Route
Shanghai to HuangshanHuangshan to Shanghai: take the train or fly?
Shanghai to the foot of Yellow Mountain in under three hours. As with the Hangzhou train, it ends at Huangshan North — the town of Tunxi, not the mountain, which is another hour on by bus.
Huangshan 黄山
Huangshan North
Shanghai 上海
Shanghai Hongqiao
- 2nd class
- from ¥206 ≈ $29
- business to ¥373
- Departures
- ~16/day
- 08:05–19:05
- Train types
- G
- Flight
- no flights — too short
It's about 2.5–3 hours for roughly ¥206 second class. The catch is the same as from Hangzhou: Huangshan North sits in Tunxi town, and the mountain gateway at Tangkou is roughly an hour further by bus. Build that hour into both ends of your day, and don't book a tight train back.
Should you take the train or fly?
Take the train. It’s about 2h 24m on the fastest direct services from Shanghai Hongqiao to Huangshan North, and up to about 3.5 hours on slower trains or ones routed through Hangzhou. Second class is roughly ¥206, first class about ¥330. Around 16 direct pairs run a day; more journeys are possible with a change at Hangzhou East.
Flying isn’t worth it — Tunxi’s airport is small, with few Shanghai flights, and the train wins door to door over this distance.
Stations, tickets and what to expect
The station is not the mountain. Trains run to Huangshan North (Huangshanbei), which sits in Tunxi, the modern town also branded “Huangshan City”. The mountain’s main entrance at Tangkou is roughly 60–70 km on, about an hour by bus. Direct buses leave from outside the station for the scenic area — budget that hour into both ends of your day, and don’t book a late return expecting to still be on the summit at 17:00.
Direct or via Hangzhou. Fully direct trains are limited. If the timing doesn’t work, take any fast train to Hangzhou East (Hangzhoudong) and change there onto the Hangzhou–Huangshan line — it adds a connection but roughly doubles your choice of departures.
Worth stopping for around the station. Tunxi Old Street is a short ride away, and the UNESCO water villages of Hongcun and Xidi are 30–45 minutes out. A common plan is the mountain plus a night in Hongcun.
Booking. Trip.com or the 12306 app, passport as the ID type, electronic ticket scanned at the gate. Second class is fine for the ride. Confirm fares and times on 12306 or Trip.com when you book.
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FAQ
Common questions
How long is the train from Shanghai to Huangshan?
About 2 hours 24 minutes on the fastest direct trains, and up to about 3.5 hours on slower services or those routed via Hangzhou. Around 16 direct pairs run daily, with more if you change at Hangzhou East.
How much does it cost?
Second class is about ¥206 (≈ $29). First class is around ¥330 and a business seat about ¥373.
Does the train go to Yellow Mountain itself?
No. It arrives at Huangshan North (Huangshanbei), in the town of Tunxi — officially 'Huangshan City'. The mountain's main gateway at Tangkou is roughly 60–70 km and about an hour further by bus. Direct buses run from the station; allow the extra hour each way.
Direct train or change at Hangzhou?
Both work. Fully direct Shanghai–Huangshan trains are limited to around 16 a day; if none suits your time, take any fast train to Hangzhou East and change there — it adds a step but widens the timetable.
What's near the station besides the mountain?
Tunxi Old Street is a short ride from Huangshan North, and the UNESCO villages of Hongcun and Xidi are about 30–45 minutes away. Many people combine the mountain with a night in one of the villages.
Should I fly?
No. Tunxi has a small airport with few Shanghai flights, and over this distance the train is faster and cheaper door to door.
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