Short answer
There is no direct high-speed train from Shanghai to Urumqi. The distance is 4,129 km, and China's high-speed network only reaches part way: G trains run from Shanghai to Xi'an, and the 250 km/h Lanzhou–Xinjiang line carries trains west from Xi'an and Lanzhou. No single fast train covers the whole run.
What does run direct is the conventional overnight sleeper — two pairs of Z-series trains taking around 39 to 40.5 hours. They leave Shanghai Railway Station in the late afternoon and reach Urumqi on the morning of the third day. Two nights on board, one full day in between.
Break the trip and the maths improves: a G train to Xi'an North (roughly six hours), then a D train on to Urumqi (about 13 to 14 hours). That is a day of travel plus a night in a hotel, and the seats are cheaper than a soft sleeper for the whole way. Booking opens 15 days before departure on 12306.
The three realistic ways to do it
| Option | Journey time | Rough shape | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct overnight sleeper (Z series) | 39h — 40.5h | Late afternoon departure, two nights, third-morning arrival | Shanghai Railway Station → Urumqi Railway Station |
| Two-stage high-speed via Xi'an | About 6h + about 13.5h of travel, plus a hotel night | G train to Xi'an North, overnight there, D train west the next morning | Shanghai Hongqiao → Xi'an North → Urumqi Railway Station |
| Flight | About 5.5 — 6h | Non-stop, same day | Shanghai → Urumqi |
Route listings are reissued several times a year, and extra trains appear on the western lines in the summer peak. Any train number and departure time below is an example of the current pattern, not a standing timetable — the search results on 12306 for your date are the version that matters.
Station choices in Shanghai
The direct trains to Xinjiang use Shanghai Railway Station (上海站), the main station on the north side of the city centre. It is not Shanghai Hongqiao, which handles most high-speed departures, and not Shanghai South. The three are separate buildings in separate districts.
Confusing the two is the most common mistake visitors make here, because the G trains that start the two-stage route leave from Shanghai Hongqiao while the sleepers to Urumqi leave from the main station. A ticket is valid only from the station printed on it. Our guide to Chinese train stations covers what to expect once you are inside.
Station choices in Urumqi
Urumqi has two passenger stations and they are on opposite sides of the city.
| Station | Location | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Urumqi Railway Station (乌鲁木齐站) | Toutunhe District, about 12 km northwest of downtown; opened 2016 with 9 platforms and 16 tracks | Most long-distance trains and the high-speed services on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang line |
| Urumqi South (乌鲁木齐南站) | Southwest corner of the city — the original main station before the new one opened | Standard trains, plus a small number of high-speed services |
Read the arrival station off your booking before you reserve a hotel or a transfer. Local advice about "the station" often refers to the southern one, while long-distance arrivals mostly land at the newer northern station.
What the direct sleeper sells
These are conventional trains, so the classes on offer are the classic three.
- Soft sleeper — four berths in a compartment with a door. The default choice for a two-night crossing.
- Hard sleeper — six berths in an open bay, three high on each side. Cheaper, noisier, and the corridor light stays on.
- Hard seat — a bench seat in an open carriage. Fine for an overnight hop; punishing for 40 hours.
There is no second class or first class seat on these trains, because they are not high-speed sets. Berth layouts, bedding and how the compartments work are covered on the train sleeper guide.
What it costs
| Class on the direct sleeper | Listed fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft sleeper | CNY 1,055.5 | Four-berth compartment. About CNY 22 an hour of travel. |
| Hard sleeper | CNY 680.5 | Six-berth bay. The usual compromise for long routes. |
| Hard seat | CNY 376.5 | Cheapest crossing of the country on this corridor. |
Fares on Chinese railways are distance-based and are adjusted periodically. Check the live figure on the official channel when booking, and remember that third-party sellers add a handling fee on top of the official price.
The two-stage high-speed alternative
Splitting the journey is what most travellers with a fixed number of days end up doing, and it works out cheaper than a soft sleeper for the full route.
- Shanghai Hongqiao to Xi'an NorthG trains cover the first leg in roughly six hours. Book early in the day and you reach Xi'an in time for dinner.
- One night in Xi'anThis is the argument for the split: a real bed, the city walls and the Muslim Quarter, and no second night on a train.
- Xi'an North to UrumqiD trains run the Lanzhou–Xinjiang line in about 13 to 14 hours, leaving in the morning and arriving in Urumqi late the same evening.
The connection is not a guaranteed one-ticket transfer — buy the two legs separately, leave yourself a full evening in Xi'an, and you have removed the risk entirely. Changing at Lanzhou West or Xining instead produces very similar total travel time.
How to book with a foreign passport
- Prepare 12306 in advanceSleeper berths on this corridor are limited and sell out in the summer and at Lunar New Year. The English site and app need identity verification before the account can buy anything — see our 12306 English guide.
- Match the passport name exactlySurname, given name and middle name in the passport's order. A mismatch with the identity record blocks the purchase.
- Book on day one of the windowSales open 15 days before departure. On a route with two direct trains a day, the berths go first.
- Choose the berth, not just the classA lower berth costs slightly more than an upper one and is the one most people want on a two-night trip.
- Carry the passport you booked withIt is your ticket. Keep it on you at the station and for the whole journey.
One quirk of this corridor is length: if a change of plan is likely, read the refund and rebooking rules before you buy, because the fees scale with how close to departure you cancel. Details are on our refunds and changes page.
What to expect on board for two nights
Forty hours in a sleeper berth is a rhythm rather than a journey. Hot water runs at the end of every carriage, which is how the noodle-and-tea routine of Chinese long-distance travel works; there is a dining car and a trolley service; every berth comes with bedding; power sockets sit in the corridor and in the compartments; and smoking is banned on board, including in the vestibules at the ends of the cars.
Bring more food than feels necessary. The trolley passes a few times a day, the dining car has limited hours, and instant noodles are what most of the carriage is eating.
Between Shanghai and Urumqi the listed stops include Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Xuzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Jiayuguan South, Hami (Kumul) and Turpan North. The stretch across Gansu and into Xinjiang is the part of the second day worth staying awake for — desert on one side, snow ridges on the other, and a landscape that changes by the hour. If you are continuing to another city, the luggage rules are worth two minutes of reading before you pack for a berth.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a high-speed train from Shanghai to Urumqi?
Not a direct one. The high-speed network reaches Xi'an from Shanghai, and the Lanzhou–Xinjiang line carries trains west from Xi'an and Lanzhou, but no single fast train covers the 4,129 km. Direct services are two pairs of conventional overnight trains taking around 39 to 40.5 hours.
How long does the Shanghai to Urumqi sleeper take?
Roughly 39 hours to 40.5 hours depending on the train and direction. A listed Shanghai departure leaves at 16:48 and arrives in Urumqi on the morning of the third day, 39h32m later; a second listed service runs 39h6m. Confirm the current times on 12306 for your date.
Which Shanghai station do trains to Urumqi leave from?
Shanghai Railway Station (上海站), the main station north of the city centre. Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai South are separate stations used by different lines, and a ticket is valid only from the station printed on it.
Where does the train arrive in Urumqi?
Urumqi Railway Station (乌鲁木齐站) in Toutunhe District, about 12 km northwest of downtown. Urumqi South (乌鲁木齐南站) on the southwest side serves standard trains and a few high-speed services. Read the station name on your ticket — the two are on opposite sides of the city.
How far in advance do tickets go on sale?
Fifteen days before departure, counting the departure date itself. Tickets can be bought from 15 days ahead until about 30 minutes before the train leaves, within 12306's daily service hours.
Can these tickets be bought with a foreign passport?
Yes. The English 12306 site and app handle foreign passports, but the account needs identity verification first and the passenger name must match the passport exactly. The same passport has to be shown at the station. Some travellers use a third-party agent instead, paying a handling fee for the convenience.
What does a soft sleeper cost from Shanghai to Urumqi?
A listed fare is CNY 1,055.5 for a soft sleeper, CNY 680.5 for a hard sleeper and CNY 376.5 for a hard seat. A two-stage high-speed routing via Xi'an, with standard class seats and a hotel night, usually comes in below the soft sleeper figure. Fares are adjusted from time to time, so check the official channel for your date.
Can I do the trip high-speed with one change?
Yes, and it takes about a day of travel plus a night. Take a G train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Xi'an North in roughly six hours, then a D train from Xi'an North to Urumqi in about 13 to 14 hours. Changing at Lanzhou West or Xining instead takes a similar amount of travel time.
Which stops does the direct sleeper make?
Listed stops include Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Xuzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Jiayuguan South, Hami (Kumul) and Turpan North. The train crosses several provinces before it reaches Xinjiang, which is why the run takes two nights rather than one.
Train or flight for Shanghai to Urumqi?
The flight takes around 5.5 to 6 hours and costs much more; the sleeper takes two nights and costs a fraction of the fare. On a trip of under two weeks, the flight saves two full days of your holiday, which is why many visitors fly at least one direction.
Related reading
Other long-distance rail routes worth comparing before you commit to two nights: the overnight sleeper south to Hong Kong on our Shanghai to Hong Kong page, and the short high-speed hop that starts most Shanghai itineraries on the Shanghai to Hangzhou page.
Compiled from China Railway route listings for the Shanghai–Urumqi corridor, station guides for Shanghai Railway Station and both Urumqi stations, Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed line references, and 12306 booking rules, cross-checked 30 September 2026. Train numbers, departure times, fares and seat-class lists on this route are revised through the year, and the timetable in the 12306 app or on the official channel for your travel date is the authoritative version. Nothing here is a booking guarantee.