hi, I have just travelled through china. In facted i travelled from Vientiane in Lao through Vietnam, China and into Mongolia all on local transport. Trains are the cheapest option in my experience and the fastest way. For sure there is a train from Xian to Beijing i caught it and cost i think 150Yen (15pound) and took 15hours abouts. There also a train from Shanghi to Xian as i heard people who had been on it. The only problem you will encore is not many people at all speak English. I meet a Chinese girl at the beginning of my travels in my hostel and she very kindly wrote all my destinations down A to B on paper and i just passed it the ticket office. I travel on hard seat on the trains its the cheapest way by far. Its where the locals also travel and you will get funny looks as your the only western there. Maybe you could ask somebody in Hong Kong to write down for you you itinerary for you as i believe they read the same as China they just speak in different language. Good luck have fun

Hi, for trains, you can search the train from one city to another by the China Train Search Tool(https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/), it is very helpful. Yes, Mr. Ben Woodhouse is right, better find someone and write the destinations in Chinese, that will make it easier for you to buy train tickets.

What's mor, if possible, please consider taking flights to finish this tour since your time is urgent. The train from Hong Kong to Shanghai will take you about 18 hours and then over 12 hours respectively from Shanghai to Xian and Xian to Beijing.

Ms. Shona,

I returned from China three weeks ago. Traveled through Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing. I agree with Mr. Ben very few people speak english. It is very difficult to get directions. I would recommend for you to get you a tour from this website. They took me everywhere. The tour was excellent I pick some extras and remove some of the thinks they recommended. Every minute was wisely use. They put me on the plane from one city to other usually late in the evening in the plane dinner was serve and after arrival tour guide was waiting for me to take me to the hotel. Hotels was also arrange by the tour company. The tour company get discounts for all attractions and for the hotels too. Remember your money will go long way in China.