Shanghai to Nanjing by train
Nanjing lies 270 km (168 mi) west of Shanghai, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 1 h 25 min at the speeds typical of China rail, over roughly 330 km (205 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Shanghai | Nanjing | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | China |
| Population | 24.9 million | 9.3 million |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) |
| Stations on record | none listed | Nanjing railway station, Nanjing South railway station, Changfujie station |
| Postal codes | 200000 | 210000 |
Where to book trains from Shanghai to Nanjing
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Nanjing
Our booking partner lists 340 places to stay in Nanjing. Of the 313 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (112), and 58 are five-star. Across 23 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9 out of 10. Guests have left 6,026 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Nanjing
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Nanjing from Shanghai?
270 km (168 mi) in a straight line, west of Shanghai; by road roughly 330 km (205 mi).
How long does it take to get from Shanghai to Nanjing by train?
About 1 h 25 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Shanghai and Nanjing?
No, both are on Asia/Shanghai at the moment.
Where can I stay in Nanjing?
Our booking partner lists 340 places to stay in Nanjing, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.