Traveling Around China: Methods of Transportation
- Toffler Niemuth, Local Travel Expert
China is a vast country and because of the huge distances, travel times can be very long. For example, with a 3-hour flight in Europe you could cross more than a half dozen countries traveling from London to Athens; with same flight time in China, you’d still be in China (e.g. Beijing to Kunming). Ultimately, which method of transportation you choose in China will depend on your budget, time, and preference. This article covers plane, train, bus and hired car travel in China.
Traveling by Plane
China has been quickly modernizing airports across the country; many are even more sleek and shiny than airports in the US. China’s major airlines, notably Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern are increasingly becoming world class. These are China’s largest carriers with the best reputation and strongest international presence.
To reach distant cities, flying is the only option, unless you enjoy spending 3 days on a train. With nearly 50 flights per day scheduled to fly each way between Shanghai and Beijing, you should have no trouble getting a flight. Because there are so many flights, normally you can just show up at the airport, buy your ticket, and be on the plane a half hour later, with nearly no difference in price. If you prefer to book ahead, or are traveling to less popular destinations, the best sites to book tickets on are: www.ctrip.com, www.elong.com, (both in English) and http://www1.china-sss.com/index.htm, for much cheaper flights to a limited number of destinations (Chinese only).
When flying within China, you should call and confirm your flight the day before or the morning of. With so many flights scheduled between popular destinations, emptier flights are often canceled and passengers are rebooked either when they call the airline or show up at the airport. Flights are almost certainly delayed in bad weather. Beijing-Shanghai (or the reverse) may actually take off early due to quick, efficient check-in procedures for those flights. China is increasingly adhering to US standards of restricting liquids on flights, meaning no cosmetics, or other liquids, and refrain from buying bottles of water in the airport because they can’t be brought on the plane either.
Traveling by Train
Trains are a great way to travel in China because they are convenient, safe, cheap, efficient, and allow you to see vast tracks of the country while getting to know the local population. Trains reach nearly every city in China, large or small. China has everything from long-haul multi-day sleeper trains to high-speed express trains. If you’re traveling from Shanghai to Beijing for an early morning meeting in Beijing (or vice-versa), the overnight train is a good option, as it gets in at about 7am, whereas the earliest flight gets in at 10am. The high-speed, 90-minute trains between Shanghai and Hangzhou or Suzhou are also clean and convenient.
There are numerous types of trains in China, local express, long-distance express, normal long-distance, etc. Local express trains such as the high-speed D-class trains from Shanghai to Hangzhou have two ticket prices, normal and premium. Long-distance express trains such as those between Shanghai and Beijing or between Beijing and Xi’an have various classes of tickets: 2-bed private compartments, 4-bed closed compartments, 6-bed open compartments, and seats. Normal long-distance trains will usually have four classes of tickets, 4-bed compartments, 6-bed compartments, soft seat, and hard seat. Express trains usually have western toilets while normal trains will only have squat toilets. Keep your expectations low. Most trains have a dining car as well as snacks available for purchase.
Train tickets go on sale 10 days in advance and can be purchased from the train stations or sales outlets around the city (look for this symbol , indicting official train tickets are available). For popular routes and holiday times, it’s important to buy your tickets as early as possible. To research train connections and types of trains between locations in China, try these sites: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/, http://www.cnvol.com/, http://www.warriortours.com/china-train/.
Traveling by Bus
Buses are a cheaper alternative to hiring a car and driver and usually run more frequently than trains. With more and more expressways being built, buses are becoming quicker and more useful for transport to smaller cities two to five hours away. In mountainous regions such as Yunnan and other parts of the country where the train network isn’t as extensive, they are the only option.
Buses vary greatly in quality and comfort. Expensive, luxury buses may have very comfortable, roomy leather seats with tray tables and footrests. Local buses in rural areas may have 10 seats but hold 20 people, plus their chickens, pigs, and household possessions. There are also sleeper buses, with very narrow fully-reclined beds (but no seats). Nonetheless, the majority of buses you will encounter in China are standard tourist coaches. Most long distance buses will stop every 3-4 hours for a bathroom break, where drinks or snacks may also be sold.
Hired Car
For those who require more flexibility, hiring a car and driver is reasonably affordable in China. (Foreigners can not drive in China using an international driver’s license-you must hire a driver.) Cars range from VWs to Buicks and minivans to 15-passenger minibuses. Hired cars can be used for a day trip or overnight trips and are convenient if you’ll need to visit multiple destinations. When hiring a car, check whether gasoline, tolls, and parking are included in the rate. Also, if you need the driver to stay overnight with you, you will need to pay for his hotel room. These companies can arrange car and driver for you: http://www.asialimo.com/en/locations.php (all across China), http://wacts.com/index_limo.php (Beijing, Shanghai, or Xi’an), http://www.cbw.com/tourism/chauffeur.html (Beijing and Shanghai only).
Toffler Niemuth is a seasoned tour guide in China and Asia. She has led budget tour groups in China and has experienced all the in-and-outs of traveling in China. She brings a fresh look at traveling and living in China and can be found more predominantly at her China travel blog.
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