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| Useful
Advice for Tourists Visiting China |
This page
offers general advice for Tourists Visiting China
(September 2008) |
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| The
aim of this section is to give those travelling to China
for the first time the general information they require
to enjoy their stay |
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Transportation:
China has very good transportation systems with excellent
airlines, rail and inter-city coaches for longer haul
destinations. Ferries can also be common for short and
medium haul destinations. Chinese favour buses for local
travel, whilst foreigners may find taxi's more convenient,
reliable and secure
Tips:
1. Before you leave your hotel or apartment,
please ensure you can get back there, as you will have
to do this by reading and speaking Chinese!
2. Take your hotel business card with
you, or alternatively have someone write your address
in Chinese
3. Ensure each person in your party
has this address, just in case you get separated
4. Collect business cards for all important
places; or if a side street location, the business card
of somewhere nearby on a main road
5. Learn to recognise the Chinese characters
for your home City (Or district)
6. Have an emergency telephone number
and share it with your party
Air
Air transport is normally very safe and of high standard.
The major operators are Air China, China Eastern, and
China Southern. All of these carriers offer modern planes
with excellent service. Most airports are either new
or have been renovated during the last few years
International airports offer travellers high class services,
and include Bureau de Change (To RMB only), numerous
restaurants, and smoking areas. Regional airports are
normally for linking to other Chinese cities, or occasionally
to neighbouring countries. Most cities have local airports
solely for use by small aircraft
Note: When in China fares to other International airports
are usually higher than to neighbouring regional destination
airports - which may turn out to be closer to your final
destination also
Railways
Main Lines
Railways link all major cities and specific national
industries (Coal and Power Stations). Otherwise the
rail network is largely under developed, but recently
revealed plans will see many new lines coming into service
over the next few years. New railways tend to feature
high-speed rail links such as the Chinese version of
Japan's Bullet Train, which are built in association
with German technology.
The trains themselves have three standards of coaches,
but you will normally only be offered First Class. Third
class is not always available. Fares are relatively
cheap, and both First and Second Class offer comfortable
modern coaches. First includes and army of staff to
each coach, and in cases of border crossing as into
Hong Kong, these are dealt with using a minimum of fuss.
A seat is allocated for you, and you will be guided
to it. Longer haul trains also feature sleeping cars
Subway
This is what Chinese call Metro, Tube or Underground.
Major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
have well developed systems which are also being heavily
expanded over the coming years
Fares are normally very cheap, excepting airport links.
Most stations now feature safety doors on the platforms,
whilst coaches have some seating and a lot of standing
room. At peak times these can become very crowded. Major
planned extensions mean these systems will grow considerably,
connecting with suburbs and also nearby smaller cities
Light Rail
I do not think China has any monorails that twist and
sway over city streets. Correct me if I am wrong please
Many new light railway projects are currently under
development all over China, and these are designed to
integrate with Subway systems and other transportation
networks and hubs
Ferry
There are basically only two forms of ferry: Modern
Sea Cats and local river boats that may also take a
few cars on deck.
Sea Cats are designed solely for passenger use, and
are used on major inter-city routes. Services are regular
and the prices are very reasonable. In Guangdong they
offer fast reliable transport between such places as
Guangzhou or Shunde to Hong Kong. Their main hub is
located in Hong Kong, where Sea Cats travel to many
regional cities, and also to Macao. Check availability
at times of flood or typhoon, as very rarely services
are cancelled due to bad weather. Although services
run several times in each direction each day, if you
have an appointment to keep it is best to book a seat
the day before
Local ferries are used on smaller rivers, and carry
passengers, produce, and sometimes cars to the opposite
bank or an island. These may appear old, but they are
usually well serviced and controlled by skilled operators.
Many offer 24 hour services, but do check sailing times
in advance. In rural settings, these can be quite chaotic
affairs, with ferries laden with all manner of items
and little room for passengers - see photo on left
Buses
Buses are by far the most popular means of transportation
in China, and are used extensively for local, district,
and regional travel by nearly all Chinese people
Inter-City Coaches
Main operators run fleets of modern western style coaches,
which come complete with licenced 'Bus TV' films and
usually a western type toilet. They often have an attendant
who will bring you a small bottle of water, and in the
morning a free Chinese newspaper. They normally operate
between the city's major bus stations, and will travel
to all major towns and cities within a Province.
Some longer haul coaches are also available, especially
from provincial capitals and other major cities to other
major centres. Often these are sleeper-coaches which
offer two tiers of bunks, and you should remove your
shoes when using, and take refreshments with you. These
coaches usually stop every couple of hours for a toilet
break (Cigarette break for smokers).
Private equivalents of both also run on all major routes,
and often connect via other towns and cities not serviced
by official coaches. These are normally of an equally
high standard and offer both normal and sleeper version
depending upon final destination. On shorter routes
of only a few hours, these will not have toilet or TV.
However, they are usually a lot cheaper than official
coaches, and can be caught at bus stops along major
highways, corners of main road junctions in towns, and
some suburban bus stops in large cities.
It is well worth looking for Private coaches, as in
Foshan I can catch one of these on my doorstep to virtually
any destination - thus saving me the long treks to and
from the main city bus depot
Please note most of these coaches (Excluding sleeper
and long haul of course), usually only operate between
7am and 7pm (Start time), and consider them as all returned
to depot by 10pm (Specific exclusions)
District Travel
By this I mean local routes connecting neighbouring
towns and cities, usually of no more than 2 hours duration.
This section does overlap with the one above, but also
includes other options not previously mentioned
Cross country coaches often support more unusual routes
and are operated by small bus companies. They will use
normal coaches that can range between excellent and
appalling - take your pick! Charges are very low, normally
around Y5 per hour, regardless of the state of the coach.
These will have both driver and ticket assistant whom
you will pay in cash
Mini-buses are very common also, and again service more
local and / or unusual routes. These will either be
16 seater Toyota type things which are ok-ish, or small
rectangular contraptions which normally have metal seats!
These again have a ticket person, who often tries to
drum up business at bus stops. The good thing about
these buses is that they run for longer hours each day,
and especially later into the night when all other coaches
have been put to bed
Airport Express
Most major cities within a couple of hours of main International
airports will over dedicated, scheduled coach links.
These often operate for longer periods, and may have
a separate booking office and departure point; within
the main city bus depot. Check times yourself, but consider
these may be open from 6am until midnight
Local buses
Chinese people usually use buses, which are very cheap,
frequent, and service all city areas. City buses will
have a standard charge, regardless of destination -
often Y2 per trip. These are well used, and will probably
be standing room only during rush hours. Most services
begin around 7am, and most are finished by 9pm with
very specific exceptions
Other Versions
Some cities like Guangzhou use Trolley buses, whilst
others like Hong Kong Island have a Tram service. These
are usually very cheap and reliable, but obviously run
over restricted routes
Local Transportation
Excepting buses and other modes mentioned above, you
will find:
Taxi's
Locally taxi's are usually a very good and safe means
of getting around, just pay the price on the meter (Plus
a small, official fuel surcharge). For longer trips
you can haggle for a fixed price, but this often works
out higher than the meter charge. Try to avoid using
taxi's during rush hours as they can be very difficult
to flag down on the street. Conversely; between 9pm
and 7am, taxi's are probably your only means of transportation.
Taxi's usually operate 24hours a day, even in smaller
towns. However, these may only have one or two specific
places you can catch them. In cities they will cruise
major streets all through the night. All work 24 hours
and are normally shared by two drivers. Shift change
is nominally 7am and 7pm, so expect a few minutes disappearance
for changeover and refueling at these times
Motorcycle Taxi's
There are also motorcycle taxi's, which should be about
half the price of a normal taxi fare, but they will
try and inflate the price if they do not know you. They
can also be excellent, especially during rush hours
when they are able to squeeze through the traffic
Motor Tricycles
Avoid these guys as they are total rip-off merchants!
Expect to pay ten times the normal taxi fare if you
are stupid enough to try them. They should charge about
the same as ordinary motorcycle taxi's
Motor Car Tricycle Taxi's
What can I say - these are basically tricycles with
a modern miniature car body on top. They are only common
in more rural cities and foreigners are unlikely to
see them. If you do, treat them as you would a normal
taxi
Private Drivers
Consider hiring a private driver for business trips,
airport transfers, and day excursions. They can be excellent
and many speak some English. You will have to haggle
for a fair price, but they usually are pretty honourable
and looking for repeat business. When you find one you
like, ask for his business card
Note: Arriving at a factory in your
own car is seen as very good 'Face' by Chinese Bosses
Private and Goods Vehicles:
Cars
Cars are very common on most Chinese roads and congestion
is becoming a very serious problem. Most are the latest
'Top of the Range' models, and many are specifically
made for the Chinese market. Chinese love big cars with
boots, or MPV's and off-roaders. Features like air-con,
Chinese Sat-Nav, and kerbside camera's for parking are
normally standard equipment. Old cars are rare, and
there does not appear to be a used car market
Trucks
Container lorries and heavy trucks are normally banned
from city roads; exceptions being industrial areas,
and for collection and delivery. Otherwise they stick
to the numerous Expressways and Major Roads
Medium sized trucks (Four wheelers) do use city streets,
but have restrictions too complex to detail here. Neither
heavy nor medium sized trucks are common on most city
or town roads
Light trucks: car size and a bit larger are a very common
sight, and you may consider these to be the normal working
vehicles for freelance drivers and small businesses
Bicycles
Many Chinese use bicycles daily, but please forget the
traditional stereotypes known in the west. It simply
is not so! Normally only schoolchildren and a few adults
cycle in modern towns and cities. Virtually all of them
have lowered crossbars = female style. Mountain bikes
and racers are extremely rare, and most are normal bicycles.
You can buy one for around $20, complete with padlock
and both front basket and rear carrier, but without
bell or pump.
Local delivery men and scavenger people often use tricycles,
which have a boxed bed at the back for transporting
goods. Often these can become seriously overloaded,
but no one pays any attention. Wealthier people may
have motorised versions, or larger versions with changeable
beds
Weird Vehicles
Apart from everything mentioned above, there are other
numerous form of transport you will encounter whilst
travelling around China. One of the most common is a
small articulated diesel contraption. It has an engine
mounted above the two front wheels and handlebars. A
frame come backwards, finishing in a horizontal swivel
coupling. The rear half begins with the rest of the
coupling, and has space for a driver to sit directly
behind and above. The other two wheels support this
and a rear bed, which is normally boxed, but can come
in any imaginable form or usage. Because of the coupling,
front or rear ends can be very easily changed.
These have similar functions to old style tractors as
used by small western farmers - in the days when smallholding's
still existed. As well as being rough terrain vehicles,
they can also be used for carrying things, or adapted
for sowing and ploughing by changing the rear end. They
also have Power Take-Offs to run other machinery or
supply power where it is needed. Very basic, cheap,
and adaptable machines that are very simple to maintain.
I believe they have a market in the west, where machinery
has become far too complex and expensive. Contact me
about exporting these if you are interested
Other weird vehicles will be added as time and inclination
allow
Emissions and Pollution
Please note that most road vehicles have appeared only
over the last 20 years. Old vehicles, especially old
technology trucks and buses are heavy polluters. These
are gradually being replaced, but it takes time and
cannot be accomplished overnight.
Modern vehicles comply with latest International emission
standards, and there is rapid expansion in new technological
fields such as electric buses and duel fuel cars. Chinese
R&D have tested production models that also incorporate
solar panels fitted to roofs, and other innovative ideas.
Alternative fuels also feature highly, with models being
developed for main stream productions
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| This
information is as supplied by the Chinese Embassy in
UK, as dated 20th June 2008, and/or other reliable sources.
Please check this information yourself as it may alter
without notice, and whilst we try our best to ensure
it is correct, please do not hold us responsible for
any errors - this is intended as a simple guide only |
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