Touring Beijing with a tour group is good for the first time tourist. But if you really want it is like to live here, you should break off from the pack and do some touring on your own. This section offers some tips on how to get around Beijng and to some spots outside the city.
The traffic condition in Beijing is the best one in China and Beijing is also the most convenient city in China.
 Air
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The Beijing Capital Airport is undoubtedly China's top air hub, with 98 international, 21 regional and 757 domestic air routes linking the capital with 54 cities (excluding those in Taiwan province)in 39 countries. More than 40 foreign airlines have set up booking offices in Beijing.
It has direct airlines connecting many large cities in the world , so you may fly directly from these cities: Addis Ababa, Baghdad, Bangkok, Belgrade, Berlin, Bucharest, Chicago, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Melboume, Moscow, New York, Osaka, Paris, Pjongjang, Rangoon, Rome, San Francisco, Sharjah, Singapore. |
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| Subways |
In Beijing,there are three underground trains that operate from 5:30 am till 23:00 pm in the downtown of Beijing called Line One, Line Huan (Round Line) and Line Fuba. You are charged RMB3 (USD$0.26) for the ticket fare. |
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| Tricycles |
There are tricycle in some scenic spots that add special interest to your tour in Beijing. |
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| Train |
There are five main railway stations in Beijing, the largest of which is Beijing West Railway Station (West Station). Train tickets can be booked at your hotel or at the Foreigners' Ticket Office in the Beijing Railway Station and the West Station.
Beijing Railway Station inquiry #:65129525
Beijing West Railway Station inquiry #: 62316253 |
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| Taxi |
Taxis are fairly cheap and reliable, and are the best way to get about. Ensure the driver uses the meter and be prepared for some interesting interpretations of the road rules.
There are more than 70,000 taxis. All the taxis can be divided into three kinds, One kind taxi costs USD$ 2 for the initial 3 km; USD$ 0.2 per km thereafter. The other costs USD$ 1.3; USD$ 0.15thereafter.
If there is any trouble with you, you can phone Beijing Taxi Supervision Number: 6601.2620. |
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| Buses |
In Beijing, there are not only a lot of buses and trolley buses, but also some long-distance buses. All these can take people to everywhere within China.
Generally, the buses work from 5:00 or 5:30 to 22:00 or 24:00. The frequency of departure varies on different routes. Usualy, every 5 or 10 minutes, there will be one bus. Also, at night, there are night buses. |
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| Tour buses |
In Beijing, there is a kind of tour buses, and all these buses are beginning with "tour". Every day, they start at 6:00 am respectively from Qian Men, Beijing Station, Grand East Bridge and Beijing Zoo, and come back at 17:30. Mainly, they go to some scenic spots in the suburbs. |
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| Bikes |
If you are in Beijing for an extended period of time, you may want to consider buying a bike. Biking around Beijing is a fun way to get to know the city. There are all different price ranges for bikes. Cheap Chese-made bikes (which look like c.1950 schwinns) go for around US$30,but you also can get American mountain bikes like cannondales or Diamondbacks for several hundred Usdollars. Mountain bikes are cool,but actually unnecessary as Beijing is an extremely flat city.
Bicycles can be rented from large repair shops as well as from hotels. Master Wang, in front of the SCITECH Plaza, is the largest rental office downtown. |
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