Shanghai – Guangzhou by Train
Best Way to Travel between Shanghai & Guangzhou
There are frequent flights flying between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport or Shanghai Pudong Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, which takes just 2.5-3 hours or so. While there are also frequent trains running between them, which take about 7.5 – 22.5 hours depending on which type of trains you take: the G-class high speed train, slow train or high speed sleeper train (D trains).
Shanghai – Guangzhou: Train VS Flight
| Options | Price | Duration | Frequency | Suggested | Advantages |
| By plane | Dynamic | 2.5-3hrs | 60+ | √ | using Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport & Baiyun Airport |
| By G train | from CNY793 | 7-8.5hrs | 4 | √ | Buy at China Highlights or China DIY Travel (Promo code “ct123“) |
| By D train | CNY760 | 11.5hrs | 3 | √ | Sleeper trains departing at night & arriving in next morning. Available on Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon weekly |
| By slow train | CNY343 | 16.5-23hrs | 4 | K,T,Z overnight trains |
Ask Jack
If you have any questions on your Guangzhou – Shanghai train travel, just ask Jack. I’d love to offer my help. Contact Jack.
Train Station Map of Shanghai & Guangzhou
By Train
- Option 1: Shanghai Hongqiao – Guangzhou South by G-class train
- Option 2: Shanghai Hongqiao – Guangzhou South by D-class train
- Option 3: Shanghai – Guangzhou by slow train (not recommended)
1: Shanghai – Gunagzhou by G-class High Speed Train
As of April of 2019, there are 4 daily G-category high speed trains running between Shanghai Hongqiao Station and Guangzhou South Station from 08:00 to 15:38,taking around 6h50 to 8h27 and costing from CNY793 in a 2nd class seat, CNY1302.5 for a first class seat and CNY2492.5 for a business class seat. G-category high speed train is the fastest and most advanced bullet trains in China with a top running speed of 350km/h.
Major stations along Shanghai-Guangzhou G train route: Shanghai Hongqiao – Hangzhou East – Yiwu – Jinhua – Shangrao – Nanchang West – Changsha South – Shaoguan – Guangzhou South. For more stations, just see the railmap above.
- Total travel time by train : 7-8.5h
- Total travel fares: from CNY793
- Station used:Guangzhou South Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Station
Shanghai to Guangzhou
| Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | ||||||
| Trains | From – To | Dept – Arri | Duration | Ticket Fares (CNY) | ||
| 1st Cls | 2nd Cls | Biz Cls | ||||
| G85 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 08:00-14:51 | 6h51 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G1301 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 10:23-19:03 | 8h40 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G99 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 14:10-21:32 | 7h22 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G1305 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 15:25-23:38 | 8h13 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
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For a live schedule & ticket availability, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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Guangzhou to Shanghai
| Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | ||||||
| Trains | From – To | Dept – Arri | Duration | Ticket Fares (CNY) | ||
| 1st Cls | 2nd Cls | Biz Cls | ||||
| G86 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 08:00-14:50 | 6h50 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G100 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 12:05-19:27 | 7h22 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G1304 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 13:24-21:51 | 8h27 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
| G1306 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 15:38-23:10 | 7h32 | 1302.5 | 793 | 2492.5 |
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For a live schedule & ticket availability, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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2: Shanghai – Gunagzhou by D-class Sleeper Train
In addition to G-class high speed train, there are also D-class high speed sleeper trains running between Shanghai Hongqiao Station and Guangzhou South Station. They are only available on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday weekly. These D class sleeper trains departing around 19:30 or 20:00 at night and arriving at 11:00 or 11:30 the following day, saving you a night of accommodation. The ticket price is also fairly cheap. An ordinary sleeper of D class train costs from CNY700 or CNY760. A deluxe sleeper costs CNY1270.
Major stations along the D train route: Shanghai Hongqiao – Hangzhou East – Ningb – Shenzhen North – Humen – Guangzhou South.
- Travel time: 11h
- Total travel fares: CNY700 or CNY760 for a sleeper.
- Station used:Guangzhou South Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Station
Shanghai to Guangzhou
| Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | ||||||
| Trains | From – To | Dept – Arri | Duration | Ticket Fares (CNY) | ||
| Sleeper | Dx Sleeper | Biz Cls | ||||
| D941 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 19:55-07:05 | 11h10 | 760 | 1270 | – |
| D931 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 20:00-07:12 | 11h12 | 760 | 1270 | – |
| D935 | Shanghai Hongqiao to Guangzhou South | 20:05-07:24 | 11h19 | 760 | 1270 | – |
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For a live schedule & ticket availability, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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Guangzhou to Shanghai
| Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | ||||||
| Trains | From – To | Dept – Arri | Duration | Ticket Fares (CNY) | ||
| Sleeper | Dx Sleeper | Biz Cls | ||||
| D933 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 19:24-06:50 | 11h26 | 760 | 1270 | – |
| D937 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 19:34-06:55 | 11h21 | 760 | 1270 | – |
| D943 | Guangzhou South to Shanghai Hongqiao | 19:39-07:00 | 11h21 | 760 | 1270 | – |
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For a live schedule & ticket availability, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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Which Train Station
Both Shanghai – Guangzhou G-class high speed trains and D-class sleeper trains are using the Shanghai Hongqiao Station and Guangzhou South Station (Guangzhunan).
- Shanghai Hongqiao Station: by metro line 2, line 10, line 17 (check Shanghai Metro official site)
- Guangzhou South Station: by metro line 2, line 7 (check Guangzhou Metro official site)
How to Buy Tickets
You can buy tickets yourself at any stations in Guangzhou or Shanghai with your passports about 30 days in advance. If you buy tickets in train station in Shanghai, you can go to Shanghai Railway Station, which is centrally-located with easy access. While if you are in Guangzhou, just go to the centrally-located Guangzhou Railway Station or Guangzhou East Station (Guangzhoudong).
But if you don’t speak Chinese, you may use a trusted online ticket agent.
Book with a trusted online ticket agent
If you are outside China, and want to buy tickets in advance online, you can turn to use an online ticke agent. Below are two trusted ticket agents who get positive reviews and recommended often on Trip Advisor:
- Buy at www.chinahiglights.com/china-trains/ (Sharon offers help)
- Buy at http://www.china-diy-travel.com/en/ (Promo code: ct123. Helen offers help)
- Service time: 24/7 hoursPayments: Paypayl, Visa, MasterCard, Alipay, etc.
Other Rail Routes
Hong Kong to Shanghai train, Shanghai to Hangzhou train, Guangzhou to Hong Kong train
Trusted Online Ticket Agents:
Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
Option 2: Trip.com is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc
