Getting Around China: Transport Guide

The only problem with getting around in China is that of time- it’s so huge, you spend a lot of time just getting from Tourist Attraction A to Tourist Attraction B. Fortunately, however, transport networks over most of the country are pretty well developed. You can fly to all the provincial capitals (and some of the other large cities), and trains go almost all over the country, except Tibet. Where trains don’t go, buses do, and are a cheaper, though slower, alternative. However, you should be prepared for a rough ride - roads are often pretty bad. A fourth option is that of the ferries and boats along main rivers like the Yangtse.

Within cities, taxis, autorickshaws and hired cars (or bicycles, the most common form of transport) can be used. If you’d like to set off on your own, hiring a car or jeep is a good idea, and sometimes the only way, in places like Tibet.