Travelling from Shanghai to Beijing: what you need to know
Begin your journey at one of Shanghai's main airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). Explore your options for booking a flight from Shanghai to Beijing jetting off from either of these.
The major arrival points in Beijing are Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Hop on a direct Shanghai to Beijing flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 2 hours 20 minutes.
Beijing's timezone is UTC+8, which is the same as Shanghai.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Daxing International Airport (PKX) is the most traveled route between these two cities. There are 73 flights a week to choose from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from Shanghai to Beijing is with China Southern Airlines at 22:10. Opt for the first PVG to PKX departure with China Southern Airlines at 07:20 to fit in more activities on your first day in Beijing.
To ensure you don't miss your Shanghai to Beijing flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
During popular months like April, it's best to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to Beijing
To find cheap Shanghai to Beijing flights, book as early as possible. Airlines typically offer their most competitively priced fares when flights first go on sale.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Shanghai to Beijing across each month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates aren't set in stone.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Shanghai to Beijing.
Tailor your flights using filters. Select your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Shanghai to Beijing flights.
Flying from Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Begin your journey at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which offers a range of direct flights from Shanghai to Beijing. From PVG, you can fly seamlessly to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX).
There are plenty of airlines that offer direct Shanghai to Beijing plane tickets out of PVG. Take off with any of these:
To reach PVG from central Shanghai, it'll take about 50 minutes if you're planning to drive. It's roughly 32 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Need a convenient hotel close to Shanghai Pudong International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Shanghai to Beijing, these accommodation options will put you moments from your check-in counter:
78.11% of flights taking off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
PVG's address is No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Looking for a direct flight from Shanghai to Beijing taking off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)? You can skip the connections and fly nonstop from SHA to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX).
There are plenty of airlines that offer direct Shanghai to Beijing plane tickets. Compare your options below to find the best fit for your flight from SHA:
Depending on traffic, you can drive to SHA from the centre of Shanghai in around 20 minutes. The airport is roughly 13 kilometres away.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Shanghai to Beijing, kick back in one of these hotels near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport:
Flights from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport are known for their punctuality, with 85.58% of them touching down as expected.
SHA is located at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to central Beijing takes about 40 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Shanghai to Beijing. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PEK instead:
Grab a Beijing Capital International Airport rental car and explore parts of Beijing that aren't the typical tourist stops. Find your ideal set of wheels with Hertz.
Book your vehicle from Beijing Capital International Airport a few weeks before your trip to get the best possible rate. If you're planning to travel during a busy period, it's a smart idea to book your Shanghai to Beijing flight even earlier.
The address for PEK is Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Daxing International Airport (PKX) is around 40 kilometres from central Beijing. Once you've disembarked your flight from Shanghai to Beijing, it takes approximately 1 hour 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to PKX. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from Shanghai to Beijing:
Best time to go to Beijing
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Shanghai to Beijing. April is the most popular month for a trip to Beijing. If you prefer a more peaceful vibe, go in February.
When booking your Shanghai to Beijing tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Beijing, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 35ºC (95ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Shanghai to Beijing in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC (12ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF) on average.
More about Beijing
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Beijing right here. Explore these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Shanghai to Beijing:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be difficult to know where to start. Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are major attractions which should feature on any good Beijing itinerary.
Explore more of China
Tianjin is just one of the many cities in China waiting to be explored after you've seen Beijing. Around 113 kilometres to the south-east, top sights here include Ancient Culture Street, Porcelain house and Haihe River.
Tai'an is another must-experience destination in China and is around 418 kilometres south of Beijing. No journey is complete without visiting Sanyi Cypress, Xixi Stone Pavilion and Qiuxian Cave.