RESERVES - Narratives (Details)	Dec. 31, 2019
RESERVES [abstract]
Percentage of revenue from freight transportation services used to calculate Safety Production Fund	1.00%
Percentage of revenue from passenger transportation, dangerous goods delivery business and other special services used to calculate Safety Production Fund	1.50%

The percentage of standard salary set by provincial government in defined contribution pension scheme.

No definition available.

Name:	gsh_PercentageOfRevenueFromPassengerTransportationDangerousGoodsDeliveryBusinessAndOtherSpecialServicesUsedToCalculateSafetyProductionFund
Namespace Prefix:	gsh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant