High level or not is meaningless to me.
To me: cheaper and faster or faster with same fare is better.
For example, HSR min fare from Shanghai - Beijing is 553 yuan ( hard seater) = 80 USD for 1300km in about 5 hours.
It's clear not cheaper and faster than a flight from Hanoi to Saigon at 40 USD ( by Jetstar Pacific ) or at 70 USD ( by Vietnam Airline - everybody know that's most expensive airliner in Vietnam ) for 1,300km ( by air ) in about 2 hours.
So if the air ticket for Shanghai - Beijing is about the same ( 553 ) you should choose airway over HSR. You save 3 hours.
Or if you feel comfortable with HSR in China ( cheaper than airline ), you would be more comfortable with airliner in Vietnam ( cheaper than HSR and faster ) during your trip in Vietnam
It's just for reference.
Could anyone tell me how much for a cheapest air ticket from Shanghai to Beijing? is it higher than HSR fare ?
To me, if air ticket in China much higher than HSR or delay too much, I would be happy to travel by HSR during my trip in China.
@sweetgrape : what we discussing here is which is the better means of transport in each country, and found the difference between each : speed, duration, fare ...
Do you know the good means of transport in some regions in Southern of Vietnam ?
83 kmph ( Greenline Catamaran powered by MTU dual engine)
Saigon - Vung Tau : 95 km, 1h 15m :