Beijing Transportation Tips by ntm2322

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: The Beijing Capital International Airport is situated 25km (16 miles) northeast of the center of Beijing at the Airport Road, Chaoyang District. From the center it takes about 40 minutes to get there (under normal traffic conditions).

Good news: a new metro link from the airport to the city center is expected to open early in 2008. In the meanwhile you may use the following modes of transport:

1) Outside the Arrivals area on the lower level there are lots of taxis run by several taxi companies and there are no real differences among them, don’t think the prices are different from one to another, just get one cab with a meter and go. (Check, NOW, my ‘Getting a taxi at the airport’ tip).

2) There is one government-run Airport-City Shuttle Bus departing from outside Arrivals running 6 routes into Beijing (this bus also stops at some major hotels):

a) Xidan (you should be interested in this one because it goes to central Beijing and it is very close to the Forbidden City)

b) Gongzhufen

c) Fangzhuang

d) Beijing Railway Station

e) Zhongguancun

f) Wangjing

For more detailed information concerning schedules, stops, prices, etc., visit this website http://www.beijingtrip.com/transport/airport-bus.htm.

For your record many Beijing hotels run their own airport shuttle bus services, therefore, if the transportation problem worries you, before going make sure with the hotel staff that there will be a shuttle bus there.

Another point is, many of these hotel-run shuttle buses only operate during business hours, and if it happens your flight lands there in the late evening probably there won’t be any shuttle bus. Well, I just think you should be aware of this detail.

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Phone: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604
Website: http://www.beijingtrip.com/transport/airport-bus.htm
Other Contact: http://www.bcia.com.cn

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: If you need to know some special information, or even get in touch with the Airport of Beijing, please, take note of the following:

Airport’s telephone number: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604

Airport’s fax number: (010) 6457 0487

Airport’s homepage: www.bcia.com.cn

Airport’s E-mail: webmaster@bcia.com.cn

Airport’s tourist information (Arrivals lounge): (010) 6456 4227 or 6456 3220

Airport’s hotel booking assistance (Arrivals hall): (010) 6459 8145
Left luggage facilities in both arrival and departure halls: (010) 6459 8151

Attention:

If you depart Beijing on an international flight you must pay a RMB90 airport construction tax (eh, eh, eh, thanks for your support, come again).

If you will take a domestic flight you must pay RMB50.

Payment is done at counters in the departure area prior to checking-in. And don’t forget, keep your receipt.

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Phone: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604
Website: http://www.bcia.com.cn
Other Contact: webmaster@bcia.com.cn

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Beijing airport is equipped with a wide range of facilities and services. Just for your record:

- A bank

- Several bureaux de change

- ATM’s

- Telephones

- Post office

- Cafés and restaurants

- Shops, including tax and duty-free

- Car rental booth (Check NOW my ‘I want to hire a car!’ tip).

- Left luggage facilities in both arrival and departure halls (010) 6459 8151

- 24-hour medical centre

- Passenger changing room

- Business centre ((010) 6459 0339) with Internet access, fax and computer facilities.

- Business services in VIP lounges

- Hotels close to the airport providing business services (Check NOW my ’Airport hotels’ tip)

- Facilities and accesses for disabled travellers

- The Beijing Airport Ground Service Corporation can also provide assistance for travellers with physical disabilities.

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Phone: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604
Website: http://www.bcia.com.cn
Other Contact: webmaster@bcia.com.cn

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: For your convenience and interest there are several hotels close to the Beijing Capital International Airport:

- Airport Garden Hotel – 3 stars - ((010) 6456 3388) - website

- Capital Airport Hotel – 3 stars - ((010) 6456 4562) - website

- Jinglin Hotel Beijing – 4 stars - ((010) 6457 2626) - website

- Sino-Swiss Hotel Beijing – 4 stars - ((010) 6456 5588) - website

- Airport Lantian Mansion Hotel – 3 stars - ((010) 8048 9108) - website

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Phone: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604
Website: http://www.bcia.com.cn
Other Contact: webmaster@bcia.com.cn

'Mode': TO
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Every time I go to Beijing my flight always arrives to Beijing late at night and then I have no choice but get a taxi.

Once you get outside the terminal some smart guys will approach you and ask if you need a taxi. Simply avoid these guys, they aren’t taxi drivers at all, they have a nice and comfortable car (the so-called cruising taxis) and the price they ask for is about the triple or more of the actual price. Besides, taxi drivers won’t leave their taxis to ask somebody if he/she needs one. Just ignore them, remember, they are illegal.

You just line up outside the terminal and wait for one. When you get in a metered taxi make sure (this is important) that the driver puts down the flag, otherwise, later they will apologize, smile, tell you that he/she forgot, give excuses, etc., and will ask you for a big amount of money (be careful).

And it is better to show the destination address to the taxi driver written in a piece of paper and make sure it is clear and detailed (if written in Chinese as well will be much better). You can also at the same time show him/her the location marked clearly on a map. Believe me, these suggestions might save you a lot of troubles.

The fare to midtown Beijing is around RMB70 plus RMB15 for the highway toll. Tipping it’s up to you.

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Phone: (010) 6456 3220 or 4247 or 3604
Website: http://www.bcia.com.cn
Other Contact: webmaster@bcia.com.cn

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Wherever you want to go you should bring a piece of paper with your destination written in Chinese. You should also have in your pocket the place where you are staying written in Chinese. The hotel staff can help you.

If you have kids, when you enter a taxi, you go first or your wife goes first and then your kids (bare this in mind, it doesn’t matter where, kids are always the last to enter a taxi and the first to leave it).

Taxi Companies' Hot Line Service: 010-68351150 / 68351570

If you take a look at the sides of the rear windows you will see the price by kilometer (0.62 mile).

The flag-down price in Beijing is CNY 10 for the first 3 kilometers (1.86 miles). After that distance, CNY 2.00 will be added for each kilometer traveled

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Phone: 010-68351150 / 68351570

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: - When traveling by taxi if a toll is on the way you who must pay the fee (usually it only happens when you come or go to the airport).

- You will have to pay a 'waiting fee' if the taxi stops and waits for more than 5 minutes.

- If you take a taxi at night (between 11pm and 5am of the next day), the taximeter will automatically add an extra 20% to the fare price.

- If your destination is over 15 km (9.32 miles), you will have to pay a long distance fee in order to compensate for the return trip (even if you don’t return).

- If you are coming from the airport and your trip is more than 15 km (9.32 miles) long, an extra charge of 50% will apply for each additional km (0.62 mile).

- When entering a taxi you ask the driver to use the taximeter. You can even ask for a printed invoice when getting off as it contains its plate number, the company and the complaint telephone number, very useful if you have a problem with the driver or if you left anything inside.

- If a taxi isn't metered, the driver could be fined from CNY 100 to CNY 2,000, this detail can be very useful to you. In case the driver says the taximeter doesn't work, get off and take a different taxi.

- Although Beijing taxis have 'No Smoking' signs inside, many taxi drivers still smoke. If the driver smokes in the taxi or if he/she refuses to put it out, you can complain to Beijing Municipal Transportation Administration Bureau and the driver could be fined in CNY 100 or 200 (as a proof take a photo with your mobile)..

- If a taxi doesn’t have a license you simply don’t take it. You also reject those cruising taxis and the drivers who tell you the total charge of your trip in advance, they are illegal and will surely rip you off.

- At the Beijing Railway Station when you come out there are some unlicensed taxis around the station. They don't have taximeters. Ignore them, go out of the station square and cross the street, go to the COFCO Plaza (zhong1 liang2 guang3 chang3) where real and legitimate taxis are waiting for passengers.

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Phone: Hot Line Service: 010-68351150

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: I like Beijing taxi drivers because they are funny and possess advanced language skills, I mean, their local Mandarin is so peculiar (Beijing dialect) and they are so active and enthusiastic.

For you lao3 wai4 (foreigner) who doesn’t understand Mandarin, it won’t matter that much because there won’t be too much communication between you two. And even if the driver can speak a little bit of English you won’t realize and feel his/her true ‘charm’ because he/she is not speaking on his/her own language.

For those who are learning Mandarin: If you are learning Mandarin, take Beijing taxis more often, you will learn a lot with these guys, I am assuring you. Your oral Mandarin will indeed improve tremendously.

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Phone: Hot Line Service: 010-68351150

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Informally hiring a taxi to get acquainted to the city is also an excellent idea. If you are lucky enough to find a driver who speaks a little bit English you can discuss the price.

Last time I went to Beijing I paid RMB500 for the whole day. Expensive? Cheap? I think it was reasonable because at that time was Chinese New Year. I also think between RMB400 and RMB500 is nowadays the market price.

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Phone: Hot Line Service: 010-68351150
Other Contact: Hot Line Service: 010-68351570

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Hiring a car in Beijing (or anywhere in China) is not that easy. If you can get a Chinese-issued driving license, then you can hire one and drive by yourself. If you can’t get that license, then you can rent a car but it will include a driver.

The good news is that some recent legislation enables now you, the foreigner (the lao3 wai4), to get a temporary license valid for 3 months. Just take advantage of this benefit, my friend.

For more information about this and about hiring a car, you can visit the follow website.

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Website: http://www.avischina.com/new_version/index.jsp