For me, I have too much time and too little money and for the past 2 years, whenever I need to go to singapore, taiwan or hong kong from shanghai, I will take the train.
20 hours of direct train ride from shanghai to hong kong, and vice versa, and from hong kong to singapore or taiwan, by plane.
Why? because its cheaper. hong kong somehow have cheaper air tickets (distance to costs ratio and also absolute amount).
Too long? well, a one way ticket is at most 558RMB, and most of the time, they give you a 10% discount.you decide if its worth it. but the way, a return ticket from shanghai to hong kong costs at least 2000RMB, and it's usually a 7 days ticket. if you need to stay out of china longer, good luck.
and although the train ride is long, the travelling time is reducing as china slowly improves on its railway system. the ride was 24 hours because trains of different routes are sharing many main railways. now as the planing of the trains schdules improves, its 20 hours as of today.
For those of you who are skeptical of the cleanliness of the train you are going to spend 20 over hours in, for the cheapest tickets, i would still say its clean. check out the pictures I have taken to show my friend to convince her not to pay extra money to airlines and tour agencies for them to have a mistress.
and once you solve the part to get to hong kong, you can try www.jetstarasia.com (to go singapore) and www.zuji.com (any other destinations) to get your cheap online tickets.
of coz, this way its cheaper only if your destination is south of shanghai and air tickets are available cheaper in hong kong. eg, its cheaper to fly to japan straight rather than from hong kong because japan is nearer to hong kong.
i am sure you can check the world map and find out.
Instead of spending money on travel agencies for them to get a mistress, save the money and get one yourself.
