Hi, I hope to purchase all my rail tickets through your website for my 3 week trip

around china in April 2013 but could you let me know a few questions / concerns.

1. can the tickets be bought and posted to me in UK in advance of my holiday? if so when? I have my plane tickets booked already, so for me the earlier the better.
2. how can i apply for my china single entry visa by post without the plane ticket and hotel reservations copies if i wish to apply early to china embassy?
3. will the tickets sent be exactly what i ask for (ie - scheduled to catch the 08.30 train but no tickets left so have to get the 20.50 instead) as this will throw out my itinerary.

Regards - Richard