Short answer
Take the high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) to Hangzhou East (杭州东). The fastest G-trains cover the roughly 160 km in 45 minutes, most run 45 minutes to 1h 15m, and there is no commercial flight worth taking. Departures are so dense — several hundred a day, with TravelChinaGuide counting over 270 from Shanghai to Hangzhou alone — that it feels closer to a metro than an intercity railway.
Second class on the standard Hongqiao–Hangzhou East service costs about ¥73–¥87. Across every station pair on the line the range is wider, from about ¥30 to ¥123 according to TravelChinaGuide, because cheaper pairs and different train types exist. Fares float with the train and the date, so check 12306 for your departure.
The one thing that matters when you book is which Hangzhou station you arrive at. Hangzhou East is on Metro Lines 1 and 4 and is the right answer for almost every visitor. Hangzhou West is far out of town and is a long, expensive taxi from West Lake. Your passport is your ticket — nothing to print, nothing to collect.
The route at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 160 km between Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East; the corridor is quoted at 160–200 km depending on the source and station pair |
| Stations | Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) → Hangzhou East (杭州东) for most trains |
| Fastest G-train | 45 minutes; TravelChinaGuide records a shortest journey of 32 minutes on the line |
| Typical journey | 45 minutes – 1h 15m |
| Departures | Several hundred a day in each direction — roughly every 10–20 minutes from early morning to late evening |
| Second class fare | About ¥73–¥87 on Hongqiao–Hangzhou East; ¥30–¥123 across all station pairs on the line |
| Line opened | 26 October 2010 |
| Train types | Mostly G (高铁), with some C (城际 intercity) services that add roughly 10–15 minutes |
Fare, frequency and duration figures cross-checked against TravelChinaGuide, China for Travelers, China High Speed Rail and China Travel Radar route data. Figures are indicative; the 12306 app is authoritative for your date.
Which station at each end
Both cities have several stations on this line, and the pair you pick changes your day. On the Shanghai side, Hongqiao is the default. On the Hangzhou side, Hangzhou East is the default.
| Station | Where it is | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Hongqiao 上海虹桥 | Western suburbs, inside the same complex as Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 | Lines 2, 10 and 17 |
| Shanghai Station 上海站 | Central Shanghai, near People's Square and the Bund | Lines 1, 3 and 4 |
| Shanghai South 上海南站 | South of the centre; used by some services | Lines 1, 3 and 15 |
| Hangzhou East 杭州东 | The main high-speed hub, with metro boarding inside the station hall | Lines 1 and 4 |
| Hangzhou Station 杭州站 | In the built-up centre, close to West Lake and Wulin Square | Line 1 and others |
| Hangzhou West 杭州西站 | Well outside the city; opened 2022 and serves longer-distance services | Line 3 and others |
How long does it actually take?
The spread on this route is wide for a short journey, because not every train stops at the same places.
| Service | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest G-trains | 45 minutes | Non-stop or one stop between Hongqiao and Hangzhou East |
| Most G-trains | 45 min – 1h 15m | The working range for a normal booking |
| C (intercity) trains | Roughly 10–15 minutes longer | Modern and comfortable; the difference is marginal |
| Trains using other station pairs | Up to about 1h 30m | Departing Shanghai South or arriving Hangzhou South adds time and distance |
Because the service is so frequent, the difference between a 45-minute train and a 1h 10m train is rarely worth planning around. Take the departure that suits your morning and let the timetable sort itself out.
How to book
- Register on 12306 before you travelUse
12306.cn/enor the 12306 app. Both have English interfaces and accept foreign passports. - Enter your passport name exactlyThe booking name must match the machine-readable zone character for character. This is the single most common reason a gate refuses a passenger.
- Add yourself as a passengerPassport number and expiry date go in the passenger profile, not the account.
- Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay12306 does not take foreign credit cards directly. Both Chinese wallets accept foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard after verification.
- Book a day or two ahead — or turn upOn normal weekdays, same-day tickets on this corridor are usually easy to get. For a weekend or a public holiday, book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Use the waitlist if your train is fullThe waitlist (候补) is free, fills from cancellations, and only charges you when a seat is confirmed.
Full detail on registration, payment and third-party alternatives is in our guide to buying train tickets in China as a foreigner.
Boarding: what happens at the gate
- Security screeningBags through the X-ray, you through the metal detector, at the station entrance. Routine, and it applies to everyone.
- Passport scanYour passport is your ticket. Shanghai Hongqiao has automated gates that read foreign passports; if yours fails, use a staffed lane rather than retrying.
- Departure hallFind your train on the board, note the gate, and sit near it. Hongqiao is very large and the walk can take ten minutes.
- Board when the gate opensThe gate opens for a window before departure and closes before the train leaves. Departure time is not boarding time.
- Second scan at the platform gateExpect another passport scan before you go down to the train.
Using it as a day trip to West Lake
This is the classic Shanghai day trip. Leave Hongqiao in the morning, arrive at Hangzhou East, and take Metro Line 1 toward the West Lake area, Longxiangqiao is the closest stop to the lake, or take a taxi from the station taxi rank. Metro lines 1 and 4 board inside the station hall, so you do not need to leave the building to reach them.
- Start early. The first departures leave around dawn, and the lake is far quieter before mid-morning.
- Keep your return flexible. With hundreds of departures a day, buying a return for a fixed hour is usually unnecessary, but a booked seat is a booked seat, so refund rules apply if you change your mind.
- Carry your passport. It is your identity document for the whole journey and the only thing that gets you through the gate.
- Watch the last trains. Services run late into the evening, but the final departures are earlier than you might expect, check the last train for your date in the app.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Shanghai to Hangzhou train?
As little as 45 minutes on the fastest G-trains between Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East, with most services taking 45 minutes to 1h 15m. TravelChinaGuide records a shortest journey of 32 minutes somewhere on the line.
Which stations does it use?
Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) to Hangzhou East (杭州东) for most trains. Some services use Shanghai Station, Shanghai South, Hangzhou Station or Hangzhou West, check the name on your ticket.
How much does a ticket cost?
About ¥73–¥87 in second class on the standard Hongqiao–Hangzhou East service. Across every station pair on the line TravelChinaGuide quotes ¥30–¥123 for second class, ¥75–¥196 for first and ¥182–¥428 for business. Fares float, so confirm in the 12306 app.
How many trains run each day?
Several hundred in each direction. TravelChinaGuide counts over 270 high-speed trains a day from Shanghai to Hangzhou and nearly 300 the other way; other listings put the figure higher. Departures run from around 04:30 to nearly midnight.
Do I need to book in advance?
Usually not on a normal weekday, same-day tickets on this corridor are typically easy to get, and departures are only 10–20 minutes apart. Book ahead for weekends, public holidays and the October and Chinese New Year travel peaks.
Which Hangzhou station is best for West Lake?
Hangzhou East (杭州东) for almost everyone; it is on Metro Lines 1 and 4, with boarding inside the station hall. The central Hangzhou Station is physically closer to the lake, but far fewer high-speed trains use it. Avoid arriving at Hangzhou West unless you have a reason.
Can I do it as a day trip?
Yes; it is the standard day trip from Shanghai. Take a morning train, spend the day around West Lake, and return in the evening. With hundreds of departures a day you have a lot of flexibility on the return.
Do I need to print a ticket?
No. Your passport is your ticket. You scan it at the station entrance, at the departure gate and sometimes again at the platform gate.
Related reading
Distance, journey times, station pairs, fare ranges and frequency cross-checked against TravelChinaGuide, China for Travelers, China High Speed Rail and China Travel Radar route guides (checked 2026); metro line data from Wikipedia station records for Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East. Fares, timetables and release windows are set by China Railway and change, treat every figure here as indicative and confirm your specific journey in the 12306 app.