There is a relatively new bullet train between Beijing and Shanghai now. Something like 5 hours point to point.
Makarov has awesome Beijing suggestions. Watch out for the Chinese girls wanting to speak English with you around tourist areas. Do not follow them or show them where you stay.
Xian is big, dirty and smelly. Unless you truly love history, I wouldn't spend more than 4 days there. Good stuff to see, but the city itself? Ugh.
|