Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
Major airports (Beijing PEK/PKX, Shanghai PVG/SHA, Guangzhou CAN) connect to the city by metro or airport express, plus taxis and DiDi. Shanghai Pudong also has the Maglev.
- Metro/express
- Cheapest into the city
- Taxi/DiDi
- Door-to-door; use the meter/app
- Shanghai PVG
- Maglev to the city edge
- Have your hotel address in Chinese for taxi drivers
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
Big cities have modern, cheap and extensive metro systems with English signage. Buses cover the rest. It is clean, efficient and easy to navigate with a maps app.
- Metro
- Modern, cheap, English signs
- Buses
- Extensive; Chinese-only sometimes
- Pay
- Mobile QR or transit card
- Security screening applies when entering metro stations
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
Each city has its own transit card (e.g. Beijing Yikatong, Shanghai Public Transport Card). For most visitors, the transit QR inside Alipay or WeChat replaces a physical card.
- Cards
- City-specific, not interchangeable
- Easiest
- Transit QR in Alipay/WeChat
- Buy
- Metro machines/counters take cash
- A card bought in one city usually will not work in another
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Self-drive is impractical for most visitors: international driving permits are not recognised, so you need a Chinese licence (or a temporary one). With great public transport and DiDi, renting is rarely worth it.
- IDP
- Not valid; Chinese licence needed
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Better options
- Metro, high-speed rail, DiDi
- Hiring a car with a local driver is a common alternative
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
High-speed rail (gaotie) is the best way between cities — fast, clean and affordable. Book on the official 12306 site/app (or Trip.com) with your passport; the same ID is checked at boarding.
- High-speed rail
- gaotie / CR network
- Booking
- 12306 (official) or Trip.com
- ID
- Passport used to buy = used to board
- Arrive early for security and ID checks at the station
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
China has an extensive domestic flight network, useful for long distances where high-speed rail is slow. Main carriers are Air China, China Eastern and China Southern; book via Trip.com or airline apps.
- Network
- Extensive; good for long hauls
- Carriers
- Air China, China Eastern/Southern
- Booking
- Trip.com or airline apps
- For medium distances, high-speed rail is often faster door-to-door
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
Traffic drives on the right. Carry your passport — it is needed to board trains and pass metro security. Set up Alipay/WeChat transit QR, and keep destinations written in Chinese.
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Passport
- Needed for trains/security
- Pay
- Transit QR in Alipay/WeChat
- Rush-hour metros are very crowded; allow extra time