How to Transfer between Shanghai and Yichang: by Flight & Train
Most tourists combine a visit to Shanghai with the Yangtze River cruise. Shanghai is about 970km (1,110 km / 12 hours by car) to the east of the cruise port city - Yichang. To transfer from Shanghai to Yichang for an upstream cruise or from Yichang to Shanghai after a downstream cruise, you could choose the daily flights or bullet trains. To better plan your Shanghai Yangtze cruise trip in 2025, you can check this useful guide of Shanghai Yichang transportation to know details about the Shanghai Yichang map, flight and train schedules, travel tips, etc.
Shanghai Yichang Transportation Map
From Shanghai to Yichang
By Flight - Most Efficient
There are usually two flights every day taking off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Yichang Sanxia International Airport, with one in the early morning at 6:30 to 7:00 and another in the late afternoon at around 19:00. The whole journey takes about 2 - 2.5 hours. However, during off seasons (late October to February) , there is often only one flight, usually departing between 7:15 and 9:15, for about 2 hours.
Tips: better book a flight arriving in Yichang BEFORE 15:00, since the upstream Yangtze cruises to Chongqing board in Yichang at about 18:00 and the arranged tourist bus runs from 16:00 to 21:00.
By Bullet Train
There are 12 daily G and D trains from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station to Yichang East Railway Station, taking about 6.5 to 8.5 hours. They depart mostly in the morning from 6:00 to 9:30 and a few in the afternoon between 14:00 to 15:00.
Tips: better book a train arriving in Yichang BEFORE 16:00, for the upstream Yangtze cruises to Chongqing board in Yichang at about 18:00 and the arranged tourist bus runs from 16:00 to 21:00
From Yichang to Shanghai
By Flight - Most Efficient
Flights from Yichang to Shanghai take about 1 hour & 50 mins. Usually, 2 flights operate daily from Yichang Sanxia International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, at around 9:30 and 21:40. In off-season months (late October to February) , there's only one flight, departing at around 11:10.
Tips: better book a flight leaving Yichang AFTER 16:00, since the downstream Yangtze cruises from Chongqing arrive in Yichang at about 12:30-13:30.
Suggested Shanghai Airport Transfer:
You will land in Shanghai at night or even later, so you can hire a local taxi or choose our private transfer. You're highly suggested to contact us yangtze-river-cruises.com, which will offer safe, clean, comfortable, non-smoking, and air-conditioned private vehicles with experienced drivers and English-speaking tour guides as an important part of our tour packages.
By Bullet Train
There are 12 daily G and D trains departing during 6:45 - 15:00, from Yichang East Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station, taking about 6.5 to 9 hours.
Tips: better book a train leaving Yichang AFTER 14:30 for other cities, for the downstream Yangtze cruises from Chongqing arrive in Yichang at about 12:30-13:30.
Airports in Yichang and Shanghai
☆ Shanghai Pudong International Airport
• IATA Code: PVG
• ICAO Code: ZSPD
• Address: No. 6000,
Yingbin Road, Zhuqiao Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (上海市浦东新区祝桥镇迎宾大道6000号)
• From Shanghai Downtown: about 45km (1 hr by car; 1 hr 20 mins by metro)
☆ Yichang Sanxia International Airport
• IATA Code: YIN
• ICAO Code: ZHYC
• Address: Jichang
Road, Xiaoting District, Yichang (宜昌市猇亭区机场路)
• From Yichang Downtown: about 32km (30 mins by
car)
• From Maoping Port: about 80km (1.5 hrs by car)
• From Yichang Sanxia
Tourist Center: about 26km (35 mins by car)
Railway Stations in Yichang and Shanghai
☆ Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (most used)
• Address: No. 1500, Shengui Road, Minhang District, Shanghai (上海市闵行区申贵路1500号)
• From
Shanghai Downtown: about 25km (40 mins by car; 50 mins by metro)
☆ Shanghai Railway Station
• Address: No. 303, Moling Road, Jingan District, Shanghai (上海市静安区秣陵路303号)
• From
Shanghai Downtown: about 5km (20 mins by car)
☆ Yichang East Railway Station
• Location: No. 1, Dingzhan Road, Wujiagang District, Yichang (宜昌市伍家岗区东站路1号)
• From
Yichang Downtown: about 15km (20 mins by car)
• From Maoping Port: about 66km (1
hr by car)
• From Yichang Sanxia Tourist Center: about 11km (25 mins by car)
Yichang East Railway Station
How to Plan Shanghai Yangtze Cruise Tours
A classic Shanghai and Yangtze River cruise tour covers 2 days in Shanghai and 4 days for downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang, or 5 days for upstream cruise from Yichang to Chongqing .
Lujiazui in Shanghai
Besides, most travelers choose to extend 1 to 3 days in cyberpunk Chongqing to explore its best highlights. The whole journey takes 7 to 9 days.
Hongya Cave in Chongqing
For a classic China Yangtze trip, besides Shanghai, it's highly popular to include visits to the other two golden tourist cities in China - Beijing and Xian in your itinerary, which takes a total of about 12 days.
Forbidden City in Beijing
If you have more time, don’t miss a 2-day visit to Chengdu, home to cute giant pandas and a leisure city, and to discover the breathtaking scenery of Guilin (with Yangshuo) for 2 days.
Panda Base in Chengdu
Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin
Explore Shanghai and Yangtze Cruise with Us
Not sure how to travel Shanghai and Chongqing Yangtze River cruise? Look for a top-notch tour package? We www. yangtze-river-cruises.com are your trusted travel partner. Our expert guides will plan a seamless trip, taking optimal transport, time, and any requirements you may have into consideration. Besides, in Shanghai and Chongqing, our tour packages offer experienced drivers with comfortable private vehicles, carefully selected hotels, and all necessary attraction tickets. Each tour can be fully customized based on your group size, travel dates, fitness level, interests, budget, etc. Browse our tours or contact us directly for assistance or to create a personalized itinerary!
Our Customer Enjoying Yangtze Cruise Trip
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Questions & Discussions
Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.
Greetings from Skye at Yangtze-River-Cruises!
Thank you for your question!
As Chongqing West Railway Station is a new train station, there is now no subway available, and also the local bus needs over 1.5 hours from there to the city center and the port in Chongqing. So, the most convenient and time-saving way is to go by taxi. Normally, the President No.8 cruise stops at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port (朝天门码头) for your embarkation in Chongqing, which is located about 50 minutes from Chongqing West Railway Station by taxi. However, as your cruise is in August, which is among the flood season and the ship may not able to stop at Chongqing Chaotianemn Port. If so, the port for embarkation would be changed into Fengdu (丰都) at is about 2.5-3 hour's driving distance away from Chongqing downtown. However, as the cruise company will arrange buses to take you from Chongqing to Fengdu port, you just need to get to the gathering place at Chongqing Grand Theater (重庆大剧院) first to catch the arranged bus. Usually, it takes about 50~60 minutes from Chongqing West Railway Station to Chongqing Grand Theater by taxi.
Usually, the notice of whether change the port from Chaotianmen to Fengdu or not is to be informed one day in advance, so you can contact the travel expert that you booked the cruise tour to know details.
Furth more, we also offer the nice local transfer service to take you from the train station to the port or the gathering place in Chongqing, so if you are interested, please feel free to tell us directly!
Have a wonderful sailing holiday in China!
