Shanghai to Beijing

Hi,

I was wondering does anyone have any comments/opinions on how easy or difficult it is to travel from Shanghai to Beijing on your own whilst not speaking any mandarin?

I was thinking of stopping along the way at places such as Nanjiing, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Xian, Luoyang, Pingyao and Datong.

Would this be much of a challenge logistically speaking?

Thanks

Shanghai to Beijing

The places you mention are mostly not really between Shanghai and Beijing. Suzhou is usually a day trip from Shanghai.

You can easily travel from Shanghai to Beijing by train or plane without stops in between.

You can visit Datong, Pingyao and Luoyang on the way to Xi%26#39;an from Beijing (not from Shanghai).

You can do it without speaking Chinese--you do need a good guide book and a phrase book.

Sometimes you need to point at the Chinese characters in a guidebook or on a map to let a taxi driver know where you want to go.

You will find that tourist places usually have some signs in English--enough to buy tickets and get around.

Use hotels to help buy train and plane tickets.

This is not a super-easy trip, but can be done.

Shanghai to Beijing

Not too easy but manageable. Bring a Mandarin phrasebook, Rough Guide%26#39;s Mandarin is good.

No need to go to Zhengzhou except as a transit hub.

If you want help sorting out itinerary, train schedules etc, email me at ellyse99@yahoo.com with ';TripAdvisor baba2'; in the subject line. I%26#39;m studying in Shanghai and have travelled extensively in mainland China for the past 3.5 years.