Transport Options in Beijing
An Essential Expatriate Guide to Moving Around China's Capital City
This is a quick guide for expatriates to get around Beijing easily via the various transportation modes - by car, taxi, the subway and public buses.
There are several options available for expatriates to move around Beijing.
Personal Car:
It is difficult to navigate the crowded roads of Beijing and deal with the throngs of cyclists and pedestrians. Those with a personal car should hire a local chauffeur.
Taxis:
For those without a car, the next best option is to take a taxi. The starting meter fare is 10 Renminbi (RMB) (approximately US$1.35) for the first three kilometers. The charge per subsequent kilometer depends on the type and size of the taxi, and ranges between 1.20 RMB - 2 RMB. The exact charge is stated on a sticker at the rear window.
Take note of the fastest and cheapest route to a destination, and give specific directions to the taxi driver to save you time and money.
It is mandatory for all taxi drivers to charge by the meter. Avoid those who charge a flat rate as they are either unlicensed or out to fleece you.
Subway:
Beijing has a small subway network around the city center to help you get around the massive traffic jams there. The subway carriages can get very packed during the peak hours though.
Presently, the operational subway lines are Lines 1, 2, 5 and 13. Line 5, the newest, began operations in October 2007. Construction work is on-going for four new subway lines, which are scheduled to be completed in 2008.
The subway operates on a single-fare basis. The fare was reduced system-wide from 3 to 2 RMB since October 2007. Single-trip tickets can be bought at the subway stations. For convenience, a stored-value card called the "Yikatong" can be purchased instead. A refundable deposit of 20 RMB is required, with a variable top-up amount.
Public Buses:
Public buses have the most extensive coverage over the entire city and form a very cheap and convenient mode of transport.
To the uninitiated, the bus routes can be confusing. To start with, get to know the name of the bus stop nearest your apartment, as well as the name of those stops near your destination. Do note that these names do not necessarily tally with the street names. If you understand Chinese, you can use Sogou.com Maps to check the available buses to your destination.
At each bus stop/shelter, there are signs for the various bus services, listing all the stops along the way and the direction of travel. If you are at the wrong side of the road, cross over and look for the bus stop. Bus stops are usually paired on both sides of the road, although some may be located apart.
There are designated entrances and exits on the buses. Older buses have entrances at the front and exits at the rear. For the newer 3-door buses, entrances are located in the middle, while exits are at the front and the rear end of the buses. Follow what the locals do and you will not go wrong.
There are two main types of fares: single or staged. The former is 1 RMB, while the latter range from 1 - 2 RMB. A "Yikatong" card entitles riders to a 60% discount, so a single-fare trip costs only 0.40 RMB. The card reader is mounted near the entrance. If there isn't one, the bus conductor has a hand-held card reader. When alighting, tap the card reader near the rear entrance if the bus service is a staged one.
Armed with the above information, do try the various transportation modes to truly experience life in Beijing!
