With Beijing’s nomination of the host of 2008 Olympics, Beijing’s public transportation system has improved tremendously. Beijing used to be famous for its fragile public transportation system with limited public bus lines and an old subway system supporting a big city with a population of more than 10 million. However, today Beijing boasts the most superior public transportation system in the country with as many choices as from subway, public bus, light rail, taxi, train and, bicycle of course!

The subway construction started in the capital city in 1965 and extended twice respectively in 1999 for the People’s Republic’s 50th Anniversary and in 2000 when the entire subway system came to the picture as line 1 and 2 of today. The circular line connects most of the important gates of Beijing Ancient City surrounding the forbidden city; while the straight line running from Sihuidong in the east to Pingguoyuan (apple garden) in the west passing along the Chang’an Avenue, the 1st Avenue in China.

Beijing Subway

Ambitious plans of expanding the subway network in the capital are still under construction, which include subways, light rail and suburban trains, which include following projects:

1) Subway Line 4: 28.6 km with 24 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)
2) Subway Line 10 with Olympic branch: 30.5 km with 26 stations (Dec. 2003 - Dec. 2007)

Subway Price
Anywhere on lines 1 and/or 2 —3 RMB；Line 13 only —3 RMB；Line 1 Ext (Ba Tong)  only —2 RMB；Transfer 1, 2, 13 —5 RMB；Transfer 1, 2, 1 Ext (Ba Tong) —4 RMB. You can buy ticket at the ticket window. At the check point before entering the platform, a metro clerk will check your ticket.

Beijing Subway Ticket

Public Bus
Public bus is the cheapest way of traveling through the city, while most students won’t be confident enough to take the bus until competent Chinese language is grasped and when the city looks familiar. Another reason that might cause the reluctance is that the bus is very often over packed, passengers in the bus are of tuna fishes in a can!

However, Beijing municipal government will spend billions to upgrade its bus system next year in 2007 in an ambitious effort to relieve the city's notorious rush-hour traffic. The plan calls for the scrapping of redundant bus routes, the creation of special bus-only lanes and a reform of its pass system.

The city currently has 447 bus routes and nearly 15,000 buses in operation every day, carrying 303.6 billion trips annually. The detailed plan for Beijing's bus lines unveiled at the end of 2006 said that starting in 2007, the city will gradually cancel 110 bus lines and eliminate about 3,000 bus stops within the Third Ring Road to optimize the existing bus routes and better distribute the city's transportation capabilities.

The plan calls for the construction of 79 small bus exchange stations and 12 car parking lots around the city to make it easier for commuters to make use of the city's bus services. Commuters will be encouraged to leave their cars at these stations and switch to buses to continue their journeys to avoid causing congestion in areas with heavy traffic. Let’s hope this move would help reduce the volume of traffic in the city during rush hours, which has grown to more than 2.8 million vehicles already.

Reform of monthly pass
In another development, the city plans to gradually scrap its monthly pass system next year. The system currently allows an adult commuter to take 140 trips on designated bus lines for 45 yuan (US$5.6).

Under the new system, passengers will receive a 60-per-cent discount while using the pass card on any bus lines of the city.

The city also plans to eventually issue short-term tickets, covering just a few days, for the convenience of visitors, Li said.

Taxi
Taxi is rather cheap in Beijing compared to other parts of the country but Beijing is a rather big city so people might not be able to feel this. There are two most commonly seen taxies running in the city, the small taxis which is locally produced charges 1.2RMB/kilometer; while the bigger one with the German Volkswagen sign in the front cost you 1.6RMB/kilometer. Both cost 10 yuan for the first four kilometers and add up per kilometer thereafter.

Real taxis have a logo light on the top of the car. Around the driver's seat is a transparent shield protect the driver from robbery and a drive ID card with driver's photo, name and ID number on it. A meter and an illuminated vacancy disk on the dashboard are also necessities for a cab. Without all these things, the taxi is probably unlicensed and you should avoid it, even if the driver solicits you. You have no rights if injured in an unlicensed taxi.

If you have been to other cities in China, it is easy for you to notice the hospitality of Beijing taxi drivers. They can talk as an old friend of you asking questions like where you are from, how many people in your family, do you have a girlfriend etc. So enjoy every time your taxi trip. But don’t be surprised and frustrated when you jump in a taxi telling him the place you are going to in Chinese, they will by no exception respond “na’er”, where?

How to Read a Taxi Receipt

Remember to take the receipt. The slip will contain information on the taxi, including its plate number and the taxi company. In case you leave something in the car, the receipt will give you clues to find it.

Bicycle
China is the world of bicycles and Beijing is definitely the center of this special world. Bicycles provide a form of transportation for the majorities of Beijingers, so cycling is set aside on all major roads. The city proper is flat for easy riding and there are repair stands with air pumps and spare parts on the way. Bicycles can be rented from large repair shops. But it is very cheap to buy a brand new one costing you around only 200RMB.

Train
China has one of the biggest and busiest rail networks in the world,The rail network forms the backbone of the Chinese transport system and serves most of cities. It links almost every Chinese town and city. Beijing is definitely the most important portal in this network. It is the transition point to connect you to the north, south, east and west of the country. Visitors can explore much of China by train from Beijing and would find it an efficient and inexpensive means of travel.For an over night seat ticket, it costs around RMB150; and around RMB250 for an overnight hard sleeper, which will take you for instance from Beijing to Shanghai with total travel hours of 12 hours.

There are a variety of different classes of train running in the country, which is mostly categorized by the speed of train.

In China, the accommodation on the trains is divided into four categories, namely, soft-sleeper, hard-sleeper, soft-seat and hard-seat.

Train in China has gone through system speed-up four times in the past 10 years. From Beijing to Guangzhou, Jingguang xi'an, it takes 36 hours in 1996 but only 24 hours since 1998 and will be reduced to XXXX hours from 2007.

It is recommended to purchase your train tickets in advance and you can buy it at the train station or tour agencies with extra charges of 5RMB for hard seat and 20RMB for hard sleeper.

Air
With 63 international air routes, Beijing is linked to 54 cities in 39 countries and regions. There are also more than 550 domestic air routes linking the capital to all major cities and travel destinations in China. There are 26 foreign airlines have their booking offices in Beijing. 

The Capital Airport, for both international and domestic flights, is located 27 kilometers from the city center. There is a airport highway in use from February 1996. Taxi fare is approximately 80 yuan from downtown area to the airport. Shuttle buses run around the clock between the Civil Aviation Business Building in Xidan and the airport every 30 minutes. The bus fare is 13 yuan. For more information, call 64563604 at the Capital Airport Information Desk.

Reminder: With your student ID card, you can get a 50% for all domestic tickets you purchase. You need to purchase the ticket at the Civil Aviation Business Building in Xidan (close to Forbidden city). However check whether they have cheaper discounted ticket before you buy it.

Ticket office:
Tel: 010 - 66032827 or 010 – 66032829. Free delivery.