Flying from Shanghai to Beijing: what you need to know
Embark on your next adventure from 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 leaving from either of these bases.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX) are the primary entry points to Beijing.
Take a direct Shanghai to Beijing flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 20 minutes.
Beijing's timezone is UTC+8, which is the same as Shanghai.
With 73 weekly flights between the two airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Daxing International Airport (PKX) is the busiest route. Board the earliest flight from Shanghai to Beijing with Air China at 06:55. If you'd like to get more out of your day before you fly, the latest departure from PVG to PKX is with Juneyao Airlines at 22:10.
To ensure you don't miss your Shanghai to Beijing flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during peak periods 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)
You can book a direct flight from Shanghai to Beijing leaving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Begin your trip at PVG and then hit the runway at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Direct Shanghai to Beijing plane tickets are offered by a range of airlines at PVG. Cruise the skies with one of these carriers:
Central Shanghai to PVG is around 32 kilometres. Depending on traffic conditions, it'll take about 50 minutes to get there if you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab.
Have an early flight from Shanghai to Beijing? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels close to Shanghai Pudong International Airport:
78.11% of flights leaving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport make it to their destination on time.
You'll find PVG at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Direct flights from Shanghai to Beijing can be booked from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), so consider flying out of this popular hub. SHA has nonstop connections to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX).
When departing from SHA, you can choose from a good range of airlines that fly straight to your destination. Book a direct Shanghai to Beijing plane ticket with any of these:
You can get to SHA from central Shanghai in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport will take roughly 40 minutes to cover the 13 kilometres or so.
It's your holiday, so why not extend it with an extra night away from home? Think about kicking back in one of these accommodation options near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport the day before your flight from Shanghai to Beijing:
Flights from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport have a track record for punctuality, with 86% of them touching down as planned.
The street address for SHA is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to central Beijing takes about 40 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometers away.
Reserve a hotel near PEK if you're coming in on a late flight from Shanghai to Beijing. Pick one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Grab a Beijing Capital International Airport rental car and discover parts of Beijing that aren't in every guidebook. Book your wheels with Hertz.
To lock in the best rate, book your vehicle from Beijing Capital International Airport a few weeks in advance. Prices usually increase as your departure date approaches.
The street address for PEK is Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Once your flight from Shanghai to Beijing has hit the runway, you can reach the city centre in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Beijing is roughly 40 kilometres from Daxing International Airport (PKX).
You'll find some comfortable places to lay your head close to PKX. Tuck yourself in after your Shanghai to Beijing flight at one of these well-located options:
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
After booking your flight from Shanghai to Beijing, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these options your base for exploring Beijing:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to work out where to begin. Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are highlights which should be on every 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.