The fastest high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou takes just 45 minutes. Trains run from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Station, with over 100 departures daily on weekdays. Most take 50 minutes to 1 hour, and second-class tickets cost around ¥57–87. Driving from People's Square to West Lake covers about 180 km and takes over two hours in smooth traffic. A round-trip day tour to Hangzhou is entirely doable—the key is choosing the right stations for departure and arrival.
The schedules, travel times, and fares below were compiled from 12306 on November 10, 2026, for all-day services on November 18 (Wednesday). Extra trains may be added on weekends and holidays, so always check 12306 for the latest information when booking.
Shanghai has four stations with trains to Hangzhou—pick the right one first
Shanghai's major train stations are Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Railway Station, and Shanghai South. In the suburbs, there are also Shanghai Songjiang and Jinshan North stations. High-speed trains to Hangzhou mainly depart from Hongqiao and Shanghai South, with very few from Shanghai Railway Station—a detail many first-time visitors get wrong.
Shanghai Hongqiao Station: Most trains, most reliable
Today, 115 trains run from Hongqiao to Hangzhou East Station, with the earliest at 5:52 and the latest at 21:19. The fastest takes 45 minutes, and half the trips take under 56 minutes. Another 42 trains head to Hangzhou West Station between 6:20 and 22:11, usually taking 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. Second-class seats from Hongqiao to Hangzhou East cost ¥57–87, first-class about ¥91–140, and business class about ¥275–306. Fares vary by train on the same route, and early morning services are often cheaper for the same distance.
Hongqiao Station connects directly to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, and Metro Lines 2, 10, and 17 all stop here. From People's Square or the Nanjing Road area, Line 2 takes you straight there. For travelers flying into Hongqiao Airport who want to head directly to Hangzhou, it's just a short walk to the high-speed rail station—the smoothest connection possible.
Shanghai South Station: Another option if you're staying in Xuhui or Minhang
Shanghai South Station is in southern Xuhui District, served by Metro Lines 1 and 3. Today, 44 trains run from Shanghai South to Hangzhou East between 6:52 and 21:58. The fastest takes 46 minutes, and most take around 1 hour. There are also 20 trains to Hangzhou West. Second-class seats mostly cost ¥73–82, though a few slower trains take over 1 hour 40 minutes and cost just over ¥40. If you're staying near Xujiahui, Hengshan Road, or Minhang, Shanghai South Station is often closer than Hongqiao.
Shanghai Railway Station: Only a handful of trains—don't go out of your way
The old Shanghai Railway Station is in Jing'an District, not far from Nanjing Road or The Bund, so many people assume it's the most convenient departure point for Hangzhou. In reality, there are only 5 direct high-speed trains a day from Shanghai Station to Hangzhou East, taking over 1 hour 25 minutes, with second-class seats at ¥106—slower and more expensive than departing from Hongqiao. If you're staying in this area, taking the metro to Hongqiao Station is actually faster.
Songjiang South and Jinshan North: only consider if you're staying in the suburbs
If you're staying near Songjiang University Town, Sheshan, or Jinshan, check Shanghai Songjiang Station and Jinshan North Station—the fastest trains to Hangzhou East take just 30 to 40 minutes, and fares are lower too. For visitors staying downtown, going out of your way to these two stations isn't worth it.
How high-speed trains from Shanghai to Hangzhou are scheduled
The 115 trains from Hongqiao to Hangzhou East aren't evenly spaced throughout the day. On November 18, for example, there were about 10 departures each during the 7 AM and 8 AM hours, and another 10 each at 11 AM and noon; from 1 PM to 4 PM, frequency dropped noticeably to just 4 or 5 per hour, then picked up again between 5 PM and 8 PM. If you want a same-day round trip, leave around 7 or 8 AM and return around 7 or 8 PM—there are plenty of options at both ends, so even last-minute ticket changes won't be a problem.
The return direction is even better for late nights: there are 110 trains from Hangzhou East to Hongqiao that day, with the first at 6:08 and the last at 22:51, and 8 or 9 departures every hour between 8 PM and 10 PM. Have dinner by West Lake, take the metro to the station, and you'll still get back to Shanghai at a reasonable hour. There are also 43 trains from Hangzhou West to Hongqiao and 20 to Shanghai South, so visitors staying in western Hangzhou can board nearby.
Getting into Hangzhou from East Station or West Station
Hangzhou East Railway Station is an interchange for Metro Lines 1, 4, 6 and 19. To reach West Lake, take Line 1 toward Longxiangqiao; exit at Longxiangqiao Station and you'll be right at Hubin Pedestrian Street—just a few minutes' walk west to the lake. For Lingyin Temple or Longjing, ride to Longxiangqiao or Wulin Square first, then transfer to a bus or taxi. Taxis and ride-hailing cars pick up underground at the station, and holiday queues can exceed half an hour.
Hangzhou West Railway Station is in Yuhang District, where Metro Lines 3 and 19 intersect. According to Hangzhou's official English-language media, Line 19 takes about 25 minutes from the West Station to the East Station. The station sits near Future Sci-Tech City and the north side of Xixi Wetland, so travelers staying in western Hangzhou or heading to Liangzhu or Xixi will find it closer.
How far is it from Shanghai to Hangzhou, and how long does the drive take?
Based on OpenStreetMap road data, driving from People's Square to Hubin in Hangzhou covers about 181 km, mostly on the G60 Shanghai–Kunming Expressway, taking just over two hours when traffic flows smoothly. The straight-line distance between Shanghai and Hangzhou is roughly 165 km, so if you're wondering "how many kilometers from Shanghai to Hangzhou," figure about 180 km by car.
What really affects travel time are three periods: weekday mornings leaving Shanghai on the elevated highways, Friday afternoons heading out of the city, and Sunday afternoons returning to Shanghai—plus the first and last days of public holidays. During these times, the Jiaxing section of the G60 and the area around the Hangzhou Ring Expressway often see long lines, and a four-hour trip is possible. Once in Hangzhou, parking near the West Lake scenic area is tight, and some roads have temporary traffic controls on weekends and holidays. If you're driving, book a hotel with parking and explore the lake on foot, by bike or by bus.
A few tips for taking the high-speed train
Buy tickets on the 12306 website or app. Passports and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan resident permits can all be used for real-name ticketing. Show the original ID you used to book when entering the station. If it's your first time buying a ticket with a passport, see How foreigners buy China high-speed train tickets. There are many trains on the Shanghai-Hangzhou line, so booking a day ahead is usually fine on weekdays. But on Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons, and during Qingming, May Day, and National Day holidays, popular trains sell out fast—book as soon as your plans are set.
Hongqiao Railway Station is huge. It takes a while to walk from the metro exit to the waiting hall, and there's security screening too, so arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ticket gates at Hongqiao are grouped by train number—check the big screen for your gate number before heading over. There are oversized luggage racks at both ends of each carriage; if you have a 28-inch suitcase, try to board early. Fold strollers and place them next to the luggage racks. The whole trip takes under an hour, so you don't really need food on board—a bottle of water is enough.
Don't worry too much if your plans change. Under 12306's current tiered refund policy, cancellations more than 8 days before departure are free; 5% of the fare is charged for cancellations more than 48 hours before, 10% for 24–48 hours before, and 20% for less than 24 hours before. Starting January 2026, if you buy the wrong ticket, you can also cancel once online for free within 30 minutes of payment, provided departure is more than 4 hours away. Since there are so many Shanghai-Hangzhou trains, changing to an earlier or later train on the same day is often a better deal than a refund. Check the 12306 order page for exact details.
One thing travelers often overlook: a single city has several stations, so check carefully when booking. When searching by city on 12306, "Shanghai" shows trains from Hongqiao, Shanghai, Shanghai South, Songjiang, and other stations, while "Hangzhou" mixes East, West, South, and Chengzhan stations. Confirm your departure and arrival stations before paying, so you don't show up at Shanghai Railway Station only to find your train leaves from Hongqiao.
Going straight to Hangzhou from Pudong or Hongqiao Airport
Landing at Hongqiao Airport: Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station share the same transport hub—just follow the signs and walk over. Allow about an hour from collecting your baggage to boarding the high-speed train to Hangzhou for a comfortable connection. From Terminal 1, take Metro Line 10 to Hongqiao Railway Station first.
Arriving at Pudong Airport: The fastest option is to take the Airport Link Line to Hongqiao Railway Station and transfer to a high-speed train. According to the Shanghai airport website, the first train from Pudong Airport Terminals 1 & 2 Station departs at 6:00 and the last at 22:15, running about every 15 minutes. Long-distance buses from Pudong Airport also run directly to Hangzhou East Railway Station. The website lists five daily departures at 8:50, 11:10, 14:10, 16:50 and 19:30; the trip takes about 3 hours and costs ¥130. This suits travelers with lots of luggage who want to avoid transfers, but you'll need to wait for your scheduled departure. For other ways to get from the airport into downtown Shanghai, see Pudong and Hongqiao airports to downtown Shanghai.
What to know when taking the high-speed train with seniors and kids
Since January 1, 2023, children's tickets are sold by age under real-name registration: kids aged 6 to under 14 buy discounted children's tickets; those under 6 who don't need their own seat travel free with one ticket-holding adult, but you must declare them when booking on 12306. If you don't, you'll need to handle it at the station ticket window before boarding. If you want your child to have their own seat, buy them a children's ticket.
For seating, second class has five seats per row, with A and F by the window and C and D by the aisle. First class has four seats per row with more space—worth considering if you're traveling with seniors. The Shanghai-Hangzhou trip takes less than an hour, so second class is comfortable enough. Watch the gap between the train door and platform when boarding or exiting, and keep hold of seniors and kids. Both Hongqiao Station and Hangzhou East Station have elevators and escalators for entering and exiting; look for the elevator first if you're hauling luggage or pushing a stroller.
The easiest way to plan a day trip
If you want to make a round trip in one day, try this: leave Hongqiao between 7:30 and 8:30am, arrive at Hangzhou East Station around 9:00am, take the metro to Longxiangqiao, and spend the morning walking along Hubin Road, Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway to Gushan Hill. Have lunch by the lake, then take a boat or rent bikes to Su Causeway in the afternoon—if you still have energy, head to Lingyin Temple. In the evening, enjoy the night view and dinner at Hubin, then catch a train back to Shanghai from Hangzhou East Station between 7:00 and 9:00pm. West Lake itself is free, but Lingyin Feilai Peak requires advance real-name reservation via the mini program.
With only one day, don't try to combine Xixi Wetland, Songcheng and West Lake—transfers will eat up most of your time. Seasonally, Su Causeway in spring and the osmanthus flowers and red leaves in autumn are beautiful, and you might even catch snow in winter. Before you go, check our guide on Hangzhou weather and what to wear and pack accordingly.
If you're staying in Hangzhou for two nights or more, you can visit Xixi Wetland or Liangzhu on your second day, or head west to Qiandao Lake. High-speed trains to Qiandao Lake depart from both Hangzhou East Railway Station and Hangzhou West Railway Station—see How to get from Hangzhou to Qiandao Lake for details. When returning to Shanghai, you can board directly from the West Station instead of going all the way back to the East Station.
When a private car makes more sense
For one or two people traveling light, high-speed rail plus the metro is all you need. A private car is more convenient in these situations: traveling with three generations or five or six people, where train tickets plus taxis at both ends already cost about the same as a private car; carrying bulky luggage straight from your hotel to the next city without dragging suitcases up and down elevators at Hongqiao Station or the East Station; traveling with elderly guests who have limited mobility; or wanting to stop by water towns like Wuzhen or Xitang along the way.
Vehicle types, schedules, and pricing for point-to-point transfers between Shanghai and Hangzhou are detailed in Shanghai to Hangzhou private car and Hangzhou to Shanghai private car. If you land in Shanghai and need an airport pickup before heading to Hangzhou, see Shanghai airport transfers. Once in Hangzhou, hopping between the lakeside, Lingyin Temple, and Longjing is much easier with a Hangzhou private car than hailing taxis over and over.
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FAQs
How long is the high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou?
The fastest ride takes 45 minutes. Most trains from Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Station take 50 minutes to 1 hour; trips to Hangzhou West Station take over 1 hour 10 minutes; and a few services departing from Shanghai Station take more than 1 hour 25 minutes. These times reflect the schedule as of November 18, 2026—check 12306 for real-time updates.
How many high-speed trains run from Hangzhou to Shanghai each day?
From Hangzhou East to Shanghai Hongqiao alone, there are 110 services on November 18, running from 6:08 to 22:51. Add the trains to Shanghai South, Shanghai Songjiang and other stations, plus conventional trains, and there are over 300 services a day between the two cities. You rarely need to worry about tickets selling out on weekdays, except during holidays.
How much is a high-speed train ticket from Shanghai to Hangzhou?
From Hongqiao to Hangzhou East, second class costs about ¥57–87, first class about ¥91–140, and business class about ¥275–306. From Shanghai South to Hangzhou East, second class is mostly ¥73–82. The Shanghai-Hangzhou line uses dynamic pricing, so fares for the same route vary by train and time of day.
Can I do a day tour from Shanghai to Hangzhou and return the same day?
Yes. Leave Hongqiao at 7 or 8 am and you'll reach Hangzhou East Station in under an hour. Spend the whole day around West Lake, and there are plenty of trains back to Shanghai between 7 pm and 10 pm. As long as you don't cram West Lake, Xixi and Songcheng into one day, the pace won't be too rushed.
Are there direct buses from Shanghai to Hangzhou?
Yes, but not many. For example, the long-distance bus service at Pudong Airport runs direct coaches to Hangzhou East Station—five departures a day, taking about 3 hours, at ¥130 per ticket. If you're leaving from downtown, high-speed trains are much faster than buses and cost about the same, so they're usually the better choice.
How many kilometers is it to drive from Shanghai to Hangzhou?
It's about 181 km from People's Square to the shore of West Lake in Hangzhou via the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway. With clear traffic, the drive takes just over two hours, but allow an extra one to two hours on weekends and holidays. The straight-line distance between the two cities is about 165 km.