercity links.
Travel from Beijing to Shanghai by high-speed train and visit the Bund, Yu Garden, and the Pudong skyline at Shanghai Hongqiao
Frequency
51 times per day
Popular Trains
Beijing
China
9h 4m
Shanghai
China
Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by high-speed CRH and visit the Humble Administrator's Garden or stroll Pingjiang Road
Shanghai
China
40m
Suzhou
China
Travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou by high-speed train and visit Canton Tower, Yuexiu Park, or the historic Shamian Island
Frequency
73 times per day
Popular Trains
Hong Kong
China
1h 11m
Guangzhou
China
Travel from Beijing to Xi'an by high-speed train and visit the Terracotta Army and the Ancient City Wall, arriving at Xi'an North station
Frequency
43 times per day
Popular Trains
Beijing
China
10h 44m
Xi'An
China
Travel from Shanghai to Guangzhou by high-speed G-train and visit Canton Tower, Shamian Island and the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
Frequency
21 times per day
Popular Trains
Shanghai
China
9h 24m
Guangzhou
China
Travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen by intercity train and browse Luohu or Futian districts, visit Shenzhen Museum and the OCT Loft creative area
Frequency
180 times per day
Popular Trains
Hong Kong
China
19m
Shenzhen
China
Travel from Guangzhou to Shenzhen by high-speed train and visit Shenzhen's Window of the World or stroll through Guangzhou's Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
Frequency
493 times per day
Popular Trains
Guangzhou
China
1h 1m
Shenzhen
China
Travel from Guangzhou to Jinhua by high-speed or conventional train and visit historic Jinhua landmarks such as the ancient Double Ninth Terrace and local old streets
Frequency
11 times per day
Popular Trains
Guangzhou
China
11h 7m
Jinhua
China
Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou by high-speed train and visit West Lake, Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea terraces
Shanghai
China
1h 16m
Hangzhou
China
Travel from Beijing to Guangzhou by high-speed train and visit the Forbidden City in Beijing and Canton Tower in Guangzhou
Frequency
15 times per day
Popular Trains
Beijing
China
12h 45m
Guangzhou
China
Travel from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie by high-speed rail and regional connection; visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Avatar Mountains
Frequency
4 times per day
Popular Trains
Shanghai
China
8h 13m
Zhangjiajie
China
Travel from Shanghai to Nanjing by high-speed CRH train and visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai River
Shanghai
China
1h 55m
Nanjing
China
Travel from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie by high-speed train and witness the towering sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan or walk the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge.
Frequency
73 times per day
Popular Trains
Chongqing
China
2h 24m
Zhangjiajie
China
Travel from Chengdu to Chongqing by high-speed or intercity train and visit Ciqikou old town or the Dazu Rock Carvings near Chongqing
Frequency
155 times per day
Popular Trains
Chengdu
China
1h 55m
Chongqing
China
Travel from Shanghai to Jinhua by high-speed train and visit Jinhua's old town, sample Jinhua ham at local markets, and see nearby Hengdian World Studios.
Shanghai
China
2h 15m
Jinhua
China
Your Complete Guide to Train Travel in China
China Railway operates one of the largest passenger rail systems on earth, with high-speed G, D, and C trains forming the core intercity network. Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao takes about 4 hours 18 minutes on the fastest G trains, while Beijing West to Xian North takes around 4 hours 15 minutes. Shanghai Hongqiao, Hangzhou East, Nanjing South, Guangzhou South, Shenzhen North, Chengdu East, and Wuhan all sit on major high-speed corridors with frequent departures from early morning until late evening.
Conventional China Railway services still matter on long-distance routes where overnight travel saves a hotel night. Z, T, and K trains link cities such as Beijing, Harbin, Kunming, Urumqi, Lhasa, and Guilin with sleeper berths, hard seats, and soft seats depending on the train. The network also includes international passenger service on the China-Laos Railway from Kunming South toward Vientiane, plus mainland high-speed trains serving Hong Kong West Kowloon. ID checks are standard at Chinese stations, so passenger details must match the travel document used for booking.
How to Buy Train Tickets in China
Purchasing train tickets in China through Rail Monsters is a straightforward process. We prioritize high-speed train options, such as the CRH and G-series trains, ensuring a quick and comfortable journey across major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. With our user-friendly platform, you can book your tickets in advance while enjoying a variety of international payment options and round-the-clock customer support for a seamless travel experience on China's extensive rail network.
China Railway Network Map
China's high-speed map has north-south and east-west trunks. The Beijing-Shanghai line links Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, and Shanghai Hongqiao. The Beijing-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong corridor runs through Zhengzhou East, Wuhan, Changsha South, and Guangzhou South. Other key routes connect Shanghai with Hangzhou and Nanjing, Chengdu with Chongqing, and Lanzhou with Urumqi across northwest China.
China trains Classes and Tickets Information
from
$457
Standing Class
from
$289
First Class Seat
from
$5826
Superior Class
from
$449
Business Class (Lounge Seat)
from
$185
Second Class
How to buy train tickets in China
On Rail Monsters, search a China Railway route by city or station, choose a date, and compare available G, D, C, Z, T, or K trains. Select the class offered on that train, such as second class, first class, business class, hard sleeper, or soft sleeper. Enter passenger details exactly as shown on the passport or accepted ID, then complete payment online. Booking confirmation arrives by email. At the station, use the same ID for real-name checks before boarding.
How to buy train tickets in China
Ticket office on station
Rail Monsters mobile app
Rail Monsters website
Payment Information
Rail Monsters accepts major international payment cards and supported online payment methods for China Railway bookings. Prices are displayed before checkout, with currency conversion shown where available. After payment, Rail Monsters sends confirmation to the email address used during booking. Chinese rail stations use real-name travel controls, so the passenger name and document number must match the ID shown at Beijing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, Guangzhou South, or any other departure station. Keep the payment receipt and booking email until the trip ends.
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Allison MakhoulFAQ and Facts About Trains in China
Are trains in China reliable?
How long is the train from Beijing to Shanghai?
What ticket classes are available on China high-speed trains?
Can I reach Guilin by train in China?
Why should I book China train tickets in advance?
How do I book China train tickets through Rail Monsters?
Why take the train instead of driving or flying in China?
Who operates trains in China?
Main Train Types in China
China Railway uses letter categories that show train type. G trains are the fastest high-speed services, reaching up to 350 km/h on lines such as Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Guangzhou. D trains also use high-speed equipment, often at up to 250 km/h, and serve long routes, coastal lines, and some overnight services. C trains handle intercity corridors such as Beijing-Tianjin and Chengdu-Dujiangyan. Z trains are direct express conventional services, T trains are express trains, and K trains are faster conventional trains with wider coverage to cities including Kunming, Harbin, Lhasa, and Urumqi.
China Railway
China Railway operates passenger trains across China.