Transportation in Beijing
Covering 16,000km² and with a population of nearly 15 million, Beijing gives a new meaning to the word vast. There are plenty of transport choices ranging from bicycles and buses to underground and cheap taxis. Beijing itself radiates out from the central Tiananmen Square, with most of the roads running north-south or east-west. Despite its size, it's reasonably easy to get your bearings.Most of the main tourist attractions are in the centre. Clustered around Tiananmen Square you'll find the Forbidden City, Mao's Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People. To the east is the financial and business centre, and just north of that is the Chaoyang area, the embassy district and the hub of Beijing's nightlife. The north-east is the university area, with lots of trendy bars and restaurants. The main Olympic Stadium is five kilometres north of Tiananmen Square.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Taxi
Taxis are the most comfortable way to get around Beijing, especially if you're only in town for a few days, and as long as you travel outside rush hours. The fare is RMB11 for the first three kilometres, then RMB2 for every kilometre thereafter. Taxis are everywhere and drivers are generally friendly and honest. Despite the efforts of the Olympic organisers to train taxi drivers to speak English, you should have your destination written down in Chinese characters.
Train
Beijing's underground is a cheap way to avoid congestion on the roads, though it can get crowded and unpleasant, especially in summer. The number of underground stations and lines is growing at an alarming rate.
Foot
Walking through the tree-lined streets around the Forbidden City is a delight, as are the parks and lakes of Beihai and Houhai and the surrounding hutongs. But be warned - what can look like a block or two on a map can be a long way on foot, sometimes with not many sights to look at.
Bus
Unless you are in Beijing for an extended stay, avoid the buses. They are old, crowded and dirty, and there's little logic to the routes. If you have some time to just jump on, and you don't mind standing, they are a cheap and often entertaining way to discover parts of the city you never knew existed. You can always get a taxi back.
Rent your car
As Beijing’s car numbers rapidly rise, new car parks are being built, many close to outlying public transport. You might consider hiring both a driver and a car. Otherwise, remember that on some city roads the speed limit is 30km/hour (19mph) and on expressways, it’s 120km/hour (75mph).
Transportation Tips
Beijing's public transport is pretty much pay-as-you-go, and the fares are low. Carry plenty of small notes around with you if you plan to catch the bus or train. Make sure the meter is running in a taxi and get out if they don't put it on. Be careful of rip-off taxi drivers, they gather outside the tourist spots and can charge five to ten times more than the correct fare.
Special Transportation
Bicycle
By far the best way to see the centre of Beijing is to hire a bicycle. Don't be put off by the apparent chaos. There are huge bike lanes on most roads and Beijing drivers – for all their craziness – respect bicycles.
