Beijing: Getting Around 

The transportation in Beijing, China has been transformed in the last few years. Much of this has been due to the massive economic expansion in this country but also special measures have been put in place for the Beijing Olympic Games.If you plan to use the transport system in Beijing - buses, light rail and subway or metro - you can get a Public Transportation Card. You can get these at certain ticket outlets. You prepay an amount you plan to spend on fares plus a deposit of 20 yuan. Then just use it for your trips, it will save you having to search for change etc. If you haven't used up the prepaid amount when you are leaving Beijing, you can get a refund of your deposit and any unused amount.

The Beijing Subway - Beijing Metro     metro map and timetable

The subway in Beijing is efficient and speedy and with the population of more than 18m it is an essential part of moving people around. For many years there have been two subway lines - the first was opened in 1969. One provided a central circle route and the other ran roughly east to west. This was supplemented by a Light Rail system serving the northern reaches of the city.

Now additional lines have been built and one of these will specially serve the main Olympic Green area for access to most of the more popular Olympic Games venues and Olympic arenas.

A good representation of the subway map Beijing can be found here. This map also shows the two Light Rail Beijing services. When you arrive in Beijing pick up the most up-to-date Beijing metro Beijing subway map.

The cost of traveling on the subway is very reasonable - only 3 to 5 yuan. Although it may appear daunting at first to English speakers in fact it is very simple. Inside the stations, the information is given in English as well as Chinese. The approaching stations are announced in the train again in both English and Chinese (the difficulty is hearing the announcement with the train noises and passenger chat).

A good tip is to get your hotel to write down, firstly the subway station nearest to your hotel, and secondly the destination station you wish to go to - in chinese characters, which you can then show to any Beijing resident - you'll find the Chinese very, very helpful. It is also helpful to know the "end Station" of the line you wish to travel on as this will ensure you are going in the correct direction as you select your boarding platform.

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Bus Transport Beijing 2008

The bus service in Beijing has also been overhauled over the last five years. There is now a fleet of modern, air conditioned vehicles, many of them using environmentally friendly fuel systems. The Beijing bus service is more difficult than the subway for foreigners as there is a maze of different routes. Once you know the right bus number and its stopping places, all is simple. If you're planning on using the bus in Beijing, check out about those that traverse the route stopping at every stop, and those that go the route but only stop at certain stops.

Taxis                           See also - Ten Tips for Taking a Taxi in Beijing

There are, would you believe, over 60,000 taxis in Beijing! At present in preparation for the Olympic Games 2008 they are being modernized and metered. Plus, most will form part of the "intelligent transport" information being incorporated into the transport system in time for the Games. Again, there is a language barrier so do have your destination clearly thought out. If there is any question of the meter not being used - ie for long hires, long distances, agree the fare in advance, as you would in any city.

The most common taxi cars in Beijing are Hyundai ELANTRA and Citroen FUKANG.  ELANTRA cars are new  and usually green, red, blue and purple on yellow background. 

Each taxi in Beijing has a sign upon the roof reads TAXI and a red sign can be seen in the middle of the front window when it is ready to serve you. Passengers had better to hail a car at the taxi stops. 

All taxis have price labels on both side windows near the back seats. The rent starts from RMB 10; however the meter runs after 4 kilometers and charges you RMB 2 per kilometer. If your ride between 23:00 and 5:00, the meter automatically charges you extra 20%. Furthermore, toll fee and parking fee go to the passenger, and charge for return ride occurs in case of a ride over 15 kilometers. 

You are entitled to make the taxi driver use the meter, and never forget to ask for an invoice with the plate number and the company of the car as well as its telephone number for making complaints, or  in case you have lost your valuables.

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Road Transport in Beijing

In addition to the improvements in public transportation billions of dollars are being spent on improving the road network in and around Beijing and particularly in the northern sector where most of the Olympic Games activity will take place. Some 200km of the cities inner roads are being upgraded and a fifth and sixth ring road is almost completed to add to the other three ring roads around the city.

It is planned to have and Olympic Lane on all the main routes to the venues and arenas for the Olympic Games .

Because of the increased ownership of cars in Beijing, there is concern about the environment and about pollution. The Government is taking many measure to ensure that this problem is solved by the time of the Olympic Games 2008. To reduce the smog in Beijing many approaches are being implemented, the banning of certain types of fuels, the moving of some power stations and major industry to sites outside the city.

In August 2007, a trial took place which involved banning 50% of private cars from entering Beijing each day. From a Thursday to Monday inclusive, more than 1.3 million cars stayed off the roads - based on the odd and even numbers of the number plates. This follows the moves made by other cities prior to their Olympic Games. The trial in August 2007 has been very successful and did reduce the "smog index". It did place a stress on the public transport system in Beijing as it is estimated that about 2 million more public transport journeys were made than is usual!

Authorities consider the experiment a success and reckon that it has provided valuable information so that more prolonged control of car transport can be implemented.

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Pedestrians, bicycles and all other vehicles (for example, motorized bicycles, mopeds and tricycles) generally do not observe traffic signals. Also, cars, trucks and buses do not defer to bicyclists on the road so it is common for a vehicle to make a right turn from an inside lane across a bike lane with no concern for bicyclists traveling in the bike lane. Sometimes a right-turning vehicle crossing a bike lane will sound its horn as a warning, but not always. Bicyclists also need to be on the lookout for wrong-way traffic in the bike lanes, usually bicycles and tricycles but sometimes motor vehicles, too. Wrong-way traffic usually stays close to the curb so you move to the left to get by them, but not always. Helmets are not worn by bicycling Beijingers. Nor are lights used at night with few bikes even having rear reflectors. The moderate pace and sheer numbers of bicyclists in Beijing appears to make bike travel safer than it would be otherwise.

While you will see bicyclists use many creative paths across wide, busy intersections in Beijing, the safest way for bicyclists is to observe the traffic signals (there are often special signals for bicyclists) and to make left turns in two steps as a pedestrian would. But if you spend any significant amount of time bicycling in Beijing, you will probably start adopting more creative approaches. These can be learned by finding a local bicyclist going your way and following him or her across the intersection.

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Ten Tips For Taking Taxis Around Town

1. Never go with a driver who approaches you at the airport (or railway stations). Leave the building and head for the rank. As with everywhere else in the world, airport taxis are the most likely to cause trouble. Drivers who approach you are usually hei che -- illegal and meter less "black cabs."

2. Cabs waiting for business outside major tourist sights, especially those whose drivers call out to foreigners, should generally be avoided, as should cabs whose drivers ask you where you want to go before you even get in. Always flag down a passing cab, and nine times in ten the precautions listed here will be unnecessary.

3. If you're staying in an upmarket hotel, do not go with taxis called by the doorman or waiting in line outside. Even at some famous hotels, drivers pay kickbacks to the doormen to allow them to join the line on the forecourt. Some cabs are merely waiting because many guests, Chinese and foreign alike, will be out-of-town people who can be easily misled. Instead, flag down a passing cab for yourself. Take the hotel's business card to show to a taxi driver when you want to get back.

4. Better hotels give you a piece of paper with the taxi registration number on it as you board or alight, so that you can complain if something goes wrong. Often you won't know if it has, of course, and there's no guarantee that anything will happen if you complain to the hotel, but hang onto it anyway.

5. Look to see if the supervision card, usually with a photo of the driver and a telephone number, is prominently displayed, as regulations require. If it isn't, you may have problems. Choose another cab.

6. Can you clearly see the meter? If it's recessed behind the gear stick, partly hidden by an artfully folded towel, for example, choose another cab.

7. Always make sure you see the meter reset. If you didn't see the flag pushed down, which shouldn't happen until you actually move off, then you may end up paying for the time the cab was in the rank. This is a particularly popular scam outside better hotels.

8. If you are by yourself, sit in the front seat. Have a map with you and look as if you know where you are going (even if you don't).

9. Rates per kilometer are clearly posted on the side of the cab and vary by vehicle type. The flag drop of ¥10 ($1.25) includes 3km or 4km (2-2 1/2 miles), after which the standard kilometer rate begins. But in Beijing, after 15km (9 miles), the rate jumps by 50% if the driver has pushed the "one-way" button on the front of the meter. This button is for one-way trips out of town and usually should not be pushed, but always is. As a result, it's rarely worthwhile to have a cab wait for you and take you back.

10. Pay what's on the meter, and don't tip -- the driver will insist on giving change. Always ask for a receipt (fa piao). Should you leave something in a cab, there's a remarkably high success rate at getting even valuable items back if you call the number on the receipt and provide the details. You'll need the assistance of a Mandarin speaker.

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