Beijing, China Travel Guide
About Getting Around Attractions Hotels Eats & Nightlife Essentials & Practicals
Transportation in Beijing
Cabs in Beijing
CABS, TAXIS
A cab or taxi is the best way to get around any long distance in Beijing. Beijing is spread out so you will need to take a cab many times, especially to tourist attractions like the Summer Palace or the Beijing Zoo if you are not staying at a hotel near these Beijing tourist attractions.
Tip: If you’re in a wheelchair in Beijing, stay at a hotel – sometimes 3 star hotel – that has cabs queued up in the front. The cabs will wait in a queue and the doormen will call the next cab in line. The cab must take you, even if you don’t go a distance beyond the flagship rate of 10 Yuan (3 km).
When traveling by cab, take the hotel’s business card. The hotel’s card is written in Chinese and has a map on the back. Just show the driver, wherever you are, the card and the driver will then know where to take you.
Metered cabs are green or blue with yellow stripes on the sides. Black cabs are high end and don’t have meters. They will charge high prices. Legitimate Beijing cabs license plates start with a B and have working meters.
Tours: If you are going to the Great Wall, you should negotiate with a cab. The price to the Great Wall, say Ba Da Ling, should cost between 300 to 400 Yuan.
Cost
Fares or the meter should start at 10 Yuan for the first 3 kilometers and increase 2 Yuan for every additional kilometer.
Airport to City Center: A regular metered taxi should cost around 40 to 50 Yuan. A cab with a handicap sign will cost between 70 to 85 Yuan.
Buses in Beijing
BUSES
Buses in Beijing are overcrowded. Some of the buses are air conditioned and cost more and some are not. Bus routes are a bit difficult to figure out here. Prices are sometimes written on a sign in windshield. For the most part, there are ticket booths selling tickets.
Cost: 1 to 5 Yuan