China Transportation

Air 航空

As mentioned in the introduction, there are regular flights to and from Ningbo from all of China’s major cities....

As mentioned in the introduction, there are regular flights to and from Ningbo from all of China’s major cities. The airport (Ningbo Lishe Guoji Jichang, 宁波栎社国际机场) has its own website, but unfortunately it is only in Chinese.

For information dial (0) 574 87427888. If dialing from abroad dial 86 first and drop the first zero. The staff can usually speak English at airports in China.

The airport is located about a twenty minute drive from the city. There are buses to and from the airport along with the option of taxis.

The city shuttle bus runs every hour and taxis are readily available at the airport.

The taxi fare to the city is around 40 RMB plus there is a 10 RMB toll road fee. Be careful that you are not overcharged. Make sure the taxi has a meter and ensure the driver uses it. There are plenty of taxis, so do not be conned by hawkers hoping to take you into town.

If the taxi does not have a meter, then don’t take it. Do not believe anyone who tells you it is 100 RMB into the city. Taxis are a good mode of transport in Ningbo, but the airport seems to have attracted a large number of “rip-off” merchants.

Shuttles to and from the Airport

Shuttles heading for the airport leave from Minhang Shoupiao Chu (Civil Aviation Office, 民航售票处) located on #91 Xining Lu (西宁路91号) everyday from 6:00am to 6:00pm. One shuttle leaves on the hour, every hour except for 4:00pm. Shuttles coming into the city stop at the South Train Station and the Civil Aviation Office. This information was translated from the airport’s official website on May 7, 2006.

Ferries 轮渡

Besides the tourist ferries and cruises, ferries are also used as a simple mode of transportation in Shanghai.

...

Besides the tourist ferries and cruises, ferries are also used as a simple mode of transportation in Shanghai.

Taking a ferry across the river fits in nicely with a walking tour of Shanghai. Two river-crossing ferries depart and arrive from Dongchang Lu (东昌路) in Pudong, which is only a 15 minute walk away from the Pearl Tower.

Dongmen Lu (东门路) - Near the Chinese old city, a 15 minute walk from Yu Gardens.
Price: 0.5 yuan per person.
Hours: 24 hours a day.

Jinling Dong Lu (金陵东路) - Near The Bund.
Price: 2 yuan per person.
Hours: 7:00am to 10:00pm.

View from the Dongmen Lu - Dongchang Lu Ferry.

Shanghai Rail 上海火车站

Shanghai Railway Station (上海站)

The Shanghai Railway Station is the main train station in Shanghai. Trains to and from every part of China depart, arrive, and pass through Shanghai Station, including destinations such as ...

Shanghai Railway Station (上海站)

The Shanghai Railway Station is the main train station in Shanghai. Trains to and from every part of China depart, arrive, and pass through Shanghai Station, including destinations such as Beijing, Qingdao, Harbin, Chengdu, Nanjing, or nearby Mount Huang (Huangshan). If you are travelling locally, to the west or to the north, then this should be the first station you should check for tickets.

This station is located in the northern part of Shanghai, and subway lines 1, 3 and 4 all meet at a massive interchange located below the railway station itself. The central long-distance bus station is located within sight of the northwest corner of the train station. Needless to say, there are also many many local bus routes that stop at this station.

Ticket offices are scattered in every direction. There are English speaking staff available in the main ticket office which is to the east of the station and across the street. There are also English speaking staff at the ticket office on the south face of the train station. If you exit the station and want to figure out which way is which, just remember that the main face of the building (shown in the picture above) is facing south.

Most people enter the station from the South entrance but it is also possible to enter from the north. To get from the north side of the station to the south side of the station or vice-versa, cross under the station through a very long and crowded subway tunnel on the east part of the station square. The subway tunnel is clearly marked. If you have a ticket you can also cross through the station directly.

Small stores which will store baggage day are also scattered around the station. A typical price for storing a large bag for an afternoon is 20 yuan.

Shanghai South Railway Station (上海南站)

Shanghai South Railway Station is located in the southwest part of Shanghai along subway lines 1 and 3. It runs on a separate rail line which approaches Shanghai from the southwest.

Shanghai West Railway Station (上海西站)

The relatively small Shanghai West Railway Station is positioned on the same rail line as Shanghai Railway Station. Most trains that leave from here go to nearby locations such as Nanjing, Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou, but some trains also pass through Shanghai West Station on their way to Beijing and Guangzhou.

Public Bus System 公交系统

In Shanghai public buses cost 1 yuan per trip for normal buses and 2 yuan per trip for the air-conditioned buses.

The public bus system is quite extensive, but the signs at bus stops are usually only labeled in Chinese. If you know Chinese or can get...

In Shanghai public buses cost 1 yuan per trip for normal buses and 2 yuan per trip for the air-conditioned buses.

The public bus system is quite extensive, but the signs at bus stops are usually only labeled in Chinese. If you know Chinese or can get somebody to help you pick your route, the bus can be more convenient than the subway and cheaper than a cab.

For more info (in Chinese only) try checking the official website for transportation in Shanghai.

Taxis 出租车

Taxis in Shenzhen are abundant and can be hailed on almost every street. You can usually depend on catching a cab quickly but allow for some delays between 5pm and 7pm....

Taxis in Shenzhen are abundant and can be hailed on almost every street. You can usually depend on catching a cab quickly but allow for some delays between 5pm and 7pm. Besides being peak traffic time, this is also the period when a lot of cabbies call it a day and return the car to the driver on the late shift. Although they are not supposed to, many drivers will refuse a fare if it takes them in a different direction to their base.

Fares

Fares start at RMB12.50 during the day. This will take you 3km after which the meter will go up by RMB0.60 every 250 metres. When the cab is stopped in traffic or waiting, the meter will rise by RMB0.80 per minute. Between 11pm and 6am fares start at RMB16.10 and the rate after 3km is 30 percent more than during daytime -- the meter automatically calculates this. Fares are rounded off to the nearest RMB1.

For problems with overcharging by taxi drivers click here.

Public Bus 公共汽车

Almost every street in Shenzhen is accssible by bus or minibus. Excellent maps are available for purchase which show all of the city’s bus routes. Buy one if you intend to make use of the bus system. Bus fares within the area of Luohu, Futian and Nanshan districts cost from 1-6RMB depending on where you are going. Pre-paid TransCards can be used on buses that have one set fare for all destinations and the number of lines that accept TransCards is increasing. Keep in mind that during rush hour buses can get uncomfortably crowded.

Metro 地铁

The Shenzhen metro opened for business in 2004. Although the spanky-new subway system is clean and cheap, it is not very extensive yet....

The Shenzhen metro opened for business in 2004. Although the spanky-new subway system is clean and cheap, it is not very extensive yet. There are two lines in operation. Line 1 (the green line) runs in an east-west direction from the Luohu Border Checkpoint in Luohu district, through Futian district and ends at the Window on the World theme park in Nanshan district. Line 4 (the blue line) runs in a north-south direction from Shao Nian Gong to Fu Min in Futian district. The metro is open from 6:34 to 23:30 each day.

Tickets and TransCards

Tickets are sold from automated machines and cost from RMB2 to RMB5, depending on how far you are going. Pre-paid cards, called TransCards, are also sold at each station. The minimum cost of a TransCard is RMB100, RMB40 of which is a deposit that will be refunded when the card is returned. Purchasing a TransCard is rewarded with a 5 percent discount on fares, but the real advantage comes with not having to queue up for a ticket. At rush hour and on weekends the stations become very crowded, and the amount of ticket vending machines is often inadequate. TransCards can be recharged at station vending machines and ATMs. They can also be used on certain buses, minibuses and taxis. There are plans to link the TransCard with Hong Kong’s Octopus Card.

External Links:

Map of Shenzhen Subway System

Around Town - Taxis 出租车

Around Town Transportation – Taxis

The base fare for every taxi in Shanghai is 11RMB....

Around Town Transportation – Taxis

The base fare for every taxi in Shanghai is 11RMB. For this amount, you will get virtually anywhere within one or two districts in the city – if you never have to wait at in traffic, the fare will not increase for the first 3 Kilometers. However, the stand-still time will affect the fare, so if you are stuck in traffic the fare will still increase faster than 3K. The base fare rises to 14RMB after 11pm.

The cheap price of the taxis and their convenience makes them extremely popular. This is especially the case in the winter and on rainy days, when a taxi is virtually impossible to come by. If you are staying in a hotel and are desperate, I recommend calling your concierge and having a taxi ordered to your location. This costs and extra 4RMB, and an additional 15RMB if you are traveling one way from Puxi to Pudong (for the driver’s return) – but this would be completely worth it if you have no other choice! Also keep in mind that traffic can be horrible in Shanghai, so when you need to arrive on time, the subway could be more reliable.

There are several taxi companies in town, with Dazhong (designated by its blue taxis) as the overwhelming favorite amongst locals and tourists. If you are given the choice, jump in a blue one over say a maroon colored one (my least favorite – almost every driver I have had has been rude). The city has also given each taxi driver a number and a ranking. The number tells you how long the driver has been with the taxi company, anything above 230,000 and you should expect to have some difficulty getting where you want to go; be it a little more swerving, honking, or a few wrong turns. The ranking system apparently indicates a number of things, and it is said that one of the most important is the driver’s English knowledge. Also the overwhelming majority of drivers are honest, metres which tick over a bit faster or more scenic routes are not unheard of but are still uncommon. The only taxi’s you should definately avoid are the drivers who don’t queue at the rank at either the airports or the railway station.

Two very important things to remember: One, ALWAYS carry a card with your hotel address written in Chinese on it. Even if you think you can say the name correctly, the driver most likely will not understand. Second, despite the fact that it looks like there are no road rules in Shanghai, you are really very safe. There is some unspoken rule among drivers on the road that makes just about everything work. So just sit back and try to relax…

For an idea of average fares:

From one end of the French Concession to the other: 11RMB

From Puxi to Pudong: 30RMB

XuJiaHui to the Bund: 25RMB

Subway 地铁

Transportation: Subway

The subway is a great, reliable way to get around Shanghai....

Transportation: Subway

The subway is a great, reliable way to get around Shanghai. Its cheap (from 3 – 7RMB), quick, clean, and pretty easy to navigate. There are maps near the ticket booths that tell you your fare in English, making it easy to simply hand over the exact change to the ticket seller (therefore comfortably avoiding language barriers). The automated machines next to the booths are also user friendly and in English. Just select the line and then choose the station. The machines accept notes and coins.

You can also purchase a public transportation card at the subway ticket windows, which you can use at all the subways, bus routes and in all of the taxis. The card is free, but you must pay a 30RMB deposit that you will get back when you return the card. During rush hour this can make a huge difference, as lines can be really long at the ticket windows.

A word of warning: The Shanghai metro system is expanding, but is currently still only 5 lines that transport a HUGE number of people everyday. During rush hour these trains can be stiflingly crowded. The crowds can certainly reach a level of unbearable for those who are even somewhat claustrophobic. Actually, experiencing the metro at these hours could theoretically cause one to develop claustrophobia. I’ve personally witness a train that was fuller than that of Tokyo, which I had previously believed to be impossible.

Links:

A map of the Shanghai Subway
The official Shanghai Metro Website (no English)

To and From the Airport (Pudong and Hongqiao Airports) 往返机场 (浦东国际机场和虹桥国际机场)

Pudong International Airport (浦东国际机场)

Traveling in China, particularly for the first time, is not the easiest thing. Luckily the Pudong International Airport is well organized and makes the first experience here a little easier than...

Pudong International Airport (浦东国际机场)

Traveling in China, particularly for the first time, is not the easiest thing. Luckily the Pudong International Airport is well organized and makes the first experience here a little easier than you might expect.

If you are staying at a hotel that has shuttles, which many of them do, you will find the desks immediately after you have left baggage claim. Often these hotels will want your flight information before you arrive, so get on their website and find out what their rules are. If your hotel does not offer this service, head past these desks, all the while ignoring offers for “good deals” into the city (they will usually quote you at about 500RMB, ridiculous), to the taxi stand at the end of the arrivals area. At the taxi stand an airport employee will ask you where you are going (in English), then he will tell the taxi driver in Chinese while you get in the cab. The ride should cost no more than about 150 – 200RMB all the way to Puxi and takes about an hour.

Another increasingly popular way to get into the city is the MagLev, or the magnetic levitation train (50RMB). The train will take you to the Longyang (龙阳) subway station (line 2) in Pudong in 8 minutes. It is extremely easy, but keep in mind that it will still be another 20 – 30 minutes from the stop to Puxi in a taxi. Otherwise you can get on the subway and take it all the way into town. With line changes and hundreds of people on the subways, this is often a lot more trouble than it is worth… so keep in mind what you will have to deal with if you are thinking about doing it that way. On the plus side the train travels at a top speed of 431kph which is really quite exciting.

The ride back to the airport from Puxi in a taxi is somehow cheaper; It usually costs about 125RMB from the French Concession. You can also catch a shuttle bus from various points around the city that go to the airport every 30 minutes. Departure points include Jing’an Temple, under the Portman Hotel, Zhonghsan Park, Hongkou Football stadium and both Shanghai Railway Station and South Railway Station Tickets are 16-20RMB. Shuttle bus number 1 connects to Hongqiao Airport (30RMB).

Hongqiao International Airport (虹桥国际机场)

Most internal flights arrive and depart from Hongqiao Airport, which is in Puxi and will be no more than 30 minutes by taxi from any destination within Puxi. The exceptions are most flights to Hainan Island, and some flights to Beijing and Guilin which leave from Pudong airport. Be sure to check with your travel agent or on your ticket which airport you are fliying from.

Don’t forget to check out the option of a private car company.

External Links

Check out the Shanghai Airport site to get exact pricing and location information for ground transportation to and from both airports.

A bit more information on the MagLev train.