Transportation

Driving in China is not for the faint hearted and an international driving licence is required. In Mainland China and Taiwan, they drive on the right-hand-side on the road and Hong Kong on the left-hand-side.

By 2000 more than 135 airports had been opened to commercial aircraft in Beijing is the major hub with Shanghai and Hong Kong making up the top three. An airport tax is required for domestic flights and international flights.

The Rail network forms the backbone of the Chinese transport system and serves most of cities. Travelling by rail is efficient and inexpensive in comparison to airfares and if you travel over night can save on a nights’ accommodation. There are four types of ticket available; Hard Seats, Soft Seats, Hard Sleeper & Soft Sleeper.
Bus is the cheapest form of transport but because the distances between points can be vast, travel times can be long. Long distance buses can be divided into soft-seat and soft-sleeper buses. Some are equipped with TV, air conditioning and a toilet.

All China's major cities have good transport networks. As well as public buses, there are mini buses, and taxis. Buses in Chinese towns are always crowded. The fare depends on distance, and is payable to the conductor. The minibus is a compromise between the relatively expensive taxis and crowded public transport. Charges are a little more than on the bus, but it is very convenient as it can stop at any point you want along the route. They are widely available and can be flagged down easily with the wave of a hand. Taxis are generally metered and can range from 10 to 30 Yuan.