New High-Speed Rail Route Cuts Beijing-Qingdao Travel Time to Under 3 Hours

It's the age-old question: The weekend rapidly approaches so should you a) pack a bag and head to Tianjin for a weekend "getaway" or b) suck it up and stick around town to do what you always do – party, brunch, and maybe fit in an exhibition? Well, our horizons have just broadened with the unveiling of a new Beijing to Qingdao high-speed rail route.

The new daily non-stop bullet train service takes just three hours to get to Qingdao, slashing the previous time of around five hours. It's also configured perfectly for weekend jaunts, departing (G206) Beijing South Station at 5.55pm and arriving in Qingdao North Station at 8.53pm. The return train (G205) leaves each night at 7.20pm and arrives at Beijing South at 10.18pm.

Economy seats for the trip cost RMB 336 each way or RMB 550 for first class.

With the new route, we are now in easy reach of beaches, breezy weather (summer temperatures rarely exceed 32 degrees), European architecture, boats to Korea and Japan, abundant parks, that China-renowned Shandong warmth, and unlimited amounts of Tsingtao beer straight from the source (and the annual International Beer Fest in August). Ganbei to that!

READ: Save Hundreds of Renminbi on Plane Tickets With This One Simple Travel Hack

Photo: Xinhua, Business Traveller