Beijing, Shaghai and Guilin

Question

Hi,

I'm planning 14 days split between those destinations. I'm thinking of flying into Beijing getting the train to Guilin and again to Shanghai before flying back to the UK. Is that the best route/mode of transport??

Regards

Phil

Answer

Your proposed route—flying into Beijing, taking the train to Guilin, then continuing by train to Shanghai before flying back to the UK—is workable, but there are some important considerations regarding travel time and convenience.

Beijing to Guilin by high-speed train:

The distance is roughly 2,200 km, and the fastest high-speed trains take about 10–12 hours. Overnight sleeper trains are an alternative if you want to save daytime sightseeing hours.
Flying from Beijing to Guilin is much faster (around 3 hours flight time), which may give you more time to explore Guilin and avoid spending a full day on the train.

Guilin to Shanghai by train:

High-speed trains take about 10–11 hours. You could break this journey with a stopover, or again consider a 2–3 hour flight, which is faster but slightly more expensive.

Other considerations:

Trains are comfortable, with different classes (second class, first class, business class). Booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak travel periods.
If you prefer a more relaxed trip with maximum sightseeing time, a combination of flights for the long legs (Beijing→Guilin, Guilin→Shanghai) and trains for shorter regional journeys is ideal.
Air travel may also help avoid fatigue for a 14-day itinerary, especially if you want to spend full days exploring each city.

In summary, your route is feasible by train, but for efficiency and comfort, especially with a 14-day window, consider flying for Beijing→Guilin and Guilin→Shanghai, and using trains for local travel within the cities or shorter distances.

Beijing, Shaghai and Guilin

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