Getting Around China

The transit wall in China is mostly about knowing the system, because the system itself is excellent. High-speed trains link the big cities, metros are cheap and signposted in English, and Didi brings a car to your door. What trips first-timers up is the paperwork: your passport is your ticket, cities have several stations, and drivers read Chinese characters, not English.

High-speed rail in China: how to book tickets

China’s high-speed rail network is usually the best way to travel between cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu. Trains are fast, punctual and comfortable, and stations are often more central than airports.

You can book high-speed rail tickets in two main ways:

• Railway 12306: the official China Railway app and website (12306.cn). It has an English version, and foreigners register with their passport. Booking here costs no service fee.
• Trip.com: books the same trains in English, with foreign cards accepted and English customer service. Compare the final price with 12306 before you pay.

When booking:

1. Enter your name and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport. Tickets are real-name.
2. Pick your class: second class is comfortable for most trips; first class and business class give more space.
3. Check the exact departure station (see below).
4. Save the booking confirmation offline.

Check before you go: Tickets open for sale a set number of days before departure, and popular trains sell out quickly around public holidays such as Golden Week and Spring Festival. Check 12306 for the current booking window and book as early as you can.

Taking a high-speed train in China: stations and boarding

Your passport is your train ticket in China. There’s usually no paper ticket; the gates and staff check your passport against the booking.

Big Chinese cities have several railway stations, often far apart. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu each have more than one major station, and trains to the same destination may leave from different ones. Always check which station your train uses, and save its name in Chinese characters for the taxi or metro.

At the station:

1. Arrive early. Allow plenty of time, more at big stations or during holidays. You’ll pass an ID check and a security scan of your bags at the entrance.
2. Find your gate. Departure boards show the train number (for example G-, D- or C- trains) and the gate number, in Chinese and usually English.
3. Board through the gate. Scan your passport at an automatic gate, or use the staffed lane if the gate doesn’t read it.
4. Find your car and seat. Your car and seat number are in the booking. Platforms are marked with car numbers.

Ticket gates close a few minutes before departure, so be at the gate early. Food carts and station shops sell snacks and drinks, and hot water is available on board.

Riding the metro in Chinese cities

City metros are the easiest way to get around Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu and most large Chinese cities. They’re cheap, frequent and signposted in Chinese and English, with station announcements in both languages.

How to pay for the metro in China:

• Transit QR code: Alipay and WeChat can generate a metro QR code in many cities. Open the transit option in the app, choose your city, and scan the code at the gate on the way in and out.
• Ticket machine: machines have an English option. Choose your destination station, pay by mobile or cash, and collect a single-journey card or token.

Things to know:

• Every metro station has a security check. Put your bags through the scanner; liquids may be checked.
• Stations have many exits, usually lettered or numbered. Check which exit is closest to your destination before you surface. It can save a long walk.
• Rush hours are very crowded. Avoid them with luggage if you can.
• Metros generally stop running late in the evening. Check the last train time for your line.

Taxis and Didi in China

Taxis and Didi are cheap compared with many Western cities and are the easiest option with luggage, late at night or for places far from the metro.

Taxis:

• Hail one in the street or use a taxi rank at stations and airports. Use only the official queue.
• Make sure the driver uses the meter.
• Show your destination in Chinese characters. Most taxi drivers don’t speak English and many don’t read pinyin.
• Pay by Alipay or WeChat (scan the code in the car) or cash.

Didi:

• Didi is China’s main ride-hailing app. It has an English interface and accepts foreign cards. It’s also available as a mini program inside Alipay and WeChat.
• Enter your destination in Chinese if the English search doesn’t find it.
• Check the plate number before you get in. At airports and stations, follow signs to the ride-hailing pickup area.

Keep your hotel’s address card or a screenshot in Chinese characters for the ride home.

Domestic flights in China

Domestic flights make sense for long legs where the train takes most of a day, such as Shanghai to Chengdu, or for reaching more remote regions.

• Book on Trip.com or directly with Chinese airlines. Use your passport name and number exactly.
• Your passport is your ID for check-in and security. Security screening for domestic flights is strict, especially for power banks and liquids.
• Like stations, some cities have more than one airport, for example Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao) and Chengdu (Shuangliu and Tianfu). Check which one you’re using.
• Allow extra time for traffic to the airport and for delays.

Check before you go: Rules on carrying power banks on flights in China have been tightened, including certification-mark and capacity requirements. Check your airline’s current rules before you pack.

For trips of a few hours, high-speed rail is often as fast door to door and less affected by weather.

Walking and shared bikes in Chinese cities

Walking is the best way to see neighborhoods like Beijing’s hutongs, Shanghai’s former French Concession or Chengdu’s teahouse streets. Distances inside Chinese cities can be larger than they look on a map, so plan to combine walking with the metro.

Stay alert when walking:

• Electric scooters move silently and often use sidewalks and bike lanes.
• Cars turning right may not stop for pedestrians on a green light. Look both ways before crossing.

Shared bikes are parked on sidewalks in most Chinese cities. You unlock one by scanning its QR code in Alipay or WeChat; some services need identity verification first. Ride in the bike lane, park in marked areas, and end the ride in the app so you aren’t charged for extra time.

Before you travel, install your apps, link your payment card and save your addresses in Chinese characters. The pre-trip checklist covers every step, and Internet and apps explains the maps and ride-hailing setup.