How to Travel between Shanghai and Nanjing

The distance from Shanghai to Nanjing is about 300km (186mi) and it is possible to travel by air, train or long-distance bus. Train is the most popular way to go from Shanghai to Nanjing, with high speed trains taking 1.5-2 hours and normal trains taking 3.5-4.5 hours. Long-distance bus has fewer schedules than trains, but still is a good choice, taking 3.5-4 hours and the bus fare is CNY90-105. There is only one daily flight between Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG), which takes an hour.

 Joining a guided tour is the most convenient way for tourists to travel between the two cities:
  8 Days Shanghai – Hangzhou – Suzhou – Wuxi– Nanjing
 

 From Shanghai, every 5-15 minutes during 05:22 – 22:55: Shanghai Railway Station, Hongqiao Railway Station  

 From Nanjing, every 5-15 minutes during 03:28 – 22:41: Nanjing Railway Station, South Railway Station  

 Price:
D type trains: CNY95.5 for a second-class seat, CNY115.5 for a first-class seat
G type trains: CNY134.5 for a second-class seat, CNY229.5 for a first-class seat & CNY429.5 for a business-class seat

  

Shanghai Railway Station	01:10 – 23:47
Shanghai South Railway Station	04:14 – 23:20
Nanjing Railway Station	00:32 – 23:40

 Price: CNY46.5 for a hard seat, CNY90-95 for a hard sleeper, and CNY140.5 for a soft sleeper
 

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There is only one direct flight, from Shanghai Pudong Airport at 22:50, and from Nanjing Lukou Airport at 07:25.

 Note: The full air fare is CNY 1080, but with frequent discounts. Except for Chinese public holidays and the Spring Festival rush, and if you book early, there is usually a 50% to 85% discount, and the price might be as low as CNY150-550.

 1. Airport shuttle bus: to People's Square, Shanghai Railway Station, South Railway Station, Hongqiao Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport ……
2. Maglev (SMT) + Metro: take metro line 2 directly, or experience the maglev to Longyang Road first, and then transfer to metro line 2.
3. Taxi to the city center: 1 hour, CNY150-180

 1. Airport shuttle bus: to Nanjing Railway Station, South Railway Station, Zhonghua Gate, Hanzhong Gate, Wanda Plaza ……
2. Metro: Airport Metro Station of line S1 is outside the exit of Domestic Arrival Hall, 1F, T2.
3. Taxi: 40 minutes, CNY100-130
 

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Intercity Bus Terminal	09:00, 14:50
South Long-distance Bus Station	10:40
Chuansha Bus Station	09:40
Hongqiao West Long-distance Bus Station	11:10

  

Nanjing Coach Station, aka Xiaohongshan Bus Station	09:00, 14:30, 16:40
Gaochun Bus Station	05:45, 08:40, 12:55
Lishui Long-distance Bus Station	07:30, 09:30, 13:20
South Bus Station, near South Railway Station	17:10
East Bus Station	09:15, 14:45
Getang Bus Station	09:30

 

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1. A flight around 22:50: 1 hour, CNY1080 with frequent discounts

2. Pudong Airport to Nanjing by train: 2.5-3 hours, CNY110-175
→ Take airport shuttle bus line 1 to Hongqiao Railway Station: 1 hour, CNY30.
→ Board a high speed train to Nanjing: 1.5-2 hours, CNY80-145.

3. Airport shuttle bus + coach: 5 hours, CNY120
Take airport shuttle bus line 5 to Shanghai Railway Station and walk to the Intercity Bus Terminal to take a coach to Nanjing. Or take airport shuttle bus line 7 to South Railway Station, walk to the South Long-distance Bus Station, and take a coach to Nanjing in 4 hours.
 

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Hongqiao Airport to Nanjing by train: 2 hours, CNY80-145.

Hongqiao Railway Station is within 10 minutes’ walking distance from T2 of Hongqiao Airport (SHA). Passengers arriving at T1 of Hongqiao Airport can take metro line 10 to Hongqiao Railway Station within 5-8 minutes. Here one can take a high speed train to Nanjing.