Transport
Metro
Most major cities have a pretty extensive metro. This is normally the most reliable way of getting around.
Your life will be easier if you use the Transport Card for Metro, since you won’t have to buy a ticket every time.
Method 1: Go to the Transport section of the Alipay app, click on the Metro tab, and activate the Metro Card for the city in which you are located. Follow the steps and register using your passport details. You can then use the QR code to scan for entry and exit. There is a specific card for each city - when you visit another city, you will need to select that city and activate it.
Method 2: Buy tickets at the ticket machine. Select your exit station. To pay, you will need to scan the QR code on the screen using the Alipay/WeChat Pay QR scan function.
To check the metro map, my personal preference is to use the MetroMan app. I find this has the most pleasant user interface.
There is also the option to buy day passes in the biggest cities.
High Speed Rail (HSR)
You can travel across the country using HSR. As a rule of thumb, most journeys 1000km or below will beat the airplane by HSR. For some journeys, it is still competitive if you account for door-to-door journey times (e.g. Beijing to Shanghai is ~1200km - both HSR and airplane come in at an average of 6-7 hrs).
For me, the biggest advantages of HSR are no airport hassle, more legroom, scenic views, internet connection, and better air quality.
The Process
Buying Tickets:
Method 1: Register on 12306 app and enter your passport details. You need to wait for verification - this can take a day or longer so please remember to do this before you travel. After your registration is successful, choose your departure station, arrival station, date of travel, train, second class/first class/business class.
Method 2: Do the same as method 1 on Trip.com app and follow the instructions.
Method 3: Go to the ticket office, tell the ticket seller what you want (ideally on a digital note or piece of paper), hand over passports for everyone travelling with you, and make payment.
Day of Departure:
Proceed into the station and look for the manual channel. The automatic barriers will not work for foreign passports. Hand over your passport to the staff member.
Next, proceed to the baggage security machine and place your bags on the conveyor belt. Go through the metal detector for a quick body check and retrieve your bags. If you accidentally packed any sharps or disallowed items in your luggage, they are likely to be taken from you. It’s similar to airline rules, but there does not seem to be a hard limit on liquids.
You are now in the station concourse. Depending on how much time you have, feel free to walk around, have a meal, grab a drink, go to the bathroom. Look for your platform so you know where to go. The ticket barriers for your train will normally open around 10-15 minutes before departure time.
When the time has come, head to the manual channel (there will be a staff member standing there). Hand over your passport to the staff for verification and proceed to the platform. Check the train number, time, and destination against your ticket and look for your carriage number. Enter the carriage and look for your seat number.
Ride Hailing / Taxi
Using DiDi or Gaode (either standalone app or mini-app in Alipay/WeChat), enter your destination and request for a cab. You will see estimated prices like on Uber or Grab. They normally arrive within minutes, but could take longer depending on your location and time of day.
When the cab arrives, the driver will ask you for the last 4 digits of your phone number to confirm you are the correct passenger. If you don’t speak any Chinese, you will need to show the last 4 digits of your phone number to them on your phone. You can save this on a digital note or screenshot.
Once you arrive at your destination, remember to make payment on the app using Alipay or WeChat Pay. Sometimes, there are additional bridge and expressway tolls depending on the route you have chosen.
Bike Sharing
There are 3 major bike sharing companies - DiDi (green), HelloBike (blue), Meituan (yellow).
Guide on using AliPay for bike and e-bike rental.
Renting a bike:
Method 1: Go to the Transport section of the Alipay app and click on the Bicycle/Cycle tab. This currently only works for HelloBike and DiDi.
You should be able to use the QR scan function to unlock the bike. Direct your phone’s camera at the QR code (either between the handlebars or on the back of the bike).
Click “unlock” on your phone and the bike should unlock. If the bike is faulty, you can return it without charge (providing it is within a set time limit e.g. 1 minute).
Method 2: Download the bike sharing app for the bike you want to rent. This particularly applies for Meituan.
Use the app to scan the bike QR code. It will ask you to register. Select foreign passport as the type of identity document. Register using your passport and fill in any missing gaps. You may need to take a photo of your passport photo.
It will take some time for verification so you may be out of luck if you want to rent immediately. Please also note this method may not work.
Returning the bike:
To return the bike, you will need to locate the designated parking zones in the app or try it in a location where there are already lots of parked bikes. Different companies may have different parking zones.
Make sure you park the bike properly and press “return” on the app. The bike should lock with a click sound. If the lock is faulty, you will need to report it through the “report” function so that the transaction ends and doesn’t continue indefinitely.
Buses
Most cities have a bus network.
I suggest using the Transport Card for Buses, since you won’t have to buy a ticket every time. However, there is a chance this may not work for smaller cities. If this is the case, you will have to proceed with method 2.
Method 1: Go to the Transport section of the Alipay app, click on the Bus tab, and activate the Bus Card for the city in which you are located. Follow the steps and register using your passport details. You can then use the QR code to scan for entry and exit. There is a specific card for each city - when you visit another city, you will need to select that city and activate it.
Method 2: You should be able to get a rechargeable contactless transit card from the nearest metro station, but this mainly applies to major cities.
Method 3: Pay with cash upon boarding the bus. Unfortunately, most drivers do not have change. So if you only have 100 RMB notes, that’s a very expensive bus journey.
Ferry
This varies between cities, the easiest method is to buy your tickets at the ticket counter upon arrival. Please be aware there may be a long waiting time during peak seasons depending on the city.
Door to Door Journey Times: Major Cities
*breaks for car journeys not included,
**includes travel time: home <-> station/airport and typical pre-departure procedures.
HSR = High Speed Rail
Car | HSR | Plane
Beijing <-> Shanghai -- 14-15hrs | 6-7hrs | 5-6hrs
Beijing <-> Guangzhou -- 23-24hrs | 9-10hrs | 6-7hrs
Beijing <-> Shenzhen -- 23-24hrs | 9-10hrs | 6-7hrs
Beijing <-> Xian -- 12-13hrs | 6-7hrs | 5-6hrs
Beijing <-> Chengdu -- 21-22hrs | 9-10hrs | 6-7hrs
Beijing <-> Hong Kong -- 24-25hrs | 10-11hrs | 6-7hrs
Beijing <-> Lhasa -- 45-48hrs | 48-50hrs | 8-9hrs (~3400km)
Shanghai <-> Guangzhou -- 16-17hrs | 9-10hrs | 5-6hrs
Shanghai <-> Shenzhen -- 16-17hrs | 9-10hrs | 5-6hrs
Shanghai <-> Hong Kong -- 17-18hrs | 10-11hrs | 5-6hrs
Shanghai <-> Xian -- 15-16hrs | 8-9hrs | 5-6hrs
Shanghai <-> Chengdu -- 21-22hrs | 13-14hrs | 6-7hrs
Shanghai <-> Urumqi -- 41-43hrs | 41-43hrs | 8-9hrs (~3900km)
Guangzhou <-> Hong Kong -- 2-3hrs | 2-2.5hrs | Not Applicable
Guangzhou <-> Shenzhen -- 2-3hrs | 1.5-2hrs | Not Applicable
Guangzhou <-> Chengdu -- 16-17hrs | 9-10hrs | 5-6hrs
Guangzhou <-> Shanghai -- 16-17hrs | 9-10hrs | 5-6hrs
Guangzhou <-> Beijing -- 23-24hrs | 9-10hrs | 6-7hrs
Guangzhou <-> Harbin -- 34-35hrs | 20-21hrs | 7-8hrs (~3300km)
Chengdu <-> Chongqing -- 3-4hrs | 2-3hrs | Not Applicable
Chengdu <-> Guangzhou -- 16-17hrs | 9-10hrs | 5-6hrs
Chengdu <-> Hong Kong -- 18-19hrs | 10-11hrs | 5-6hrs
Chengdu <-> Beijing -- 21-22hrs | 9-10hrs | 6-7hrs
Chengdu <-> Shanghai -- 21-22hrs | 13-14hrs | 6-7hrs
MY TAKE: My personal rule of thumb is anywhere 7hrs or under by high speed train, I take the high speed train. Anywhere between 7-9hrs is 50:50. Anywhere over 9hrs, I take the plane. But this is just me.
Whatever you choose is down to your personal preference and how much time you have. If you want to admire the scenery, consider high speed rail. If you want to minimise time spent on transport, choose flights.
During off-peak season, flights can be cheaper than high speed rail. During peak season, average price of flights rises. The cost of train tickets stays the same all-year round, but it is very common for train tickets to sell out during peak season.
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