Beijing Transportation Tips by honestjohn

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: By Bicycle
China used to be called the sea of bicycles and in Beijing today the bike is still a convenient vehicle for most people. Renting a bike may be a better way for you to see this city at your own pace. You can rent a better bike in your hotel and pay 20-30RMB for a day's rent, with a certain amount of money for the deposit first.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: By Taxi
It's very easy to hail a taxi anywhere in Beijing. And a taxi is the preferred transportation choice for most foreigners, because it isn't expensive and it is quite easy to hail one. The taxi charges 10RMB for the first tour within 4 or 5 kilometers and 1.2, 1.6 or 2RMB thereafter per kilo. The bridge and road tolls will be paid by passengers. For a journey that takes longer than 10 kilo or running after 23:00, the fares will be charged at 50% more. When in a taxi, make sure the meter is on. Before getting off, make sure you ask for a receipt (shou ju in Chinese) with the taxi's number on, in case of any complaint. Most drivers don't understand English, so write down your destination in Chinese beforehand. For taxi complaints, ring 68351150.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Most visitors, Chinese or foreigners will find the subway train clean, fast and relatively comfortable, except during weekends or rush hours, when the subway train is very crowded. The subway runs every 4 or 5 minutes daily from 5:00 to 22 or 23:00, according to different first stations and the fare is 3RMB per ride for any distance. There are two subway lines in Beijing: one runs under Chang'an Avenue and its line extends from Sihuidongzan in the east to Pingguoyuan in the west; another one circles under the northern part of the Second Ring Road. You can transfer between these lines at Fuxingmen station and Jianguomen station with no transfer fee.

To find a subway entrance, you can study your map first, to see which intersection is the nearest station. At each station there are usually four entrances in four directions. Then you should look for a large blue sign with letters BD inside a circle. If you still can not find it, you may ask a Chinese "di tie". Then walk down stairs to enter a station and go to get the ticket. The tickets are sold above the platform. When going down to the platform, hand your ticket to the checker at the top of the stairs. On both tunnel walls of the platform, you can see signs and maps in Chinese and Pinyin indicating the next station and helping you to decide which subway train to take. Over the door inside the train you also can find complete system maps in Chinese and Pinyin, and an announcement tells you the name of the next station both in Chinese and English. So if you find you are on the wrong way, you can just get off at the next station, (It usually takes about 4 or 5 minutes to travel between stations.), and get on the train running to the opposite direction. No transfer fee will be charged.

Here I put a complete subway system map for you.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Beijing Airport
http://www.bcia.com.cn/en/index.jsp
Shuttle Bus at Beijing Airport
http://www.bcia.com.cn/en/passengers_Land_airport_page.html
Map of the Shuttle bus route
http://www.bcia.com.cn/en/photo/bashi_map.html

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: (Updated in June 2005)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trains run between Beijing and Shanghai
Beijing->Shanghai
T103 Start off at 19:51 Arrive at 9:23 next day
T109 Start off at 19:43 Arrive at 9:15 next day
Z1 Start off at 19:28 Arrive at 7:26 next day
Z7 Start off at 19:21 Arrive at 7:19 next day
Z5 Start off at 19:14 Arrive at 7:12 next day
Z13 Start off at 19:07 Arrive at 7:05 next day
Z21 Start off at 19:00 Arrive at 6:58 next day
T31 Start off at 15:50 Arrive at 5:06 next day
Shanghai->Beijing
Z14 Start off at 19:00 Arrive at 6:58 next day
Z22 Start off at 19:07 Arrive at 7:05 next day
Z6 Start off at 19:14 Arrive at 7:12 next day
Z2 Start off at 19:21 Arrive at 7:19 next day
Z8 Start off at 19:28 Arrive at 7:26 next day
T104 Start off at 20:02 Arrive at 9:34 next day
T110 Start off at 20:10 Arrive at 9:43 next day
Price: the non-stop train(with "Z" in the front of Train Number), RMB499 for soft-sleeper, I don't know the ticket price for the hard seat(I never buy it), I guess around RMB240.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trains run between Beijing and Xi'an
Beijing - > Xi'an
Z19 leave from Beijing west station at 20:28 get Xi'an at 07:58 next day
T75 leave from Beijing west station at 18:53 get Xi'an at 07:50 next day
Xi'an -> Beijing
Z20 leave from Xi'an at 19:23 get Beijing West station at 06:53 next day
T70 leave from Xi'an at 22:28 get Beijing at 11:14 next day
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trains run between Beijing and Hong Kong
Beijing - > Hongkong
T97 depart from Beijing west at 12:47get Hongkong at 13:10
T97 depart from Hongkong at 15:00get Beijing at 15:18
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trains run between Beijing and Hangzhou
Beijing - > Hangzhou
Z9 depart from Beijing at 18:53 get Hangzhou at 08:23
Hangzhou - > Beijing
Z10 depart from Hangzhou at 18:03 get Beijing at 07:33
Ticket price: Soft seat 316, soft sleeper RMB532

Leave a Comment