Transport in China

Home

On January 17, 2011, in Beijing, Cultural Experience, by Chloe

You are ready to start your china tour but there is one question on your mind. How do I get around in China. This blog will highlight and give a brief outline of the various transportation types there are available to you when you are on your china travels. The year 1949 is of great significance as it was in this year that a widespread transportation system was created that the Chinese government hoped would help to improve the country.

Air - The fastest and most convenient way to travel from one side of China to the other is by plane. This is mainly because it can turn a 13 hour train journey into a couple of hours. By the end of 2003, there were a grand total of 1176 international and domestic airlines operated within China. The main hubs in China are: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Train - However, travelling long distances by train is by far the cheapest option and it is used widely by the majority of the local population. There are also international trains to and from China available. Be careful when buying tickets and generally the staff in the ticket office or indeed on the trains don’t usually speak English. You will find that there may be limited signs that in English when going on long distances. Booking soft sleepers is usually advised but most foreign backpackers prefer hard sleepers.

Highway - by the end of 2006, the highways in China had reached a total of 3,457,000km(2,148,080 miles) in mileage. As a result, almost every town, city are accessible by road. You don’t actually need to drive yourself around as the buses in China can take you everywhere. Bus tickets are more readily available compared to train tickets and are often cheaper. The road conditions in China are actually in good condition apart from when you hit the remote areas. This may be where the road conditions start to become quite poor.

Waterway - In China there is 140,000km (86,992 miles) of readily available navigable inland waterways. This has to be one of the most unusual ways to get around, especially if you are a westerner. The most negotiable and navigable rivers have to include: the Heilongjiang, the Yangtze, the Pearl, the Huangpu and Hangzhou Grand Canal. The Hangzhou Grand Canal is officially the longest artificial canal in the world.

Subway - These are only found in metropolises such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Guangzhou, as well as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Although, be careful as the lines in mainland China are not fully developed and coverage can be limited. However, it is a good way to get around and to miss the traffic on the roads at rush hour but can be crowded during rush hour.

Bicycle – China has the ability to impresses many of tourists and has been known to be called ‘the kingdom of bikes’. This is because in China, travelling by bike is quite an important means of transport. Therefore, the reason for riding bikes is different from just riding bikes for leisure, exercise or sport.

Taxi – This style of transport seems inexpensive to Westerners who are used to extortionate prices. This method can fast and convenient but you must remember that during rush hour it may take slightly longer. You can even hire a taxi for half or a full day but make sure you agree the price at the beginning of the day.

Walking – There is probably no better way of getting around China than walking. This method offers you the authentic experience to feel like a local. While on a coach you miss some things but by walking you get to see what is on offer to you. However, I would advise that you watch out for cars as red lights and zebra crossings don’t really mean much here!