How to Travel between Shanghai and Ningbo

The distance from Shanghai to Ningbo by road is about 220km (137mi). The main modes of transportation are flight, train and long-distance bus. High speed trains take 1.5-3 hours and the fare is CNY94.5-144, while the journey’s duration by normal trains is 4.5-5 hours. Only one return-trip flight is available daily between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Ningbo Airport and a single trip takes no more than one hour. Shanghai – Ningbo buses take 3-3.5 hours and cost CNY95-105.

 Joining a guided tour is the most convenient way for tourists to travel between the two cities:
  7 Days Hangzhou – Ningbo – Putuo – Shanghai

 From Shanghai: Hongqiao Railway Station: 50 trains during 06:01 – 20:35; Shanghai Railway Station: 19:35 on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 
 From Ningbo Railway Station: 06:25 – 21:27 

 Price:
D type trains: CNY94.5 - 110 for a second class seat, CNY176 for a first class seat
G type trains: CNY144 for a second class seat, CNY237 for a first class seat, CNY444 for a business class seat
  From Shanghai South Railway Station: 05:02, 06:21 
 From Ningbo Railway Station: 15:43, 17:52  

 Price:
CNY50.5 per hard seat, CNY95-100 per hard sleeper, CNY145-150 per soft sleeper

 
 From Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG): 22:00 – 22:20 

 From Ningbo Lishe Airport (NGB): 07:00 – 07:25 

 Note: The full air ticket fare is CNY 700, but this is frequently discounted. Other than for the Spring Festival rush in January or February, the summer vacation in July and August, and Chinese public holidays, if you book early, there is usually a discount of up to 70%, and the price might be as low as CNY200.

 

	High Speed Train	Normal Train	Flight
Price	second class seat: CNY94.5-144	hard seat: CNY50.5	full fare: CNY 700; high season: CNY 450-650; low season: CNY 150-200
Time	1.5-3 hours	4.5-5 hours	55 minutes
Punctuality	punctual	occasional delays	frequent delays
Facilities	good, enough legroom	moderate, some poor	fair; narrower legroom
Electronic Devices	allowed to use	allowed to use	allowed to use with some limitation
Departures Frequency	50+ per day	2 per day	only one direct flight a day
Priority

 

3 

Intercity Bus Terminal	07:50, 09:40, 10:20, 11:35, 12:35, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 17:50
South Long-distance Bus Station	06:25 - 20:05, every 25-30 minutes
Pudong East Long-distance Bus Station	07:55, 11:20, 13:49
Hutai Road Bus Station	07:25, 14:15
Hongqiao West Long-distance Bus Station	12:15, 13:15, 14:50, 16:15

 

From	To	Schedules
Ningbo South Bus Station	Shanghai South Long-distance Bus Station	06:00 – 20:00, every 30-50 minutes
	Shanghai Intercity Bus Terminal	07:30, 08:45, 09:50, 13:15, 17:00, 17:30

 

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  1. A daily flight is available lasting around 22:00: 55 minutes, CNY700 with frequent discounts

2. Pudong Airport to Ningbo by train: 2.5-4.5 hours, CNY102.5 - 174
→ Take airport shuttle bus line 1 or metro line 2 to Hongqiao Railway Station. Shuttle bus: 1 hour, CNY30; metro: 1.5 hours, CNY8
→ Board a high speed train to Ningbo: 1.5-3 hours, CNY94.5-144

3. Pudong Airport to Ningbo by bus: 4-5 hours, CNY125
→ Take airport shuttle bus line 7 to Shanghai South Railway Station: 70 minutes, CNY20
→ Walk 3 minutes to the South Long-distance Bus Station
→ Catch a long-distance bus to Ningbo: 3-3.5 hours, CNY105
 → Walk from T2 or take metro line 10 from T1 to get to Hongqiao Railway Station within 10 minutes.
→ Take a high speed train to arrive in 1.5-3 hours.