Is that $600 total, or $600 each way? If the latter, I dare say it's not a very good deal, as long as US continues to sell miles for 1.75 cpm (used to be 1.2 cpm).

Like I said, I've flown in coach, and I've flown in Biz, though the last two trips were in coach because I didn't try to get an u/g. And the u/g isn't guaranteed unless there is R availability, so it usually clears at the airport And with my elite earning I get the miles back after the trip, so it's a wash.

OK, technically my last trip to PVG was in Biz as UA oversold the flight and upgraded elites, but the flight back was Cancelled Got to fly Air China to KIX and 777 to SFO, where buy up was "only" $250 and 25K miles, but it was the old stlyle barcolounger Biz seat, so I passed and grabbed the only exit row seat left.

EmailKid

+1

Looks like I have the go-ahead. My provisional itinerary is as follows (April 14 - 27):

1) Arrive in PVG on Sunday afternoon.
2) Business (Mo - Fri). Most likely, hosts will organize a surprise half-day excursion sometime during the week.
3) Friday afternoon and Saturday to explore Shanghai.
4) Travel on Sunday morning to Xi'an for two nights.
5) Sunday afternoon, visit old Xi'an.
6) Monday morning visit the Terracotta Warriors, old Xi'an in the afternoon.
7) Travel to Beijing on Tuesday morning.
8) Tu - Fri to visit Forbidden Palace, Great Wall, etc. (suggestions?)
9) Flying home Saturday afternoon.

What do you think?

I think your plan is fine. For individual city touring plans, do a little search through this forum to get some ideas for what has been previously recommended. if you need to make domestic air arrangements for this, hold off a bit until early March. April flights with discounts should be in the system then. Post #2 of our Master Transportation Thread has more on this, including links to online agents you should use for booking. You may also want to try a Sunday morning bullet train from Xi'an to Beijing. The journey won't take you that much longer than the overall airport sequence.

Do a little more research on specific sights in each city and if you have more questions on what sights to choose, how to arrange them, etc., then post queries later. You have plenty of time to work this out.

I think you mean the Tuesday morning bullet train
If you think that days spend in Beijing or Xi'an is not enough, I could always take the Saturday away from Shanghai. I just don't know how much free time I will have during the work week. Also, depending on what the "surprise excursion" will encompass. I will know more about that in a month or so.

Tuesday, yes! I must have been having a deranged moment there....

Thanks for the answers so far.

It seems the bullet trains takes 5.5 hours (according to seat61) while the plane is almost 2 hours. Considering that I cannot read nor speak Chinese, I am not comfortable to wait until the last moment and buy a ticket at the train station. I guess I will need to stick with air travel.

While the Xi'an-Beijing train doesn't appear to be as fast as the JingHu line (otherwise, it wouldn't take 5.5 hours to go a shorter distance), the train is definitely worth trying at least once, and you can entertain yourself on your phone/tablet during the journey (no wifi on Chinese airlines yet). As far as buying tickets is concerned, your hotel can hook you up, or I'd be happy to do so myself (assuming I'm in SH during your trip).

On time sequence: you're not comparing the entire journey. Xi'an city to the airport can be as much as 1.5 hours' drive, then you need to be at the airport for check-in and security, an hour ahead. So that's 2 to 2.5 hours there, plus the flight, plus getting from PEK into town to your hotel (45-60 minutes depending on location). All total, you're looking at about a 5.5 hour sequence and that's if there are no air traffic or weather delays on either end...which is not a good bet to take with PEK as an origin or destination, where hour-long delays are routine. By comparison, the train station (Xi'an North) is in the city, as is BJ South station. Say 30 minutes in each city to get to/from station to hotel, plus arrive at station in Xi'an about 20 minute' before departure, and you're looking at total of less than 7 hours' sequence with almost zero chance of delay or weather disruption.

As to ticketing, why do you think you need to speak or read Chinese to get a ticket? The ticket for Xi'an-Beijing can be advanced purchased in Shanghai where you have host, colleague, or hotel to assist you, if you don't feel you can manage the purchase on your own.

Didn't know the airport in Xi'an is that far from town.
How about price? Is the bullet train competitively priced compared to air travel?

Same ballpark (around $90).

Yes, Xi'an airport is quite far from the central city, even by Chinese standards. Even with a lead foot driver and little traffic at midnight, it takes a full hour.

Economy plane ticket:
--Full price with tax, RMB 1230. (USD195)
--Typical discounted price with tax, RMB 600-900. (USD 95-140). Sometimes you can do a bit better, depends on exact travel date. Assumes purchase about 4-6 weeks ahead of travel on ctrip, elong, travelzen.

And I want to amend my post #25 above. Arrival on Bullet trains from Xi'an will be at Beijing West Station, not Beijing South.

G Bullet Train ticket:
--First class, RMB 825 (USD 135).
--Second class, RMB 515 (USD 85).

I found some photos online of the Xi'an North train station and the G-class carriages. Looks really nice. I am now warming up to taking the train
Do you think first class is worth the $50 difference? In Europe I always travel first class on AVE/ICE/TGV because I like the quietness and service compared to the overcrowded and noisy 2nd class.

Edit to add: There also seem to be "business class" seats on G-trains.

The "business class" (or VIP) seats are more premium than "first class" (yes, reverse of airline terminology). They are not worth the money.

As to first vs second class on this G train, I think you'll find it comparable to the situation in Europe as to population-density. But if you think Chinese first class will be club-lounge quiet and/or have no kids/families/noisy conversationalists, well it ain't so. On journeys of this length, I'd probably go for the first class unless budget is really tight. Go first if you're a physically big/tall person, the seats are roomier than first class on a flight. Second class train seat is perfectly surviveable though, if you'd prefer to spend your cash on a great meal or a nice massage in Beijing (like me!).