Travel Guide To Beijing - By Air, Vehicles And Trains
Being the capital of China, Beijing is easily accessible from all major cities in the world, as well as from smaller cities around the country.
The impressive Beijing Capital International Airport is situated to the north-east of Beijing, and is the largest airport in China and the world's 8th busiest with over 55.66 million passengers in 2008.
The country's national airline - Air China - has it's hub here, and operates flights to over 120 countries destinations around the world. In 2008, the airport added a third terminal to accommodate the rapid increase in traffic volume, and is the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai's International Airport terminal 3.
Some of the major international destinations offering direct flights to Beijing include Frankfurt, London Heathrow, New York, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. US Airways will be offering direct flights to Beijing from Chicago - O'Hare and Philadelphia from 2010.
To get to Beijing from around China there are many long distances buses offering services from small cities around the country, including Tianjin to the south-east (a 12 hour journey), and the north-eastern city of Dalian (an 8.5 hour journey). There are also daily flights from Beijing to all major cities in China, as well as at least once-weekly flights to smaller cities.
Getting to and from the airport in Beijing is easy, and there are several options ranging from the new light rail that runs every 15 minutes, as well as numerous express bus routes. Depending on traffic, it takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to travel from the centre of the city to the airport and should cost around Y85 in a taxi if the meter is on. Most of the more expensive hotels offer free shuttle buses to and from the airport.
There are two major train stations in Beijing that operate services to cities around China outside of Beijing - Beijing Train Station and Beijing West Train Station. The train from Shanghai to Beijing takes approximately 12 hours and there are options to have an overnight cabin. International services to Moscow, North Korea, Mongolia and Vietnam also run to and from these stations. The train stations are open 24 hours, and there is an international ticket booth for people who can not speak Chinese.
Once you have arrived in Beijing, there are plenty of transport options to help you get around this busy and eclectic city.
Public transport in Beijing is very cheap, and a bus ticket costs as little as 7 cents. You can purchase a rechargeable public transport card that can be used on buses, trains, and taxis. These are available at subway stations and at kiosks around the city.
Traffic congestion is a huge problem in Beijing, and it is often a lot quicker to walk to your destination than sit on a bus or taxi that at times can only crawl at a painstaking pace. Buses are generally very slow and unreliable, and a much faster option is to use the subway as it avoids the congestion on the roads. Despite this, buses have a larger number of routes and can take you to practically any destination in the city. There are also double-decker buses that do constant loops of the city, and these are generally less packed than the normal buses but slightly more expensive.
In preparation for the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing's public transport received a massive overhaul, and the subway in particular saw a massive expansion. There are currently nine subway lines running to various parts of the city, and are generally very reliable and clean. The trains run every few minutes during peak hour.
Taxis in Beijing are comparatively cheaper to the US equivalent. There are different classes of taxis identified by different colored stickers declaring what rate they charge. The better taxis are more expensive. The most expensive taxis are Y12 per kilometer for the first 3km's and Y2 per kilometer thereafter. There is a 20% surcharge on fares between 11pm and 6am, and taxis are required to turn on the meter for all journeys unless a fee is negotiated for a long out-of-town trip. Taxi drivers in Beijing often don't speak much English, so it's important that you bring written instruction and an address of your destination if you do not speak Chinese.
Cycling is also a popular option for residents of Beijing to help beat the congestion on the roads. The flat terrain of the city is perfect for this, and there are also plenty of cycling lanes on the roads, although the sheer volume of traffic can be quite daunting to non-experienced riders. There are plenty of places to hire bikes for as little as Y20, including most hotels as well as outlets around the city.
