©
flickr cc See-ming Lee 李思明 SML
China Travel Guide
©
flickr cc See-ming Lee 李思明 SML
China is an immense and far away country. These are two reasons why we usually go there for a relatively long time and travel around the country. But when you get to an unknown place - which is also a country where the language and even the alphabet are different! - it's not always easy to understand how to use the local transport.
Some people prefer "seeing the country" and taking their time going from place to place, while others like to go quickly so they can spend more time at a site, or visit more places. Some like to go on a tour of great Chinese cities, others like to go to more remote areas. So here is a whistle-stop tour of Chinese transport methods.
The only way you can drive in China is if you have a Chinese drivers license, which allows you to rent a car there. But a private car is not always the best option: driving is, to say the least, a sporting activity (even chaotic), and even the most experienced drivers can be surprised! If you prefer you can hire a car with a driver and avoid the worst scares!
The most economical motorized solution is the bus - but it's not the most comfortable. The networks are well-developed, but the traffic is dense and the buses are often crowded.
Taxis are numerous and cheap (remember to write down your destination in Chinese to show to the drivers, who rarely speak English).
More and more cities have a subway network, which is practical for getting around quickly over long distances, and avoiding jams. But unlike the subway networks we are familiar with, there are few stations, and they are quite far apart.
China without bicycles wouldn't be China! Although they tend to be sidelined in big cities (due to the pressure of motor vehicles...), bicycles are still the preferred mode of transport for the locals, and a nice, cheap option for visitors. Nearly all towns and tourist sites have bicycle rentals (from a shop or from the hotel), and often have well-maintained cycle routes.
And then there are the cycle rickshaws, those legendary bicycle taxis which make for a pleasant and unusual way to see the city.
Finally, the most economical option: discovering a town on foot. But if you choose that, take my advice, and try to carry a map of the town with the road names in Chinese.
If you are short of time or want to travel very long distances, the plane is definitely the best means of transport. China has several national and regional airlines which offer a large number of internal flights. For several years now, the quality and the security of domestic flights have been greatly improved (phew!). You can buy tickets online, in an agency, or in hotel receptions. Outside of public and school holidays, the prices are often very reasonable.
Although the plane is quickest, lots of travelers prefer the train, coach, or even boat. An option which lets you admire the scenery - some itineraries are particularly spectacular! - and to have some amazing experiences which will leave you with great memories.
Probably the best means of traveling in China is the train. Except for express trains, it is a relatively cheap means of transport (there are several classes of travel), and it is very friendly. Usually trains are modern and comfortable. Some are very fast, but others are really slow (sometimes slower than the bus!). It's better to reserve your tickets in advance, and the easiest way is to go to an agency or get them at your hotel.
Another option for traveling in the country: long distance bus. But for that, patience and resourcefulness are essential! Although the network has developed a lot, (some minibuses go to very remote villages), the journeys can be (very) long, the comfort varies widely according to the category of bus, and information is almost exclusively in Chinese. Some busy routes have sleeper buses on the night journeys, which are more expensive (although you save on the cost of night in a hotel!) but more comfortable and less crowded. Tickets can be purchased in advance from an agency, or directly at the bus station. When it comes to minibuses, which you will find most often, don't hesitate to invoke market forces and try to pay the same prices as the locals.
In the coastal regions, or along some rivers, boats or ferries are a good alternative to the road, and can be the only way to get to an island or a site. Travelers really like river cruises, especially those on the Yangtze, because they let you see otherwise inaccessible but superb scenery. Cruise tickets are sold at the terminals, but I recommend you reserve your cruise through an agency.
