China offers an incredible journey through 5,000 years of history, from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to ultramodern Shanghai skyscrapers. Experience diverse landscapes ranging from karst mountains in Guilin to the Tibetan Plateau, savor world-renowned cuisine, and witness the fusion of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art technology.
- Public
- World-class metro systems in Beijing (27 lines), Shanghai (20 lines), and 30+ other cities. Clean, punctual, and affordable at $0.50-1.50 per journey. Language can be a barrier but English signage in major cities.
- Taxi
- Didi ride-hailing app is the go-to for foreigners - English interface, fixed prices, no language problems. Street taxis abundant but language barrier and occasional refusal of short trips or late-night rides.
- Rental
- Car rental not recommended for tourists as foreign licenses not valid. Hire a car with driver instead. Bicycle and e-bike rental apps (Hello Bike, Meituan) excellent for city exploration.
- Walking
- City centers manageable on foot but distances can be large. Beijing's key sights are kilometers apart. Shanghai's French Concession and central areas are very walkable. Air pollution and summer heat challenge walking in northern cities.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- Airport Express Train: $4 (25 CNY), 20-30 min to city center
- Shuttle
- Taxi: $20-30 (140-200 CNY), 40-60 min depending on traffic
- Bus
- Bus: $3-4 (20-30 CNY), various routes, 60-90 min
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
- Availability
- Comprehensive bus networks in all cities, though less foreigner-friendly than metro
- Cost
- $0.30-0.60 (2-4 CNY) per journey with transport card
- Payment
- Transport card, mobile payment, exact change only for cash
- Tips
- Difficult without reading Chinese, use Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps for routes, crowded during rush hour
Alternatives
metro, taxi, rideshare, bicycle, electric_scooter
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- $2-3 (13-20 CNY) varies by city, then $0.30-0.40 per km
- Apps
- Didi (Chinese Uber - most popular), Meituan, T3, Cao Cao
- App Names
- Didi (Chinese Uber - most popular), Meituan, T3, Cao Cao
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Cost: $10-40 (70-280 CNY) depending on distance, generally cheaper than trains
- Availability
- Long-distance buses connect cities and rural areas not served by trains
- Booking
- Bus stations, online platforms, hotels can assist
- Tips
- Less comfortable than trains, useful for rural destinations, schedules can be unreliable
Flights
Cost: $50-200+ depending on route and advance booking, sales common
- Airlines
- Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, plus budget carriers Spring, Lucky Air, Juneyao
- Tips
- Check baggage allowances, arrive 2 hours early, domestic terminals separate from international, ID required
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Airports
Beijing Capital International Airport
From centre: 26 km northeast
Options: Airport Express Train: $4 (25 CNY), 20-30 min to city center; Taxi: $20-30 (140-200 CNY), 40-60 min depending on traffic; Bus: $3-4 (20-30 CNY), various routes, 60-90 min; Didi (ride-hailing): $15-25 depending on destination
Beijing Daxing International Airport
From centre: 46 km south
Options: Daxing Airport Express: $5 (35 CNY), 20 min to city; Taxi: $35-50 (250-350 CNY), 50-70 min; Bus: $4-5 (30-35 CNY), multiple routes, 90+ min; Didi: $30-45 depending on destination
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
From centre: 30 km east
Options: Maglev Train: $8 (50 CNY), 8 min to Longyang Road station then metro; Metro Line 2: $1.50 (10 CNY), 60-75 min to People's Square; Taxi: $25-35 (180-250 CNY), 45-60 min; Airport Bus: $4-5 (30 CNY), various routes, 60-90 min
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
From centre: 13 km west
Options: Metro Lines 2, 10, 17: $1 (5-8 CNY), 30-40 min; Taxi: $12-18 (80-120 CNY), 20-30 min; Airport Bus: $3 (20 CNY), various routes; Integrated with high-speed rail station for intercity travel
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
From centre: 28 km north
Options: Metro Line 3: $1.50 (10 CNY), 45-60 min to city center; Taxi: $20-30 (150-200 CNY), 35-50 min; Airport Express Bus: $4 (30 CNY), multiple routes, 60 min
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
From centre: 16 km southwest
Options: Metro Line 10: $1 (5 CNY), 30 min to city center; Taxi: $12-18 (80-120 CNY), 25-40 min; Airport Bus: $2-3 (15-20 CNY), various routes, 40-60 min
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
From centre: 40 km northwest
Options: Airport Shuttle Bus: $4 (25 CNY), 60-90 min to city center; Taxi: $30-40 (200-280 CNY), 50-70 min; Didi: $25-35 depending on destination
Hong Kong International Airport
From centre: 34 km from Central
Options: Airport Express: $12 (100 HKD), 24 min to Hong Kong station; Bus: $5-8 (40-65 HKD), various routes, 45-90 min; Taxi: $35-50 (280-400 HKD) to Central, 30-45 min; Hotel shuttle buses available for major hotels
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Didi (滴滴出行)
China's Uber equivalent for taxis and private cars; English version available; best transport app for foreigners
Gaode Maps (高德地图)
The most accurate mapping app in China with metro route planning, real-time traffic, and walking directions
Baidu Maps (百度地图)
Alternative to Gaode with excellent transit directions and offline map capability throughout China
Hello Bike (哈啰单车)
China's largest bike-share app for dock-less bicycle and e-scooter rental by the minute
Trip.com (携程)
English-language booking platform for high-speed trains, flights, hotels, and bus tickets with customer service
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Download Didi (Chinese Uber) before arrival - most essential transport app with English version and some acceptance of foreign credit cards
Buy a local transport card (公交一卡通) at any metro station - works on metro, buses, and bike-share nationwide, saving 10-20% on fares
Book high-speed train tickets on Trip.com or Ctrip in English; avoid 12306.cn (official site) as it's Chinese-only and complex for foreigners
Arrive at high-speed train stations 30+ minutes before departure for security checks and seat finding - they're enormous and confusing
Download offline Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps (Chinese apps) as Google Maps is blocked and accuracy in China is poor compared to Chinese alternatives
Metro rush hours (7-9 AM, 5:30-7:30 PM) are extremely crowded - avoid if possible; Didi surge pricing also increases during these hours
Long-distance sleeper trains are an authentic budget option between Beijing-Xi'an or Xi'an-Chengdu - hard sleeper berths cost $25-45 and save a night's hotel