Public transport – China Survival Guide

YOU\’VE GOT TO BE PUSHY OR YOU\’LL NEVER GET A SEAT!

There are over a billion people in China, how does everyone manage to travel around? For those who don\’t own cars, public transport is quite spectacular. From long distance travel, moving from city to city and local transportation, China is well equipped to move it\’s people to and fro. From buying tickets to boarding the train, here are some useful, in-depth guidelines and tips to aid you on your travels around this diverse and widespread country.

Fast train (Bullet train) & Slow train

The high speed rail system boasts speeds of over 300kms an hour and excellent punctuality, meaning you can travel from one side of China\’s massive countryside to the other in a matter of hours. A comfortable second class seat from Shanghai to Beijing will cost around USD$80 for a 5 hour journey, indulging in a first class seat costs around $140, or to be pampered in luxury, a business class seat will set you back $250. Depending where you are travelling the price range will vary.
Always have your ticket ready for the attendant to check and for exiting the station, if you dont have your ticket you may have to pay a fee.

 While the high speed rail is one of the most expensive means of transport, you can opt for a slow train. These trains are usually cheap and run overnight so they can be a great idea when travelling on a budget, spend one less night at a hotel and sleep on the train instead!
A journey from Shanghai to Beijing could be upwards of 11 hours (more like 15-20), depending on the route of the train, but not quite as punctual as the high speed train. The good news is these trains come with beds. Buy a hard sleeper ticket for $40, ask for a bottom bed as its much more convenient to climb into in the dark, rather than climbing up to the second or third bunk, but pray you dont have a heavy snorer in your carriage!
A soft sleeper bed will cost around $70 and the third option is a hard seat for $20 for those really travelling on a budget. The seated carriages are quite a circus, you can people watch the many personalities as they come and go. Also, the train attendants present some exciting new snacks to try and buy along the way. 
When you board a sleeper carriage, an attendant will collect your ticket for safe keeping while you sleep and wake you at the appropriate time for your stop, so no need to wake up in a panic during the night.
Searching for the bed number which corresponds to your ticket can sometimes lead to an unwanted surprise, you find a big bundle of a human already sleeping in your bed. \’mei wen ti\’ no problem. Ask the attendant to move them, or if you prefer a fresh bed, find their designated area and set up your base there. This often happens with seated tickets too, people switching there seats to sit with family or friends is common, so if you are not next to your buddy, theres a chance you will be able to switch with someone else.
Both the fast and slow trains are equipped with food cars and hot water stations, though the food can be double the price of that in a store, so its recommended to bring your own pot noodles aboard, and dont forget your own toilet paper!

While waiting to board the train, take note of which carriage you have been allocated and find the corresponding signage to that car, some trains stop only for a minute so this will be more convenient for quick boarding and searching for your hopefully vacant seat or bed.

Coach (Long Distance Bus)

Another option for long distance travel is by coach. Cheaper than the high speed rail (though not in all cases), but obviously could take days. If you\’re interested in seeing ample countryside, beautiful village scenery and bustling cities then consider this option. If you\’re just travelling to a nearby city the bus frequency and schedule could prove more convenient than the train, however bus schedules are not often posted online, you will have to check at the bus station. Keep in mind it could be completely packed with people and luggage, or it could be completely empty.

Local buses

Getting around locally can be super simple, as long as you remain calm. There are many convenient local buses in every city and town which are very cheap, costing between 1 – 5 Yuan, less than $1. Finding the right bus for you is the difficult part, but generally there will be signage and a map of which buses go past each stop. If you are constantly observing buses around you, you will become familiar with which ones go where. Ask a chinese friend or hotel reception to help you search the correct bus route. Bus times do not seem to run on the correct schedule very often, just be patient.

Metropolitan train

Not all cities have a Metro system, but those that do are fantastic. Ticket machines provide an English menu and signage is very clear how to locate the metro line you need. Easily wiz across to the other side of the city, jump on and off at tourist attractions and skip traffic jams just for a few dollars. Though, be cautious during peak hour, you may get crowd surfed off the platform and into the carriage, or not make it onto the train at all. Don\’t worry, the next train will arrive within just a few minutes. Take a moment to look at the displayed station maps to figure out the best exit number for your destination, it could save you from going walk about.

Taxi and private Rickshaw/TukTuk

Taxis are another mode of getting around town, and Relatively cheap compared to western prices. In larger cities, the meter will start around 12 yuan (around $2) and rises slowly. In small cities the meter will start around 4 yuan (less than $1) and rise even slower. Make sure they use the meter, unless you are confident in haggling a good price. Life will be easier if you have the address written in Chinese, it can be difficult to find a taxi driver fluent in English. Though, in saying that, drivers who can speak a little English love to practice and will have a chat. In smaller villages you won\’t find taxis, but tiny Chinese tuktuks and rickshaws that will be happy to take you around the village, its best to have some idea where you are going first so you can organise the price beforehand. Larger cities also have rickshaw and tuktuk taxis, though more of a tourist attraction, so beware of a higher price for foreigners.

Bicycle Hire

The latest trend in local transport are hired bicycles. There are several companies that have littered the cities with thousands of bikes ready to rent. Generally you will need the company app on your phone and have a chinese bank card linked to it to pay and unlock the bike, one example is mobike. Search the app \’s map to find a nearby bike, scan the code and jump on. After you reach your destination, lock the bike with the app again and go on your way, but dont expect the same bike to be waiting outside for you later, someone else could have scanned it and ridden away.

Tickets

Train tickets can be bought online,  at one of the many ticket booths in the city or at any train station. Usually tickets can be changed or refunded for free or a small fee, depending on how close to the departure time you change it.  A lesson in purchasing train and bus tickets from the station, you need to be pushy or you may never get the ticket. During peak hours there could be hundreds of people in line, some will barge to the front claiming their transport is about to leave and need to pay for their ticket right away. Why should they be more important than everyone else ? I\’ve actually had people stand in front of me, rush past me, speak over me and even try to pay right over the top of me. Don\’t be too polite or timid, make sure you can purchase your own ticket and not be trampled rushing to board.

After going through security, boarding the train should be a breeze, since there are allocated seats. Boarding a busy bus or metro could be more difficult since lines and ques are almost non-existent in China. Don\’t be too afraid to push if it\’s necessary.

Flights

The last option is flying, which doesn\’t need to be told in too much detail as it is much the same as anywhere else. There are hundreds of domestic airports and airlines flying throughout China. Do some research on domestic airlines and routes to find the best flight for your adventure.

As long as you are confident, calm and collected, you should have no problems (or very few) travelling China solo or with a partner or group.

Good luck ! And if not, at least it makes for a good story.