Travel by train from Shanghai

Travelling by train in China was perceived long distance and uncomfortable, crowded and full of migrant workers before. Those still exist today, but with the fast development of train services in China , you can have some fast and comfortable options.

Yangtze Delta economic zone, which includes Zhejiang province, Jiangsu Province and Shanghai , has the most advanced train network in China . (No doubt, it is also the most economically developed area in China !)

There are two train stations in Shanghai : Shanghai Railway Station and South Shanghai Railway Station. Trains going to North of Shanghai (such as Nanjing, Beijing etc ) usually depart from Shanghai Railway Station, while South bound trains such as Hangzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu etc) depart from South Shanghai Railway Station. But there are some exceptions, so do check each station before you buy the ticket.

The train stations are usually huge (you will be overwhelmed by the scale and crowds). So do allow yourself plenty of time to go through the process (security check, ticket check and a long walk to the train).

You can certainly buy the train tickets from the ticket office of each station. There are also authorised train ticket booking offices throughout Shanghai which will charge you 5RMB for each ticket sold as handling fee. (Click here to view train ticket booking offices by photo)

For example:

Shanghai – Hangzhou :

Single: 65RMB from Station Ticket Office but 70RMB from Ticket Booking Office

Return: 130RMB from Station Ticket Office but 140RMB from Ticket Booking Office

Usually you can buy return ticket while you are in Shanghai . However, return ticket for some short distance travel is not available in Shanghai . You can only purchase it after you arrive at your destination.

The price of the ticket is almost fixed regardless of being booked early or late, although government does increase the ticket price by 15% during Chinese New Year time to avoid big rush into the train. The price of return is just simply double the single, no discount at all. Normally, tickets are available 10 days prior to the departure date.

Each train service has a unique number starting with an English letter and followed by numbers or consisted of digits only. You can tell what kind of service it runs from this unique number.

D – Bullet train (latest train in China)

Z – Non-stop direct express train

T – Limited stop express train

K – Express train

N – Intercity rapid train

No letter, all digits: Local train

For example :

Z13 Beijing – Shanghai : non-stop express train from Shanghai to Beijing

T450 Shanghai – Nanjing : Express train with limited stops

K233 Shanghai – Yiwu: Express train from Shanghai to Yiwu

N580 Shanghai – Ningbo : Rapid train from Shanghai to Ningbo

D640 Shanghai Hangzhou : Bullet train from Shanghai to Hangzhou

Bullet express train offers first and second class, while the rest offer soft seat and hard seat two classes.

You can return or change the date of the ticket after your purchase. However return and any change have to be processed at the Shanghai Railway Station or South Shanghai Railway Station only. You can get 80% of original price back if you return and change the date once free of charge.