How Long Does It Take To Travel Between Cities In China?
Quick Guide (2025)
Updated 2025/11/30
Created by YenKid
Door to Door Journey Times: Major Cities in China ⏲️
This page answers questions like:
how long does it take to travel from Beijing to Shanghai?
is it better to travel by high speed rail or plane between Beijing to Xi’an?
what’s the fastest way of getting from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?
*breaks for car journeys not included,
**these are estimated door to door journey times:
= your hotel to and from station/airport in both cities + typical pre-departure procedures + reasonable buffer time
***HSR = High Speed Rail, h = hours
My recommended choice highlighted in bold - considering door-to-door journey times, comfort, and convenience factors as mentioned in this article
21 Reasons Why I Choose High Speed Rail Over Flights For Most Journeys In China
Car | HSR | Plane
14-15h | 6-7h | 5-6h
23-24h | 9-10h | 6-7h
23-24h | 9-10h | 6-7h
12-13h | 6-7h | 5-6h
21-22h | 9-10h | 6-7h
24-25h | 10-11h | 6-7h
45-48h | 48-50h | 8-9h
Car | HSR | Plane
14-15h | 6-7h | 5-6h
4-5h | 2-3h | 3-4h
16-17h | 8-9h | 5-6h
16-17h | 9-10h | 5-6h
17-18h | 10-11h | 5-6h
15-16h | 7-9h | 5-6h
21-22h | 13-14h | 6-7h
19-20h | 11-12h | 6-7h
41-43h | 41-43h | 8-9h
Car | HSR | Plane
3h | 2-2.5h | N/A
2-3h | 1.5-2h | N/A
5-6h | 3-4h | N/A
14-15h | 8-9h | 5-6h
16-17h | 9-10h | 5-6h
16-17h | 9-10h | 5-6h
23-24h | 9-10h | 6-7h
34-35h | 20-21h | 7-8h
Car | HSR | Plane
3-4h | 2-3h | N/A
9-10h | 6-7h | 5-6h
9-10h | 5-6h | 5-6h
16-17h | 9-10h | 5-6h
18-19h | 10-11h | 5-6h
21-22h | 9-10h | 6-7h
21-22h | 13-14h | 6-7h
FROM/TO NORTH CHINA
Beijing <-> Shanghai
Beijing <-> Guangzhou
Beijing <-> Shenzhen
Beijing <-> Xian
Beijing <-> Chengdu
Beijing <-> Hong Kong
Beijing <-> Lhasa
(~3400km)
FROM/TO EAST CHINA
Shanghai <-> Beijing
Shanghai <-> Nanjing
Shanghai <-> Guangzhou
Shanghai <-> Shenzhen
Shanghai <-> Hong Kong
Shanghai <-> Xian
Shanghai <-> Chengdu
Shanghai <-> Chongqing
Shanghai <-> Urumqi
(~3900km)
FROM/TO SOUTH CHINA
Guangzhou <-> Hong Kong
Guangzhou <-> Shenzhen
Guangzhou <-> Guilin
Guangzhou <-> Chongqing
Guangzhou <-> Chengdu
Guangzhou <-> Shanghai
Guangzhou <-> Beijing
Guangzhou <-> Harbin
(~3300km)
FROM/TO WEST CHINA
Chengdu <-> Chongqing
Chengdu <-> Zhangjiajie
Chengdu <-> Xian
Chengdu <-> Guangzhou
Chengdu <-> Hong Kong
Chengdu <-> Beijing
Chengdu <-> Shanghai
👉🏻Take a look at actual train times and prices for your planned journey here
YenKid:
My personal rule of thumb is
Anywhere 7hrs or under by high speed train, I take the high speed train.
Anywhere between 7-9hrs is 50:50.
Anywhere over 9hrs, I take the plane.
But this is just me. Whatever you choose is down to your personal preference and how much time you have.
If you want to admire the scenery, consider high speed rail.
If you want to minimise time spent on transport, choose flights.
Ticket Prices
During off-peak season, flights can be cheaper than high speed rail. During peak season, average price of flights rises.
The cost of train tickets stays the same all-year round, but it is very common for train tickets to sell out during peak season.
Overnight Sleeper High Speed Trains
Typically only 1-2 services per night between some major cities.
These tend to be a few hours slower than the daytime ones, but the big advantage is that you can save wasting your daytime hours + hotel costs for that night.
The tickets for a bed are sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive than daytime seats. You’ll have to consider whether you want to share a room with strangers, unless you have 4 people in your party.
START PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP NOW! 🐼
🚅 Book your train for China here (promo code for new users)
✈️ Book your flights to China here
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