China Routes: Getting From A to B
Specific routes with real departure frequencies, journey times and what each option costs.
01
Beijing To Shanghai: High-Speed Rail Vs Flying, With Real Numbers
Take the train unless your onward flight leaves from Pudong.
02
Beijing To Xi’an: 4h30 By Train, And The Station Trap
Book to Xi’an North, then ride metro line 2 straight into the walled city.
03
Shanghai To Hangzhou: A Day Trip That Genuinely Works
Take an 08:00 train from Hongqiao, and book the return while you are still at breakfast.
04
Shanghai To Suzhou: 25 Minutes, Two Stations, One Wrong Choice
Book to Suzhou station, not Suzhou North, and start with the Humble Administrator’s Garden.
05
Chengdu To Chongqing: Two Cities, Ninety Minutes, Two Kinds Of Day
Ninety minutes apart, and completely different cities. Do them in that order.
06
Xi’an To Chengdu: Three Hours Through The Qinling Mountains
Three hours, ¥263.50, and the best mountain scenery of any Chinese high-speed route.
07
Guilin To Yangshuo: River, Rail Or Road
Take the boat down once and the bus back — and check where Yangshuo station actually is.
08
Beijing Airports To The City: Capital, Daxing And What Each Costs
The express train is ¥25 or ¥35 and beats a taxi at any hour except the middle of the night.