Read the complete station name
Shanghai Railway Station (上海站) is one specific station, not a general term for every train terminal in the city. Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai, Shanghai South and Shanghai Songjiang are far apart. Use the full Chinese station name shown in the 12306 order whenever you search a map or book a car.
Shanghai trains use several stations. Shanghai South appears on the cover, but your departure station is the one printed in the 12306 order.
Foreign passport holders can buy e-tickets through the English China Railway 12306 website or app. Bring the original passport used for the booking. An itinerary sheet or reimbursement receipt is not a boarding document. If an automatic gate cannot read the passport, use a staffed inspection lane.
Security, identity checks and the walk between the waiting hall and gate all take time. Add a larger margin at weekends and during public holidays. A metro arrival time is not a train boarding time.
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (上海虹桥站)
Shanghai Hongqiao is west of central Shanghai and shares the wider transport hub with Hongqiao Airport T2. Metro Lines 2, 10 and 17 serve the station. Many high-speed trains for Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and destinations farther away use Hongqiao, but not every Shanghai train stops here.
Follow "Railway Departures" rather than a general Hongqiao sign. The airport, metro, railway and ride-hailing areas all have their own directions.
- Metro: Lines 2, 10 and 17, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
- Convenient for: Hongqiao Business District, National Exhibition and Convention Center, western Changning and Qingpu.
- Airport transfer: follow signs to walk to Hongqiao Airport T2, leaving time for airline check-in and security.
- On arrival: reach the correct taxi or ride-hailing level before ordering a car.
Shanghai Railway Station (上海站)
Shanghai Railway Station is north of the central city in Jing'an District. Metro Lines 1, 3 and 4 serve Shanghai Railway Station Metro Station (上海火车站站). It is often closer than Hongqiao for hotels around People's Square, West Nanjing Road, Jing'an Temple, Suzhou Creek and the North Bund.
Shanghai Railway Station has several entrances and squares. Add the exact pickup area when sending the location to a driver.
- Metro: Lines 1, 3 and 4, Shanghai Railway Station Metro Station.
- Convenient for: Jing'an, People's Square, West Nanjing Road, Suzhou Creek and the northern central city.
- Name warning: the railway station is 上海站; the metro station is 上海火车站站.
- On arrival: check which side of the station faces the hotel before joining a taxi queue or booking a car.
Shanghai South Railway Station (上海南站)
Shanghai South is southwest of the centre in Xuhui District. Metro Lines 1, 3 and 15 serve the station. Its trains and destinations differ from the other terminals, so do not switch to Shanghai Railway Station or Hongqiao simply because either looks closer on a city map.
The circular building is distinctive. Inside, follow the signs for the railway entrance, metro or ground transport.
- Metro: Lines 1, 3 and 15, Shanghai South Railway Station.
- Convenient for: Xujiahui, Caohejing, Shanghai Botanical Garden and southwestern Xuhui.
- Transfer tip: check whether the next leg is a national railway train, metro or another suburban service.
- On arrival: with large luggage, follow lifts and accessible routes rather than choosing an interchange with more stairs to save one stop.
Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station (上海松江站)
Shanghai Songjiang lies well southwest of the traditional city centre and connects with Metro Line 9. It suits journeys around Songjiang New City, Guangfulin and Sheshan. For hotels near the Bund, People's Square or Jing'an, include the long cross-city transfer in the plan.
Shanghai Songjiang is the current station name. Old maps may use an earlier name, so follow the current 12306 order.
- Metro: Line 9, Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station.
- Convenient for: Songjiang New City, Guangfulin, Sheshan and southwestern Shanghai.
- Distance warning: this is not central Shanghai and it is not Shanghai South Railway Station.
- On arrival: compare the full Line 9 journey with a road transfer, and check the last train after a late arrival.
