Shanghai is a massive city with a very large population that commutes every day. In addition to that, the millions of visitors coming here in the millions also increase the number of travelers the city has to handle. To cater to that, the city has a very vast system of public transport. Among these are the four railway stations that take people in and out of Shanghai every day. These are the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai West Railway Station, and Shanghai South Railway Station.

Of the four stations, the Shanghai Railway Station and the Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station are the major ones. We are providing you with all the necessary details regarding the stations and how you can travel from them. You can also find separate sections at the end where you can find useful information on ticket booking, baggage, and getting on and off the trains.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

Name in Chinese: 上海虹桥站
Address: 1500, Mingui Road, Minhang District (Chinese: 上海市闵行区申贵路1500号)

The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station only caters to fast trains. There are two main types of fast trains here; the D trains and the G trains, that pass through Shanghai on different routes. Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station caters to 505 trains every day, making it one of the busiest and biggest stations in the country.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station building has a massive 240,000 square meter area so you can expect to move around a lot. The building has four floors, all serving different purposes. The basement area not only contains the exits but also links directly to other modes of transport near the station including the metro, bus stops, and taxis.

The main platform is on the first floor from where the passengers can go to the departure area which is on the second floor. You can also find ticket machines, ticket windows, the waiting hall and checking gates on the same floor.

Services at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

Shopping

If you have some time to kill at the station, then you can head over to the shopping area on the third floor. There are quite a few souvenir shops which are a great spot for tourists to find unique items. A lot of traditional and cultural items are available for those interested in making a purchase, If nothing else, you can obviously do window shopping to spend the time.

Food and Drinks

You can find quite a few places to eat on the third floor of the station. Both international fast food joints like KFC and some local names like Gongfu, Dongfang Jibai, etc. operate here. There are also some shops that offer drinks for travelers. You can find both local and international brands of drinks but do remember that international options will be more expensive.

Getting to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

The Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station is right next to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. The location is quite central, and you can find all modes of transport coming to and going from the station. Here are the routes that you can take to arrive at the station, depending on your location.

• Taxi: If you are coming from Pudong Airport, you can easily take a taxi to the station. The journey takes less than an hour and a half to reach the railway station. Depending on where you are in the city, you can easily hire a taxi to bring you to the station.
• Metro: Depending on your location you can easily find your way to the railway station via metro. Line 2 is one of the main lines that connect the railway station to Shanghai’s metro network. You can also come via Line 17, depending on your location in the city.

Train Routes for Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

Shanghai is one of the most important cities in China and is connected to all major cities of the country. The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station being a major railway hub provides trains to all main cities like Beijing, Chengdu, Xian, Hangzhou, Guilin, Suzhou and more. Some of the main routes are in the table below for your convenience.

*Prices are for G Trains by default. Where the G Train option is unavailable, the prices are for D Trains. Please note that the values are approximate because they are subject to constant adjustments.

Shanghai Railway Station

Name in Chinese: 上海站
Address: 303, Moling Road, Jing’an District (Chinese: 上海市静安区秣陵路303号)

Being the second-largest train station in the city, the Shanghai Railway Station also has a lot of trains passing through daily. It mainly consists of 155 fast trains which include 8 D Trains and 147 G Trains. However, you will also see many K Trains and T Trains come and go through this station. The train you get is entirely dependent on the destination you want to go to and personal preference in most cases. Most of China’s major cities connect to this station as well.

The station has a huge area which consists of two squares i.e. the South Square and North Square. Each of them consists of several waiting rooms and other amenities as well. The ticketing area in this station is outside the premises, so you need to get your ticket before you go inside through security checks. The station has a huge electronic board providing detailed information about all the trains.

There are 9 waiting rooms at the Shanghai Railway Station. You can easily find out which waiting room you need to go to by looking at the information board. The boarding area is on the first floor of the station which you can go to from the waiting rooms via escalators or barrier-free elevators if you are disabled.

Services at Shanghai Railway Station

Seating is ample in each waiting room, so you can easily find a space to sit. Restrooms and drinking water are present between every two waiting rooms for easy access to all passengers.

Food and Shopping

If you want to visit commercial areas and food joints, then you can go to their designated location between waiting rooms 3 and 4. There are plenty of fast-food restaurants here as well including both international and local chains. You can also get drinks here and if you want to shop for souvenirs etc. then you can find several shops as well.

Check-in time announcements are in both English and Chinese language, so foreign passengers don’t have any problems.

Getting to Shanghai Railway Station

There are several different travel options that you can choose from to get to the Shanghai Railway Station. Depending on your location, travel preference, and distance, the costs may vary a lot. However, some of the most common routes are provided here for your convenience.

• Shuttle Bus: Passengers coming to Shanghai at Pudong International Airport can take Line 1 of the Airport Shuttle Bus Service to go to the railway station. The journey takes just over an hour on average but is subject to change depending on traffic.
• Metro: The metro station adjacent to the Shanghai Railway Station has 3 different lines passing through it. These are Lines 2, 7, or 10, and if you are on any of these lines, you will be able to reach the railway station easily.
• Taxi: Taxi is a very convenient way to travel around Shanghai and you can easily take one to the station too. Passengers traveling from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport or Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station can reach here in about 1 hour via taxi.
• Bus: For people on the route of Bus 941, the journey is quite easy and cheap. So, if you want a budget-friendly alternative to reach the station then you can take this bus route.

Train Routes for Shanghai Railway Station

Like the Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station, the Shanghai Railway Station also provides transport to several cities across the country. For high-speed trains, you can refer to the table below for quick reference.

*Prices are for G Trains by default. Where the G Train option is unavailable, the prices are for D Trains. Please note that the values are approximate because they are subject to constant adjustments.

Shanghai West Railway Station

Name in Chinese: 上海西站
Address: 22 Taopu Road, Putuo District (Chinese: 上海市普陀区桃浦路22号)

This station also serves high-speed trains that go to cities around Shanghai. A total of 14 G Trains operate through this station. The station is accessible through most public transport modes as well. There are two floors at this station with little else available apart from the ticketing area, waiting areas, checkpoints and the terminal itself. It is about half an hour away from Shanghai Railway Station via taxi and connects with the metro and bus routes as well.

For your convenience, we are also providing a list of main cities that it caters to in the table below.

*Please note that the values are approximate because they are subject to constant adjustments.

Shanghai South Railway Station

Name in Chinese: 上海南站
Address: 22 9001 Humin Road, Xuhui District (Chinese: 上海市徐汇区沪闵路9001号)

This station caters to several cities around China, including some stations around Shanghai. The station is accessible from all major transport modes including metro, bus, and taxi.

One of the biggest highlights of this station is its shape. The dome-shaped structure is very unique and mostly unheard of in train stations. Its shape was introduced in 2006 after a major renovation, thereby making it the first circular train station in the world.

There are 3 floors in the Shanghai South Railway Station. The first and second floor has waiting halls, checking points, and ticketing booths. The underground floor has the arrival hall, station exits, ticket offices for passengers transferring between trains, metro lines 1 and 3, and taxi stands. For passengers wanting to take long-distance buses, they can exit from the South Square towards the South Long-Distance bus station. Both sides also have taxi stands and city bus stops.

Getting to this station is quite easy as you can come via bus, Metro Line 1 and 3, and taxi. The station also caters to tourists as they can check out the many shops on the second floor of the station.

The station caters primarily to K trains, T Train, and Z Trains which offer sleeper cabins mostly. The schedule below provides information on some of the major areas that the station covers.

For your convenience, we are also providing a list of main cities that it caters to in the table below.

*Please note that the values are approximate because they are subject to constant adjustments.

How to Buy Tickets

There are quite a few options that you can choose from depending on your preference to buy train tickets. The following steps will help you a lot in making sure you know everything regarding the process.

1. The easiest way to book your ticket is either to go to the official Shanghai railway website 12306.cn or any other online option. Popular English websites include trip.com, travelgo.com, and travelchinaguide.com.
2. The second option is to go to a train station and buy the ticket directly from a ticket booth. You will also see some ticket machines but those are only for people holding Chinese ID cards.
3. If you want a more convenient option, then you either visit a railway satellite office in the city.
4. You can also ask your travel agent to book the ticket for you if the above options are not possible for you.
5. If you want to change the ticket details or cancel your booking, you will need to go to a train station for that. Refunds are easily provided but you may be asked to pay a service fee for cancellation.
6. Online bookings will only provide you with a reference number for your booking. You will have to use it to collect the ticket physically from the station to board the train. Make sure that you get there at least 2-3 hours before departure time to get the ticket as you might need to wait in a long line for your turn.

Boarding the Train

• To board the train, you will need to go to the station ahead of time with your ticket. The first step will involve a security check where you and your luggage are scanned. Once you are clear, you will have to head to the correct waiting area. You can find your waiting area on the information screens present in all stations.
• It is a good idea to look at your ticket to see all the necessary information. The top right corner of the ticket identifies your boarding gate where you will have to go. Underneath that is your destination, and under that is your carriage and seat number. The departure station is written on the left side under the ticket number which is in red. You can see the date and time of your train under the departure station. The following image should help you with understanding the instructions better.

• Once it is boarding time and you hear the announcement, head over to your designated gate to enter your platform. Find the correct cabin and get in to go to your seat.

Getting Off the Train

• Once you arrive at your destination, you can head directly to the exit area of the station.
• Keep the ticket with you during the journey as it is checked when you exit the station at your destination.

Additionally, take a look at some additional tips provided below to make your journey smooth and easy.

Railway Travel Tips

To make sure that your journey on any Shanghai railway station goes smoothly, you should keep these things in mind.

• You can purchase the ticket from any train station you like, regardless of where your booking is. The system is centralized so your information is available everywhere.
• Foreigners need to use their passport to purchase their tickets so make sure you keep yours with you.
• Make sure you reach the station at least 15-30 minutes before boarding time to avoid any mishaps. If you do not consider the rush that can form at train stations at times, you could end up missing your train.
• While you can take baggage along with you on the train, there are weight limits that you must follow. Adults can take up to 20kg, children can take up to 10kg, and diplomats can take up to 35kg. For disabled passengers, wheelchairs are not counted as a luggage item
• High-speed trains have a maximum size limit of 130cm. This is the sum of the length, width, and height of the luggage item. The limit for normal trains is 160cm and tubular items can only be up to 200 cm long.
• Weapons, Knives, Explosives, Live Animals, Inflammables, magnetized goods, and any other poisonous or corrosive materials are prohibited.
• Baggage trolleys are not available at train stations. However, red-cap porters are present on every station that you can hire for CNY 10-30, depending on what city you are in.