Best way to get from Shanghai to Beijing + Shanghai hostel?

First time to China

I'm going to Beijing for a conference starting 3rd of April, but since its a monday thought I'd take the two non-working days before that and experience Shanghai. I get to Shanghai this sunday, stay there for a night or two and then head to Beijing (must get there by tuesday noon). I'd really appreciate any suggestions on:

1. Can I take an overnight train from Shanghai to Beijing? How long does it take and where can I buy the tickets?
2. Can anyone recommend a hostel/hotel (under $60) in a central location in Shanghai? Preferably near the Bund?

thanks,

Din

Hi -

when I lived in Shanghai last year, the night train to Beijing took about 13 hours. Buy the ticket at the railway station (it´s easy to get there on the Metro). I´m not 100% sure but I think a hard sleeper was just under 400 yuan in 2005.

Stay at Captain Hostel (they have a website where you can make a reservation - do, because they´re often full) It´s right on the Bund, the dorms are big and clean and it´s an excellent place to meet other travellers. Have fun and say hello to Shanghai for me!

Captain Hostel !!! tel :021-63235053
i'll go shanghai tomorrow. many train lead to beijing. hard sleeper just under 300.
but i suggest u buy the express train to beijing.faster and clean. start with "Z". under 500 for soft sleeper.

1) Yes, you definitely can. Let me know ASAP if you want help pre-buying the tickets, I went today (30/3) to get tickets for 1/4 and all that were left were soft sleeper upper bunks (466 RMB). The journey takes 12 hours overnight.
2) I presume you're talking about 60 USD? The best deal I've found so far for your criteria would be Ambassador Hotel, just had another TTer check out today after staying for 2 nights. Room with Bund view cost only 500 RMB! The hotel is on Jiujiang Lu, 1 street south of Nanjing Lu, and really a few steps away from the Bund.
Cheers!

CHeck out the Hikers Hostel, not far from the bund. They have a web site. There is a railway ticket agency very close to the hostel, (The helpful staf will direct you), and an easy bus ride to the railway station. T I think we paid 140 yuan ($20) about a year ago.

1. With so little time, FLY.
   To save on "collateral" costs you can bus from City to Hong Qui Airport in Shanghai and bus from Beijing International Airport to 'downtown'. Your hostel/hotel manager can get your the airticket for a small fee OR 'go direct' using eLong or CTRIP.
   
   2. I recommend IYHA Hikers near Henan Station in SHanghai. I walked to the Bund almost everyday when I stayed for 10 days.
   
   Good luck.

#4, Hiker IYH has their OWN website already?
#5, Henan Zhonglu metro stop ("Henan station") has been renamed as Nanjing Donglu metro stop.
Airport mentioned in #5 is Hongqiao airport.
Cheers!

Avoid Blue Mountain Hostel.

We booked it through hostelworld as the reviews looked good, but we have been very much disappointed. It is a Hostelling International hostel, which we tend to avoid as we prefer smaller more local feeling places, but I do admit that HI hostels tend to have excellent facilities.... Blue Mountain has neither a nice feel, or good facilities.

It seems that they are slowly sorting the place out, so half of it looks OK, but the other half (that we are in) is like a poor quality hotel. The first room we were put in was dirty (both the room and the bathroom) with wallpaper peeling off the walls, but having stayed at dirtier places we just thought we'd put up with it. Unfortunately on our first morning there the workmen started. As the hostel is being renovated, workmen arrive at before 8am and proceed to hammer, drill, lathe and god knows what else right out side our window (which looked out onto a communal balcony. Note that this is work being carried out BY THE HOSTEL. If it was next door or above etc. I wouldn't be that bothered, but these guys work for the hostel, but still arrive before 8am and make loads of noise right outside the window (and I'm talking RIGHT OUTSIDE - if the curtains were open they could watch me trying to sleep if they wanted too).

After a couple of days we couldn't take it anymore, so demanded to change rooms, and thankfully the new room was at the front of the hostel away from the workmen, so peace came at last. Unfortunately, it came at the price of electricity, as our new room only has one working power supply which is in the bathroom, which means if we need power for anything we have to go into the corridor outside. Along with that, the toilet doesn't flush properly, leaving it a gamble as to whether you'll be left with a red face following a... err... deposit.

Finally, we have just come back from a day out to find that our key card lock is broken, so to get into the room we have to ask at reception every time. Top it of with the fact that the computers are rubbish, a lot of the staff would rather watch films on the customer computers than help you out, and that the outside drinks are banned from the massively overpriced (10 yuan for a beer that cost 3 yuan at the shop over the road) lounge area, and it has to be the biggest let down of a hostel ever. I'm so mad, I'm even writing this from one of their own computers... I couldn't wait until I left to vent my rage.

Hostelling International.... If you read this.... You might want to think again about putting your name to this place.

With the 5 subway lines being so convenient, I doubt that you need to restrict your accommodation options so close to the Bund. We were up at the Bund most days (mainly passing through or taking obligatory photos), but stayed near a Line 3/4 subway station for a bit of peace, quiet and sanity, and for more travel options within Shanghai.

Never even felt the urge to pop up to the garden cities of Hangzhou or Suzhou - how's that?

: )

Personally I would opt for somewhere on lines 1 and 2 instead of lines 3 and 4. Those lines close so goddamn early for a city like Shanghai, and the trains are also much less frequent.
Cheers!