TRANSPORTATION IN CHINA
Date Modified: 07.13.2008
Content: Information on transportation in China
Source: Wikipedia
By Plane
China has many domestic flights to all the major cities and tourist destinations.
Prices for domestic flights are set at standard rates, but discounts are common, especially on the busier routes. Most good hotels will have a travel ticket service and will be able to save you 15%-70% off the price of tickets. Even before considering discounts, traveling by plane in China is not expensive. In general it is best to try and buy tickets for domestic travel while in China. Overseas, especially online, vendors often charge much higher rates.
By Train
Maglev train in Shanghai
Train travel is the major mode of long-distance transportation for the Chinese themselves, with an extensive network of routes covering the entire country. Roughly a quarter of the world's total rail traffic is in China.
China is in the process of building a network of high-speed trains, similar to French TGV or Japanese bullet trains. These trains are already in service on several routes. They are called CRH and train numbers have a "D" prefix. For more detail, see High-speed rail in China.
At busy times tickets sold at the train station sell out rapidly. It may be better to get tickets in advance through an agent. In cities like Beijing there are also agents who sell train tickets in the normal timeframe with a nominal markup. The convenience of avoiding a trip to the train station is well worth the small increase in cost.
On the regular non-CRH trains there are five classes of travel:
hard seats
soft seats
hard sleepers
soft sleepers
standing
Traveling by public city buses or long distance buses is inexpensive and ideal for in-city and short distances transportation.
Local public city buses start at around RMB1 and can be quite packed during rush hour. More modern buses with air conditioning start at RMB2. Fares are sometimes marked on the outside of bus doors or beneath the cash slot inside. No change is provided unless there is a ticket conductor. The price of the fare increases for longer distance trips to as much as RMB5 or more.
Sleeper Buses
Sleeper buses are common in China; instead of seats they have bunk beds. These are a good way to cover longer distances — overnight at freeway speeds is 1000 km or more — but they are not all that comfortable for large or tall travelers.
You have to remove your shoes as you enter the bus; a plastic bag is provided to store them. If there are food or restroom stops, you put the shoes back on. If you normally travel in boots, it is worth getting a pair of kung fu slippers to make this easy.
Coaches
or long-distance buses, differ drastically and can be a reasonably comfortable or very unpleasant experience. Coaches originating from larger cities on the east coast tend to be air conditioned with soft seats or sleepers. The roads are very good and the ride is smooth, allowing you to enjoy the view or take a snooze. Coaches are often a better, though more expensive option than trains. Bus personnel tend to try to be helpful, but they are much less familiar with foreigners than airline personnel and English ability is very rare. Some coaches have toilets, but they are frequently dirty and using them can be difficult as the bus turns a corner and water in the basin splashes around.
By Subway
Major cities — at least Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing — have a subway system. Chongqing has a monorail system. Most of these systems are being expanded, and new ones are under construction (as of mid-2006) in other cities such as Hangzhou and Xian. Generally these are modern, clean and efficient. The signs and ticket machines are in both English and Chinese.
By Taxi
Taxis are generally common, and reasonably priced. Flagfalls range from RMB5 in some cities to RMB12 in others, with a km charge around RMB2. In most situations, expect between RMB10 and RMB50 for an ordinary trip within the city. There is no extra charge for luggage, but in many cities rates are a bit higher at night.
By Bicycle
Bikes are the most common form of transportation in China; at rush hour almost anywhere in China there will be thousands of them. Most are traditional heavy single-speed roadsters, but basic multi-geared mountain bikes are pretty common as well. For the traveller, bicycles can be a cheap, convenient means of transport that is better than being squeezed into a public bus for hours on end.
By Motorcycle
See also: Driving in China Motorcycles
Motorcycle taxis are common, especially in smaller cities and rural areas. They are usually cheap and effective but somewhat scary. The fares are negotiable.
>> Teach in China - Find jobs teaching English in China
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MORE INFORMATION ON TRANSPORTATION IN CHINA
Air France China
Information on ticket prices and availability, schedules, ticket purchase and information on the company's frequent flyer program. Covers China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
http://www.airfrance.com.cn
China Ticket Online
Online ticketing service for Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Air and train tickets, concerts, and sports events.
http://www.piao.com.cn/en_piao/
Train from Beijing to Shanghai
Train from Beijing to Shanghai, highlighting the nice Z-trains.
http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20040801_train_from_beijing_to_shanghai.htm
China Train Schedule
Train schedule search service for those planning their train trip through China.
http://www.cnvol.com
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