This Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, explore some of northern China cities accessible via high-speed trains from Beijing. Mu Qian gives you some tips.

With the rapid expansion of China's high-speed rail network, cities that were considered far from Beijing are now only a short ride away. Taking trains that run at speeds up to 350 km per hour, you will find China smaller than it used to be.

China already has the world's longest high-speed rail network, with about 9,300 km of routes in service. The fast and convenience of online ticket booking, and brand-new mall-style of high-speed rail stations make train rides enjoyable, in contrast to the dreadful image associated with Chinese railways in the past.