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 Buses
are still major public transportation means in all large cities
of China. There are normally dozens of routes of buses in large
cities. The buses are generally named with Arabic figures, e.g.,
Buses of Route 1, Route 15 and Route 320. Given the large numbers
of passengers, crowded roads and complicated routes, it is not easy
for a foreign newcomer to take a correct bus in China.
Buses in urban areas normally operate between 5:00 local time in
the morning and 23:00 local time at night each day. There is normally
an interval of 5 to 10 minutes between every two buses. During the
rush hour, the interval is shortened to two or three minutes; namely,
a bus is dispatched in every two or three minutes.
Passengers shall buy tickets from bus conductors. The prices of
bus tickets vary in accordance with different numbers of stops.
Over recent years, some large Chinese cities have started to operate
a number of air-conditioned coaches and unwatched buses on busy
tourist routes, whose ticket prices are normally two to three times
those of general buses but are significant lower than taxi fares.
Therefore, such coaches and buses can well be a good choice for
tourists.
 The
four largest Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou
- all boast well-equipped subway systems, with all the stations,
ticket-booking offices and transit points clearly marked with their
names both in Chinese and English. In every subway train, travel
information is read alternately in Chinese and English.
The subway transportation operates 18 hours per day, normally between
5:10 and 23:30 local time, with an interval of four to six minutes
between every two trains. The hours between 6:30 and 8:30 and between
17:00 and 19:00 are the morning and evening rush hours respectively.
 Mini-buses
are another transportation means in Chinese cities auxiliary to
buses and trolley buses, shuttling in major commercial areas, tourist
areas, railway stations and major communications trunk lines. One
can stop a mini-bus by merely waving the hand while passengers can
ask for a stop at any nearest point. Generally, there are fewer
mini-bus stations than bus stations. However, mini-buses travel
faster than buses. Mini-bus ticket prices are sometimes seasonally
adjustable.
 With
large numbers of taxis running around, it is very convenient to
take taxis in all large Chinese cities. It is not very expensive
to hire a taxi in China. There are taxi companies in most of the
urban areas in Chinese cities. Taxis are available at any time around
big hotels, guesthouses, railway stations, airports, major communications
trunk lines and busy commercial areas. There is the time taxi service,
which is available at any time at the request of passengers. One
can also reserve a taxi by phone. However, the time taxi service
is more expensive than the general service.
In China, taxi services are normally chargeable according to the
mileage completed and the time used. When a passenger embarks on
a taxi, the taximeter will begin to indicate a basic rate chargeable.
After running four to six kilometers, the fare payable will increase
progressively in line with the mileage completed, with the fare
chargeable for each kilometer varying according to the size and
grade of the vehicle. When the taxi runs at a speed slower than
a certain standard, an extra charge will be added to the basic rate
chargeable on a minute-counting basis. Besides, a percentage of
night driving fee is chargeable for services between 23:00 of each
day and 5:00 of the following day.
When taking a taxi, the passenger should first of all ask the driver
to switch on the taximeter. When arriving at the place of destination,
the passenger should ask the driver to write a receipt to prevent
possible unfair charge. Secondly, if anything unhappy involving
the service occurs, the passenger can write down the plate number
of the taxi and lodge a complaint to competent authorities.
 In
the past, it was not very comfortable to take a train in China.
Today, things have changed after the Chinese government invested
heavily in building and rebuilding railways, increasing the running
speed of trains and expanding the transportation capacity of railway
systems. Consequently, the operation of railway transportation has
been relatively greatly improved. Many slow lines have been changed
to "leaving in the morning and arriving at evening," thus
improving the travel service, raising efficiency and increasing
the competitive edge of the trains.
In China, passenger trains are divided into three classes - the
hard-seat class, the hard-couchette class and the soft-couchette
class. An adult passenger is allowed to carry 20 kilograms of luggage
free of charge each time taking a train, a child 10 kilograms and
a diplomat 35 kilograms. The weight in excess of these standards
will be chargeable for the luggage consignment fee. Over recent
years, in an effort to further protect the safety of passengers,
railway stations in some large Chinese cities have newly installed
X-ray detecting equipment at the entrance of stations to scan the
luggage. Passengers entering the station shall have their luggage
checked by the equipment under the guidance of security officers
at the station.
Train tickets, particularly tickets for the couchette classes,
should normally be booked in advance. Following the coming of the
Internet period, train tickets can be booked through Internet in
large cities in China, and this no doubt is convenient for passengers.
Foreign travelers wishing to take trains can book tickets through
travel agencies or hotels.
When travelling in China, there is a great difference in fares
in taking different means of transportation. The following table
is on fares to various cities for a trip started from Beijing
 So
far, there have been dozens of airline companies in China, including
China International Aviation Company, Northwest Aviation Company,
South Aviation Company, Southwest Aviation Company, Oriental Aviation
Company, North Aviation Company, Xiamen Aviation Company, Xinjiang
Aviation Company, Yunnan Aviation Company, Sichuan Aviation Company,
Shanghai Aviation Company, Great Wall Aviation Company, Wuhan Aviation
Company, Zhongyuan Avaition Company, Hainan Province Aviation Company,
Xinhua Aviation Company and Shenzhen Aviation Company., All of them
serve the domestic airlines of China.
1. Reservation of seats: Only after their seats are reserved can
foreign travelers embark on planes with their tickets indicating
the reservation of seats. Foreign travelers can contact ticket offices
of airline companies or airline ticket sales agencies to have their
seats reserved. For passengers whose seats have been reserved, they
shall have to book their tickets within the prescribed period of
time. Otherwise, the reservation of seats shall be canceled.
2. Ticket-booking: For foreigners, overseas Chinese and Chinese
compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, they can book tickets
with their valid passports, the "Return-Home Card" for
Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, Taiwan Compatriots Card,"
"Residence Permit," travel papers or other valid identity
papers issued by Chinese public security authorities. In booking
tickets, they shall be required to fill in the "Passenger Reservation
Record."
3. Reconfirmation of reservation: For passengers holding through
tickets or round-trip tickets with seats reserved, where they are
staying for 72 hours or longer at a stopover on the through trip
or round trip, they shall have to reconfirm their reservation by
12:00 two days before the departure of the flight from the stopover
airport. Otherwise, the original reservation shall be automatically
canceled.
4. Term of validity of tickets: Passenger tickets of normal prices
shall be valid for one year counted from the date of starting the
journey. The term of validity of tickets of special prices shall
be defined separately.
5. Children fare: A child between 2 and 12 years of age is charged
at 50% of the adult fare. A separate seat will be provided for each
child enjoying such fare.
6. Infant fare: An infant under 2 years of age not occupying a
separate seat is charged at 10% of the adult fare. One adult passenger
is entitled to accompany one infant enjoying such fare. Infants
of less than 14 days old shall not be allowed to take planes.
7. Check-in procedure: Passengers shall generally be required to
arrive at the airport for departure 90 minutes before the time of
departure, and go through the check-in formalities with their passenger
tickets and valid identity papers. The check-in counter shall be
closed 30 minutes before the time of departure.
8. Modification: After the booking of tickets, where passengers
ask for changing an flight or date of departure more than 72 hours
before the time of departure, the airline company concerned shall
handle the modification free of charge under the circumstance that
there are seats available. Where passengers ask for a change within
72 hours before the time of departure, the airline company concerned
shall handle the modification free of charge only once in line with
relevant regulations. Where passengers ask for changes for a second
time, they shall be liable to pay a handling charge for the modification
which is equal to 5% of the ticket price.
9. Refund: Where passengers ask for a refund 24 hours before the
time of departure as indicated on the tickets, they shall be liable
to pay a cancellation fee equal to 5% of the original fare. The
rate will increase progressively to 10% for refund between 24 hours
and 2 two hours before the time of departure, and to 20% for refund
within 2 hours before the time of departure. Where passengers ask
for a refund after the time of departure as indicated on the tickets,
they shall be viewed as having missed the flight and shall be liable
to pay a no-show fee equal to 50% of the original fare. Tickets
for children booked at a rate of 10% of the adult fare may not be
refunded.
10. Carry-on luggage: Passengers holding first class tickets may
carry 2 pieces of articles, and passengers holding business or economy
class tickets may carry one piece of article only. The volume of
either one or two pieces should not be more than 20 x 40 x 55 centimeters
and with a total weight not exceeding 5 kilograms. Carry-on luggage
in excess of the above limit of number, volume and weight should
be checked in for consignment according to relevant regulations.
11. Free luggage allowance: Passengers holding adult-fare or half-fare
tickets are entitled to free luggage allowance of 40 kilograms for
the first class, and 30 kilograms for the business class, and 20
kilograms for economy class. No free luggage allowance is granted
to infants. Each piece of luggage for consignment may not exceed
50 kilograms in the maximum weight, and 40 x 60 x 100 centimeters
in size.
12. Overweight luggage: Where the luggage of a passenger is in
excess of the free luggage allowance in terms of the weight or volume,
the passenger shall be liable to pay an overweight fee, which is
chargeable at a rate of 1.5% of the normal economy class fare for
every one kilogram.
Besides, children under 12 years of age shall be accompanied by
adults, or can take a flight alone with consent from the carrier.
A seriously-ill patient shall hold a hospital certificate indicating
that he is suitable for travel by air, and can book a ticket and
take a flight with consent from the carrier. Passengers may not
carry arms, edge tools, weapons or lethal articles with them in
taking flights.
To provide convenience for passengers, many aviation companies
have set up flight information desk or hot phone lines to book tickets,
and their phone numbers can be secured through "114" information
desk at various cities.
 In
the past few years, China's air transport network has been continuously
expanded, and there are now 1,122 regular lines, including 131 international
ones and 143 airports. Its international airlines connect with 57
cities in 31 countries and regions.
So far, more than 40 overseas airline companies have been allowed
to operate regular passenger and cargo transportation services in
China, in addition to the dozens of Chinese airline companies which
also operate international air transportation services. The overseas
air companies operate nearly 900 flights to China each week, with
stopovers in a dozen and more international airports in China, namely
the international airports of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin,
Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Kunming,
Huhhot and Urumqi. All these airports are equipped with various
forms of complete service facilities, including service counters
for changing currencies at any time, airport information counters
and taxi service counters. There are public telephone booths in
many parts of the airports. Users can dial to their receivers after
paying a small fee by following the steps indicated on the telephone
set. There are IDD telephone call service counters at large international
airports.
There are generally smooth communications from the airport to the
city proper, with many types of transportation means available at
the passengers' choice, which mainly include: 1. taxis provided
by airport taxi service counters; 2. time shuttle buses to the city
proper provided by airline companies; and 3. mini-buses shuttling
between the airport and the city proper.
Along with rapid development in the construction of communications
facilities in China over recent years, many cities have built expressways
from the airport to the city proper, greatly saving the traveling
time for passengers.
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