Hi,
I'm traveling to Beijing in mid-April and want to travel a bit around. I'm thinking of going to Xian from Beijing, and then to Shanghai, before I head back to Beijing. Do you recommend buying train tickets in advance?

Also, as I have understood tickets are issued about 10 days prior to departure. Is it possible to receives the tickets at different hotels? For example get tickets to Xian and Shanghai in Beijing, and the ticket to Beijing in Shanghai? I wonder because I will be in China for more than ten days.

Thanks in advance :)