China Transportation Guide 2023: Your Comprehensive Guide to Getting Around China

By plane

If you want to spend less time travelling and more time exploring, consider flying. Although not always the cheapest option, it’s often the quickest, making it great for travellers who are short on time. Home to over 200 airports, all major cities in China are well connected by air. And once you’ve landed, you can get a metro, bus or taxi into the centre.

Popular airlines include Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, with tickets available to buy at travel agents or online. At Trip.com, you can compare flight prices to get the best deals. Alternatively, you can book via the airline’s website.

By train

If travelling with a view is what you’re after, a train could be your best option, with China’s high-speed rail network connecting most cities and towns. Not only are they quick up to 350km/h, but they’re affordable and reliable, too. And the best part is, you can enjoy incredible scenery as you travel.

Along with the high-speed service, there’s also a more traditional service which despite being slower, is still a great way to get from A to B. Each service offers a range of ticket classes – whether you want to travel in style or keep things cheap and cheerful, there’s something for everyone. Train tickets are available at train stations, online or travel agency. When it comes to buying train tickets, foreign travellers will need to do this at the train station ticket hall due to personal identification needing to be shown.

Crowded stations can make train travel overwhelming. Tip? Arrive early with plenty of time to spare.

By Metro

With no traffic, a Metro is a popular way to get around. Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen are just a few of China’s many cities that have a reliable Metro system. An affordable option, tickets are cheap with prices starting from as little as 30p. There are a range of ticket options available – from single journeys to 1 and 3 day travel passes which can be purchased from ticket machines or ticket counters.

By bus

Not in any major rush? Join the locals on a bus. Many destinations in China are accessible by bus, making it a convenient way to travel. And it’s one of the cheapest ways, too. Tickets are easy to buy, either online at websites such as etripchina.com, at ticket offices and in some places, you can buy them onboard.

There are also express buses that are quicker and travel between cities, some of which offer comfy seats for longer journeys. However, there are some obstacles when it comes to travelling by bus. Whether it’s roadworks, unreliable bus timetables or not knowing where to get off, it can be an interesting experience!

By taxi

If you’re more of an Uber kind of person then fear not, because China has a great alternative. Meet Didi, a taxi-hailing app that allows you to order a ride in just a few clicks. Download the app, enter your destination, choose a car and wait for a driver. If that seems like too much hassle, you can flag down taxis. Just keep an eye on the meter and make sure you don’t get ripped off.

By car

Offering ultimate freedom, a car lets you go wherever you want, whenever you want. Popular car rental companies in China include Avis and Hertz. However, to be able to drive in China, you have to have you own Chinese licence which although can be done, is definitely more hassle than say, jumping on a metro or flagging down a taxi. However, it is doable. You can take a test and get the license or apply for a provisional license.

By boat

Can you think of a more relaxing way to get around China than by a scenic boat ride? Us neither. You can see the sights as you sail with some of China’s amazing river cruises. Popular ones include the Yangtze River Cruise which starts in Chongquing and takes you all the way to Shanghai. There’s also the Li River Cruise which sails between Guilin and Yangshuo, and Huangpu River Cruise which takes you across the city of Shanghai. Tickets can be booked online or at tour companies.

By bike

Whizz through the city’s streets with the wind in your hair with an electric scooter. Electric bike sharing has become a big thing in China with a range of apps such as hellobike, Didibike and Mobike offering services where you can pick up and drop off bikes when needed. Just download the app, pay a deposit and look for an available bike nearby – it really is as easy as that!

So, what’s the best option? With all major cities having both train stations and airports, a train or plane is the best option. Trains are generally cheaper whilst planes are a quicker option, although with travel times to and from the airport they can end up being quite similar.

With a reliable metro system and no traffic involved, metro is generally the quickest way to get from A to B. However, buses tend to go to more remote places making them a convenient option if your visiting somewhere off-the-beaten track. Plus, they’re the cheapest option. If you’re not travelling too far and feel confident on China’s busy roads, an electric bike is an easy and energy-efficient way of travelling.

Some cities also offer a Public Transportation Card which can be used on metros, buses, taxis and ferries.

Travelling in a new country doesn’t always come without its problems. And if you do run into any, there’s plenty of help on hand. Contact your nearest national embassy, call for an ambulance on 120 or ring the police on 110 to report any crimes and accidents.

Although China is a huge destination, the country’s great transport links have made it easily accessible for many travellers. Some things to bear in mind when travelling around China are that not everyone speaks English so it can be hard to communicate, however, most ticket machines do have an English language option. It is also a very busy place so it’s recommended to give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Whatever transport method you choose, make sure you keep yourself safe and you’re guaranteed to have the best time.