Getting Around

Getting around a Chinese city is easy. Buses, subways, taxis and bicycles are all great and relatively cheap ways to get around.


Bus

For most Chinese cities, buses are still the most effective ways to get around. Buses are cheap (usually around 1 RMB) and go to far more places than subways do. They are frequent and buses have no set schedule; just stand at the stop for a few minutes the bus you’re looking for will arrive.

Chinese buses can be incredibly crowded. During rush hour they can be jam packed so if you’re uncomfortable with this it’s best to avoid these times of day. Even during less busy times it might be difficult to find a seat.

Bus stops are written only in Chinese characters, even in big cities like Beijing. To know where the bus goes, you need to be able to read your destination in Chinese. You can also ask the driver if the best goes where you need to go by asking him “dao bu dao,” followed by the name of the place you want to go.

Most buses have a driver and at least one conductor. When you get on the bus, give your money to the conductor and they will give you a ticket. If the bus has no conductor, you can just deposit your money in the metal box at the front of the bus.

Keep in mind that it’s considered polite to offer your seat to a young child or old person when they get on the bus. Buses generally stop running at 10 PM or earlier, so make sure you know when the last bus comes.


Subway

Major subways systems exist in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and more are under construction in other cities. Subways can be an extremely convenient way to get around. They tend to be faster than buses since there is no traffic, and subway cars are frequent throughout the day.

Subway prices are different in each city, but they are always affordable and cheap by international standards.

Subways usually do not reach as many places as buses can, so for some destinations subways aren’t appropriate. During rush hours they can just as full as buses.

Subways are easy to navigate. There are signs and maps in English in subway stations that make finding your way simple.


Taxi

Taxis in China are very cheap compared to those in many other countries. Rides start anywhere from 5 to 12 RMB and a trip from one end of a city to another will usually not be more than 50 RMB. Taxis are usually easy to find unless it’s raining.

Taxis can be incredibly convenient, especially if you don’t know how to get where you’re going. They’re also a good way to get home if you stay out after buses and subways stop running.

While taxis are cheap, they can become expensive if you use them too much. Even if it is only a small amount of RMB for each ride, it can add up to a lot after a period of time.

Whenever you use a taxi, make sure the driver uses the meter. Don’t take illegal taxis; this can be dangerous. You can ask for the receipt by saying “fapiao” after you stop; this way if you leave something in the cab you can call the taxi company and tell them the cab’s registration number and get your lost things back.


Bicycle

Bicycles are very common and accepted form of transportation in China. A basic bicycle costs about 200 RMB and a good road bike costs less than 1000 RMB. Bicycle repairmen are easy to find so if you have a problem you’ll always be close to help.

Bicycles are cheap and convenient but be careful of traffic. Chinese traffic is different from that in many other countries. It is best to get a feel for how traffic works and what type of behavior is appropriate for bicyclists before you take your bike on a busy street.