How to Get from Shanghai to Guangzhou by Train, Flight 2024

Guangzhou is a city overwhelming with energy, color, and sheer size in southern China, while Shanghai is an important gateway city in the east. The distance between the two cities is about 1385km. Transportation between the two cities is convenient and easy. If you want to extend your Shanghai tour to Guangzhou, it is available to take a flight, high-speed train, or normal train. 

How to travel - by flight, bullet train, or normal train?

① By Flight: the fastest way to get to Guangzhou, only takes 2.5 hours; 
② By Bullet Train: comfortable, enjoyable and environment-friendly; takes about 7 hours to 8.5 hours; beautiful scenery on the way;
③ By Normal Train: the slowest way to reach Guangzhou; crowded on the train; takes about 16.5 ~ 22 hours; less recommended.

Flights from Shanghai to Guangzhou

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场; CAN) is the second busiest and largest airport in Southern China, right after the Hong Kong Airport, about 34 km (21 mi) driving distance north from central Guangzhou. There are two connected terminals serving all international and domestic airlines, namely, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Every day, Shanghai has over 50 flights to Guangzhou every day and the one-way air trip takes about 2.5 hours.>>Read More about Real-Time Flight Schedules from Shanghai to Guangzhou

Baiyun Airport Address: No.888, East Jichang Avenue, Huadu District, Guangzhou (广州市花都区机场大道东888号)

Learn More about Flights to Guangzhou (CAN) - Schedules, Duration, Frequency >>

Trains from Shanghai to Guangzhou

Shanghai operates 3 daily high speed G-trains to Guangzhou. At 8:00, the earliest train departs from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and arrives at Guangzhou South Railway Station. It is also the fastest Shanghai Guangzhou High-Speed Train which takes about 7 hours. The other two trains take about 8 ~ 8.5 hours. Sometimes, there might be available D-trains running from Shanghai to Guangzhou. Also, some normal trains are available to travel from Shanghai South Railway Station to Guangzhou Railway Station, but they take 16.5 ~ 22 hours. Because of the long duration on the way, the normal trains are less recommended.

Useful Link: Guangzhou to Shanghai Trains Schedules | Shanghai Guangzhou Train Route Map

Shanghai Guangzhou High Speed Train Route Map

Connecting eastern and southern China, Shanghai Guangzhou High-Speed Railway covers a distance of 1,790km (1,112 miles). In addition to Shanghai and Guangzhou, it passes through 3 provinces - Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Hunan. You can also make a stop in some tourist destinations in these provinces, like Hangzhou, Nanchang and Changsha where you can explore Chinese history and culture deeply. The railway has 16 midway train stations, including Jiaxing South (嘉兴南), Hangzhou East (杭州东), Nanchang West (南昌西), Changsha South Railway Station (长沙东), Guangzhou North Railway Station (广州北), etc.

Shanghai Guangzhou Speed Rail Map

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (上海虹桥站)

Located in No.1500, Shengui Road, Minhang District, West Shanghai (上海市闵行区申贵路1500号), Shanghai Railway Stations is the main train station in Shanghai. Taking Metro Line 2, you can get to People Square, Shanghai Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, etc. Taking Metro Line 10, you can travel to Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi, the Bund, and Terminal 1 of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. It is also quite easy to walk about 10 minutes to Terminal 2 of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Read more about Shanghai Transportation Guide >

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Guangzhou South Railway Station (Guangzhounan Railway Station, 广州南站)

Located in Shibi Street, Panyu District, Guangzhou City (广州市番禺区石壁街道), Guangzhou South Railway Station is Guangzhou’s main railway station. From this railway station, you can catch metro Lin3 2 to Guangzhou downtown, Yuexiu Park, Six Banyan Tree, Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Read more about Guangzhou Transportation Guide

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How to Plan Your Shanghai Guangzhou Tour

Known as an important gateway city to China, Shanghai preserves the mixed culture of the western and eastern. The duration and theme of your Shanghai tour can be flexibly arranged based on your time and interests. Usually, tourists spend 1 to 2 days on sightseeing the most famous landmarks in Shanghai, including the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai World Financial Center (WFC) - the highest breathtaking skyline in Lujiazhui, various historical architectures, Yu Garden, City God Temple along the Bund and busy Nanjing Road. Local culture lovers can use one extra day to visit Tianzifang, Zhujiajiao Water Town, while family travelers can have fun in Shanghai Disney Resort. Meanwhile, you can also expedience Maglev Train (the world’s fastest high-speed bullet train) and energetic nightlife, taste diverse snacks to make your Shanghai tour interesting and memorable.

✔ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour
✔ 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour
✔ 3 Days Shanghai Highlights & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour

Travel from Shanghai to Guangzhou

Usually, spending 4 to 6 days in Guangzhou and Shanghai is the most suitable travel length for the two hot destinations. For first-timers to Guangzhou, explore the must-see sights like Chen Clan Ancestral Hall with exquisite Lingnan styled sculpture decorations and the symbolic Canton Tower with terrific lines and lightings. Besides, it is also worthy to extend 1 to 2 days to the very close Kaiping to see UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site - Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, Foshan to feel more local Lingnan culture of martial arts, lion dance, ceramic production, etc.

✔ 2 Days Guangzhou Best Essence Savory Tour
✔ 3 Days Guangzhou Short Stay with All Highlights
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Travel Guangzhou with Shenzhen, Hong Kong & More China Destinations

With more time in Guangzhou, you can extend the trip to the Great Bay Area including Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, and a bit further to Guilin to admire the fantastic Karst landscape. Besides Guangzhou and its nearby cities and regions, it is also highly recommended to extend your Shanghai trip to Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan Mountain, etc. Since Guangzhou and Shanghai have very good transportation with other destinations in China, it is also very good to travel to more top destinations, including Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, etc. to appreciate more highlights! Select your favorite one at below to start your exploration! If you have more ideas, please feel free to tell us to customize your Shanghai Guangzhou tour!

✔ 6 Days Beijing Shanghai Tour by High Speed Train
✔ 7 Days Shanghai Suzhou Beijing Contrast Tour by High Speed Train
✔ 6 Days Best of Guangdong Tour with Stunning Attractions
✔ 8 Days Amazing Greater Bay Area Tour

Travel with China Discovery

As a leading travel agency in China which dedicates to offering high-quality China tours, China Discovery has helped thousands of travelers enjoy their trips to Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, etc., in China. Travel with us, you can enjoy worry-free tour services as well as well-organized itineraries, even our assistance of Chinese Visa application, convenient airport/train station pick-up & drop-off and transfer between all scenic spots, knowledgeable tour guide, safe & licensed private vehicle, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on. You are free to choose from our most popular China tour packages or contact us to design a memorable holiday in China.

Paul & His Wife Visited the Bund Timothy Family in Yu Garden Clients from Singapore at Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Robert and Kathleen Before Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall