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Shanghai to Hangzhou by High-Speed Train

Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24 · Transport

Written by China On Arrival Editorial Desk · Research basis: Editor research, fact-checked

TL;DR

A: Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) → Hangzhou East (杭州东) in 45-60 minutes, ¥73-87 second class, with 100-160 departures a day from ~05:45 to ~21:30 — a departure every 10-20 minutes at peak. It's the easiest intercity day trip in China: no plane comes close door-to-door.

What’s the short answer?

Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East: 45-60 minutes on G trains, ¥73-87 second class, 100-160 departures daily — at peak times one leaves every 10-20 minutes, so many locals just show up and board the next one. Hangzhou East sits on Metro Line 1: twenty minutes to the West Lake area. West Lake in the morning, back for dinner in Shanghai — or stay the night in our Hangzhou 3-day itinerary.

Route facts (checked October 2026)

Distance~160 km
Fastest45 min (G, Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East)
Typical45-70 min G · 1-1.5 h D
Frequency100-160/day, ~05:45-21:30, every 10-20 min at peak
Second class¥73-87 (most departures ¥73) · D trains ¥59-71
First class¥117-140

Which stations?

Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) → Hangzhou East (杭州东) is the pairing almost everyone wants — Hongqiao sits ON Metro Lines 2/10/17 with the airport rail link, and Hangzhou East is one Metro ride from West Lake. Variants: some G trains continue to central Hangzhou station (杭州, 55-70 min), and slower D trains from central Shanghai station cost a few yuan less with 1-1.5 h journeys. For a first visit, ignore all of that: Hongqiao to Hangzhou East.

Check Shanghai → Hangzhou times & seats →

How do you book?

Turn up and buy is realistic outside holidays — but book in the app anyway to skip the queue (12306 zero-fee, or Trip.com in English; the full comparison). Passport is the ticket at the gate. Refund/change rules: refund fees answer.

Making it a trip, not a commute

Hangzhou deserves more than a sprint around the lake: Hangzhou in 3 days, where to stay, and if Shanghai is your base, our Shanghai picks. Heading the other way along the delta, the Shanghai–Nanjing corridor strings Suzhou, Wuxi and Nanjing onto the same ticket. Coming from the other direction (Shanghai → Beijing or Xi’an), see the Shanghai–Beijing and Xi’an–Shanghai route guides.

Sources

Extending the trip? The Shanghai city guide and Hangzhou city guide cover stay areas, costs and arrival.

Sources