The Shanghai Railway Station is the main train station in Shanghai.  Trains to and from every part of China depart, arrive, and pass through Shanghai Station, including destinations such as Beijing, Qingdao, Harbin, Chengdu, Nanjing, or nearby Mount Huang (Huangshan).  If you are travelling locally, to the west or to the north, then this should be the first station you should check for tickets.

 

This station is located in the northern part of Shanghai, and subway lines 1, 3 and 4 all meet at a massive interchange located below the railway station itself.  The central long-distance bus station is located within sight of the northwest corner of the train station.  Needless to say, there are also many many local bus routes that stop at this station.

 

 

Ticket offices are scattered in every direction.  There are English speaking staff available in the main ticket office which is to the east of the station and across the street.  There are also English speaking staff at the ticket office on the south face of the train station.  If you exit the station and want to figure out which way is which, just remember that the main face of the building (shown in the picture above) is facing south.

 

Most people enter the station from the South entrance but it is also possible to enter from the north.  To get from the north side of the station to the south side of the station or vice-versa, cross under the station through a very long and crowded subway tunnel on the east part of the station square.  The subway tunnel is clearly marked.  If you have a ticket you can also cross through the station directly.

 

Small stores which will store baggage day are also scattered around the station.  A typical price for storing a large bag for an afternoon is 20 yuan.

 

 

Shanghai South Railway Station is located in the southwest part of Shanghai along subway lines 1 and 3.  It runs on a separate rail line which approaches Shanghai from the southwest.

 

 

The relatively small Shanghai West Railway Station is positioned on the same rail line as Shanghai Railway Station.  Most trains that leave from here go to nearby locations such as Nanjing, Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou, but some trains also pass through Shanghai West Station on their way to Beijing and Guangzhou.