Will be in Shanghai next week, but need to be back in Beijing on Friday to catch a early morning flight on Saturday.
So I decided on taking the HSR from Shanghai to Beijing.

Couple of questions:
1. In Beijing, I will be arriving at - Beijing South Raiway Station, correct?
Thats not too bad, I can just take the 4 line to Xidan then line 1 to my hotel.

2. I figure arriving in Beijing around 8pm is good. This allows me to have a relaxing morning in Shanghai and still get into Beijing early enough for dinner near the hotel.
I am thinking of one of these trains:
G42, G144, G146, G18 - any recommendations? I think G18 might be the best choice.


I might try the moondog move on the train:
My SOP is to go straight to car 9 (dining car), get a good table, and hang out there until I hit Nanjing (southbound) or Jinan (northbound), and then plop myself in a first class seat for the rest of the journey.

I think I will go to my hotel concierge tomorrow morning and ask them to purchase the ticket for me.