China Transportation

Transportation in ancient China was on poor condition. People traveled mainly on foot. It took several months for a candidate who expected to take the imperial examination to be a government official to go from home to the capital on foot. People also rode horses when traveling from town to town. For short-distance trips, man-carried sedans and carriages or oxcart were also used. Needless to say, all these means of transportation are in very low speed.

Now we have trains, planes, ships, buses and bikes in China. With an aggressive effort since 1949, by the Chinese government to improve their country, a comprehensive transportation system was created. It consisted of railways, highways, airplanes. Tibet, one of most inaccessbile region in the world even can be reached via train since the operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in first, July, 2005.

China Air Travel

Airplane is the most convenient and fastest means of transportation, though it is also the most expensive. Air travel can cover a long journey in less time, saving precious time and energy for you to enjoy the attractions in your destination.

Since 1978, China airlines have witnessed a dramatic improvement every year. By the end of 2003, a total of 1,176 domestic and international airlines were operated in China. See China's Airlines. The hubs of China's air travel are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, with international flights to major cities around the world, as well as domestic flights to major cities within the country.

China Train Travel

Traveling by train in China is one of the cheapest ways to travel some of the long distances in China and is used widely by the local population. Tourists can get to Moscow (Russia), Ulan Bator (Mongolia), Hanoi (Vietnam) and Pyongyang (North Korea) by taking international trains from China.

It is important to know what to expect if you decide to travel by train in China. If you choose to travel by train, China Highlights recommends booking a soft sleeper. English is generally not spoken by any of the staff on the trains or in the railway stations. Limited English sign is available in the railway stations. A separate waiting lounge is available in the railway stations for passengers traveling in the soft sleeper section. Preferential boarding is available for those passengers.

• More information about Train Travel in China, including classification, accommodation classes of China's train, and tips for taking trains in China. 
• International Trains: Beijing-Ulan Bator, Beijing-Moscow, Beijing-Hanoi, and Beijing-Pyongyang.

China Highway Travel

The total mileage of highways in China had reached 3,457,000 kilometers (2,148,080 miles) by the end of 2006. Almost all the towns, counties and cities are accessible by highway. Therefore, buses can actually take you anywhere. Road conditions are usually very good. However, please be prepared that in remote areas the road conditions can be very poor.

The plenty departures of buses makes the tickets more available than train tickets. And buses are often cheaper than train travel for the same distance.

• More information about highway travel in China, including how to buy bus tickets, how to find and board the bus, bus riding tips, and China's bs conditions.

China Waterway Travel

China now has over 140,000 kilometers (86,992 miles) of navigable inland waterway. Major navigable rivers include the Heilongjiang River, the Yangtze River, the Pearl River, the Huangpu River, as well as the Beijing – Hangzhou Grand Canal, which is the longest artificial canal in the world. More introduction of China'a waterways.

China's Subway

Subways are found only in metropolises including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Although in Mainland China, the subway lines are not fully developed and the coverage is limited, it is still a good way to get around, as it takes you to the city’s major places where you can conveniently transfer to other means of transportation.

• More information about China's subway, such as boarding and tips.

China Bicycle Travel

Bicycles are an excellent method for getting around China's cities or looping tourist sights. Actually, China impresses many as the kingdom of bicycles. China had 500 million bicycles by 1987. One bicycle for every two people of its population. Bicycles in China are ingrained in every day life and are an important means of transportation and are visible everywhere, which is quite different from that bike-riding is just one way of physical exercise or a sport.

China's Taxis

Taking a taxi is a very fast and convenient way to get to your destination, be it a hotel, scenic spot, airport, railway station, and so on. You can find taxis in almost every city, and the fare is relatively inexpensive for western travelers. Tourists can also hire a taxi for a half or a whole day, but please make sure to first agree on a price with the driver.

• More information about taxis in China, including taxis in tourist cities and tips for taking taxis in China.

Walking in China

There is probably no better way than walking around that could offer you the authentic experience of common people’s life. By walking into the lanes or the neighborhoods, you will see something you might never notice from the tourist coach. However, before you hit the road, there are the following tips for your reference.

• While crossing the street, you still need to look BOTH ways, even the green light is on.
• Pickpockets are ubiquitous, especially in crowded tourist spots. Don’t carry your valuables and passports in a backpack. Please keep them in the hotel safe, or put them in a waist bag or shoulder bag, and keep an eye on it.
• Remember to get a business card of your hotel on hand, in case you get lost or want to get a taxi back. Or you can ask the hotel staff to write down the places you want to go in both Chinese and English.
• Buy a tourist map of the city, and maps with street names and spots labeled in both English and Chinese are preferred, in case you want to ask for directions.
• Bring some small change with you, in case you get tired or lost, and want to take a subway, bus or taxi. Taxi drivers are reluctant to break 100-Yuan notes, and you might end up getting fake notes.

Recommended China Hiking Tours

 Transportation Between Main Tourist Cities

• Beijing-Shanghai Transportation
• Beijing-Xi'an Transportation
• Beijing-Hangzhou Transportation
• Beijing-Guilin Transportation
• Shanghai-Hangzhou Transportation
• Shenzhen-Hong Kong Transportation
• Guangzhou-Shenzhen Transportation
• Guangzhou-Hong Kong Transportation
• Hong Kong-Macau Transportation
• Wuhan-Guangzhou transportation
• Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macau Transportation