Traveling by train, one can reach almost anywhere in China and even other destinations in Europe and Asia such as Moscow and Ulanbator.
Some of the major domestic routes include:
Beijing to Shanghai: normally about 14 hours overnight.
Beijing to Guangzhou: normally about 30 hours.
Beijing to Harbin: normally less than 20 hours.
Beijing to Xi’an: normally less than 10 hours.
There are three train stations in Beijing, the main station, Xizhimen Station and the West Station, although most trains to major cities use the Beijing West Station; Xizhimen Station is the north station of Beijing, including some short-travel trains to Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province , etc., and also some excursion trains start their routes here.The easiest way to get to the main station is to take the subway. A taxi from the Forbidden City should cost approximately RMB 20-40. There is a foreigner ticketing office in the station (in the soft-seat waiting room) and most hotels will also arrange tickets for you (for a charge).
The number of the hotline for ordering the train tickets: 010-26688688; The ordering number for the train tickets in a group: 010-65128930.

The Tourist Special Train

Every day, there are some tourist special trains departed regularly from Beijing railway stations to scenery spots in the suburb of Beijing. The outing train ticket during the holiday could be purchased at Beijing Railway Station, Beijing North Station, Beijing South Station and International Travel Agency of Beijing Railway System. In these three railway stations and other train stops, the green access has been installed respectively, and you could pull in directly.
And buy the tickets after getting on the train, either buying at the station in advance. If more than 10 tourists prefer to purchase the tickets in a group, they can ring up to the station and make a reservation 3 to 10 days ahead of time. The Telephone number for ordering the tickets is 010-65636733.

You could get the entrance tickets of the traveling spots in the designated ticket office at the railway station, and need not buy again after arriving at the scenery areas. Besides, you could take the outing trains starting from Beijing Railway Station, Beijing North Station, and Beijing South Station free of charge drawing on your entrance ticket