Hong Kong to Shanghai shipping route.

Ships leaving Hong Kong for Shanghai head north east and cover a sea distance of 844 nautical miles (1,563 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 1,246 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals on this leg, the extra miles come from sailing around headlands and islands.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 2.5 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 2.9 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 2.0. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Hong Kong and Shanghai to plan the full ocean transit time.

Container freight rates on Hong Kong to Shanghai move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Shanghai (CNSHA) carriers give about 6 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 63 port to port routes from Hong Kong in this directory, Shanghai is the 5th shortest. Closer destinations include Ningbo (730 nm), Manila (660 nm) and Haiphong (556 nm).