Rail planning

China High-Speed Rail Times Between Major Cities

Use this table to choose a route shape, not a specific train. Times show the usual fastest useful daytime range, and fares are second-class planning ranges. Search the exact date, station pair and passport inventory before booking.

Checked 2026-10-04. Verify with the official 12306 railway service. For an English booking flow, compare the same train on Trip.com; its live fare and terms control.

Route	Main station pair	Fastest useful range	Second class	Planning note
Beijing → Shanghai	Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao	4 hr 20 min–6 hr	¥550–670	Frequent daytime G trains; compare total city transfer with flying.
Beijing → Xi'an	Beijing West → Xi'an North	4 hr 10 min–6 hr	¥510–650	The useful Beijing station is usually West, not South.
Beijing → Tianjin	Beijing South → Tianjin / Tianjin West	30–45 min	¥55–80	Tianjin station is usually best for the Haihe and central sights.
Beijing → Wuhan	Beijing West → Wuhan	3 hr 50 min–5 hr 30 min	¥620–750	Wuhan, Hankou and Wuchang are different terminals; match the ticket.
Shanghai → Suzhou	Shanghai / Shanghai Hongqiao → Suzhou / Suzhou North	25–50 min	¥40–60	Suzhou station is closer to the old city; North can erase the fastest-train advantage.
Shanghai → Hangzhou	Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East	45–75 min	¥70–100	Hangzhou East and Hangzhou West serve different onward directions.
Shanghai → Nanjing	Shanghai / Shanghai Hongqiao → Nanjing South	1–2 hr	¥130–180	Some services use central Shanghai station; that can be better door to door.
Shanghai → Huangshan	Shanghai Hongqiao → Huangshan North	2 hr 15 min–3 hr 30 min	¥190–260	Huangshan North is still a road transfer from the mountain gates.
Nanjing → Hangzhou	Nanjing South → Hangzhou East	1–2 hr	¥115–180	A direct regional leg; choose the Hangzhou station by the next hotel or route.
Hangzhou → Suzhou	Hangzhou East → Suzhou / Suzhou North	1 hr 20 min–2 hr	¥105–140	Going through Shanghai is rarely worth a second hotel transfer.
Xi'an → Luoyang	Xi'an North → Luoyang Longmen	1 hr 15 min–2 hr	¥120–190	Luoyang Longmen station is useful for the grottoes but not inside the old city.
Xi'an → Chengdu	Xi'an North → Chengdu East	3–4 hr	¥260–350	A clean first-trip rail spine; allow for two large-station transfers.
Chengdu → Chongqing	Chengdu East → Chongqing North / Shapingba	1–2 hr 30 min	¥95–160	The fastest service is not always the best station for the Chongqing hotel.
Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou	Chengdu East → Huanglongjiuzhai	About 2 hr by train	¥140–190	Add several hours for the mountain-road transfer from the station to Jiuzhaigou gate.
Guangzhou → Shenzhen	Guangzhou South → Shenzhen North / Futian	30–55 min	¥75–105	Futian may be better for the central business district; North has more services.
Shenzhen → Hong Kong	Futian / Shenzhen North → Hong Kong West Kowloon	15–30 min onboard	¥70–100	Immigration, security and boarding cut-offs add substantial station time.
Guangzhou → Hong Kong	Guangzhou South → Hong Kong West Kowloon	50–90 min onboard	¥210–270	Carry the correct border document and arrive early for cross-boundary checks.
Guangzhou → Guilin	Guangzhou South → Guilin North / Guilin West	2 hr 15 min–3 hr 30 min	¥160–220	North is usually easier for the city; West can require a longer final transfer.
Guilin → Guiyang	Guilin North / Guilin West → Guiyang North	2–3 hr	¥155–210	Use the exact Guilin station on the ticket; city transfer times differ.
Changsha → Zhangjiajie	Changsha South → Zhangjiajie West	2–3 hr 30 min	¥175–260	Zhangjiajie West still needs a road transfer to Wulingyuan or the city hotel.

What the table does not include

Add the hotel-to-station trip, security, boarding, platform walk, arrival-station exit and final hotel transfer. Cross-boundary trains to Hong Kong also require immigration formalities. A 30-minute train can still consume half a day when the stations do not match the itinerary.