Beijing Travel Guide (Beijing, China)

From Beijing you can get just about anywhere in China via the extensive air and rail system. You'd be advised to buy a ticket a few days in advance, though, especially in the summer or around Spring Festival. Few visitors travel long distance by bus as it's less comfortable than the train and takes longer, though it has the advantage that you can usually just turn up and get on as services to major cities are frequent. Buy a ticket from the ticket office in the station, or on the bus itself. Tianjin and Chengde are two destinations within easy travelling distance, where the bus and the train have about the same journey time.