Beijing - Xian - Dali by Train How Long Will It Take? Help!

Hello,

Me and a friend are going to Beijing in less than a month. We would like to know if it is possible/realistic to do:-

Beijing - Xian - by train

Xian - Dali - by train

Dali - Lijiang - by bus?

Kunming - Shanghai - by plane

Shanghai - Beijing - by train

We are traveling for 20 days and would like to stay in each destination for 2 - 4 days. We are also thinking about Chongqing and Huang Shan but we don%26#39;t think we have the time.

Also, where can I find good information about Chinese trains. All the websites I have looked at have very limited information and are not very helpful at all.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Beijing - Xian - Dali by Train How Long Will It Take? Help!

Beijing - Xian - by train YES

Xian - Dali - by train NO - too far - probably best to fly to Kunming then train to Dali.

Dali - Lijiang - by bus? YES

Kunming - Shanghai - by plane YES

Shanghai - Beijing - by train YES

www.seat61.com/China.htm for more info about trains

Beijing - Xian - Dali by Train How Long Will It Take? Help!

Thanks

your traveling plan is great. but please check the follow best route and decide if you have time to add Chongqing or Huangshan. I think Huangshan would be OK.

D1--D4: Beijing 4 days 3 nights is enough. and then at evening of the 4th day take by train from Beijing to Xian (1200km) lasting about 11 hours. stay on the train

D5--D7: Xian 2 days 1 night is OK. and take by train K165 (22:18--15:00) from Xian to Kunming (1891km) lasting about 40 hours 42 minutes. there are NO train from Xian to Dali. Take by train is long way. So suggest you take by flight from Xian to Kunming and then take by night train from Kunming to Dali (360km) lasting about more 8 hours. On D7 in Xian take by flight to Kunming and then take by night train to Dali.

D8--D12: Dali 1 day 1 night and Lijiang 2 day 1 night would be OK. at morning of D8 arrive in Dali. D9 take by bus from Dali to Lijiang lasting about 4 hours. Hutiao Gorge (The Tiger Leaping Gorge) where is NOT far away from Lijiang is a must to see. At evening D12 take by night train from Dali back to Kunming.

D13 arrive in Kunming and take by flight to Shanghai.

D14--D16; Shanghai 4 days 3 nights is enough. and then at evening of D16 take by night train N418 (22:35--10:00) from Shanghai to Huangshan (672km) lasting about 11 hours 25 minutes. stay on the train

D17--D19: on D17 arrive in Huangshan 3 days 2 nights is OK. and then on the morning of D19 take by train K46 (09:21--05:07) from Huangshan to Beijing (1533km) lasting about 19 hours 48 minutes. stay on the train.

D20 arrive in Beijing.

Hi,

Just worked out and guided for Lexis Ledger, Emma Stimpson and Stewart Mackay who come from Bedfordshire of England. Their trip is Beijing, Luoyang, Xian, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai from 21 Feb to 8 March 2009.

Would you want to know their experience during their trip in China?

your traveling plan is great. but please check the follow best route and decide if you have time to add Chongqing or Huangshan. I think Huangshan would be OK.

D1--D4: Beijing 4 days 3 nights is enough. and then at evening of the 4th day take by train from Beijing to Xian (1200km) lasting about 11 hours. stay on the train

D5--D7: Xian 2 days 1 night is OK. and take by train K165 (22:18--15:00) from Xian to Kunming (1891km) lasting about 40 hours 42 minutes. there are NO train from Xian to Dali. Take by train is long way. So suggest you take by flight from Xian to Kunming and then take by night train from Kunming to Dali (360km) lasting about more 8 hours. On D7 in Xian take by flight to Kunming and then take by night train to Dali.

D8--D12: Dali 1 day 1 night and Lijiang 2 day 1 night would be OK. at morning of D8 arrive in Dali. D9 take by bus from Dali to Lijiang lasting about 4 hours. Hutiao Gorge (The Tiger Leaping Gorge) where is NOT far away from Lijiang is a must to see. At evening D12 take by night train from Dali back to Kunming.

D13 arrive in Kunming and take by flight to Shanghai.

D14--D16; Shanghai 4 days 3 nights is enough. and then at evening of D16 take by night train N418 (22:35--10:00) from Shanghai to Huangshan (672km) lasting about 11 hours 25 minutes. stay on the train

D17--D19: on D17 arrive in Huangshan 3 days 2 nights is OK. and then on the morning of D19 take by train K46 (09:21--05:07) from Huangshan to Beijing (1533km) lasting about 19 hours 48 minutes. stay on the train.

D20 arrive in Beijing.

WOW! Thanks travelingislife2008,

This is really helpful. I would like to know their experience during their trip in China. That would be great!

Also, how would I go about booking all the train tickets. If we are only staying in each place for a few days and we should book in advance?

Do you recommend a good website or travel advisor?

From April traveling in China become high season. So you have to book train tickets in advance 10 or 20 days. please check your private message for getting know their experience.

You always have to book trains in advance in China if you want hard or soft sleeper.

You can use expensive online agents (see seat61 for some), or there are agents who will PM on forums like here. Some might be ok, while others are not; either way I would not give them any money in advance.

Most people get around the problem you have by being flexible. First try to get the hotels in places you are staying to book tickets for you. If they cannot get a ticket for you, either fly (longer journeys) or catch a bus (Kunming - Dali, Shanghai - Huangshan).