China’s trains are punctual, efficient and comfortable as long as you book yourself a soft seat or bed (ruanzuo/ruanwo), rather than the hard versions (yingzuo/yingwo), which can be noisy, crowded and smelly. Although they do not run within Shanghai city itself, the rail networks to other cities and provinces are comprehensive. Most offer overnight services in which you can choose between a hard-sleeper and a soft-sleeper ticket. A hard-sleeper ticket will offer you a bed in a doorless, six-berth compartment with triple bunks on either side. The lowest bunk (xiapu) is the most expensive as it offers the most room, but be warned that your bed may be invaded during the day by others using it as a seat. At half the price of soft-sleeper tickets, hard sleepers are extremely popular so be sure to book them a day or two in advance. The average price of a hard sleeper ticket from Shanghai to Beijing is ¥300. Soft sleeper tickets offer a bed in an enclosed, lockable four berth cabin. The average price from Shanghai to Beijing is ¥500.
Most trains arrive and depart from either the main Shanghai Railway Station or the relatively new Shanghai South Railway Station. For timetables and further information on rail travel, visit www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains. To buy tickets, either queue up at Shanghai Railway Station's ticket office (counter 10 has some English speaking staff), Shanghai South Railway Station's ticket office (5110 5110), or visit a ticket office in the city like the one at 121 Xizang Nan Lu, Luwan (6374 3856). Tickets can be reserved online at www.huochepiao.com (Chinese only) or www.china-train-ticket.com.