How to Get Around in China
- A Practical Guide for Tourists -
Last Update: November 16, 2019
So you are in China. There is no Uber for you to call taxi and no Google Translate to communicate. People you encounter everyday don’t seem to be good at English in general, and you don’t speak Chinese at all.
Sounds difficult to travel by yourself? Not at all. I lay out in these few articles how to be self-sufficient when traveling in China, leveraging the technology available. Let’s start with your transportation needs to get around in China.
Also see How to Get Around China’s Great Firewall – A Practice Guide to Access Restricted Sites and How to Make Mobile Payments in China – A Practical Guide for Tourists
Ride-Hailing
Even without Uber, you are still able to get around China yourself using China’s ride-hailing app. I think the Chinese apps are in some aspect more powerful than their western equivalent.
I recommend using DiDi, the prominent ride share app in China. It has an English version and accepts major international credit cards. The cost will be much cheaper than regular taxi, and you don’t have to bother with translation for non-English speaking drivers.
DiDi came in so handy for our trip in China, we even use it as our map since we couldn’t connect to Google Map.
Here’s step-by-step instruction in setting up DiDi.
How to set up DiDi?
If the app is in Chinese, follow the below steps to reset the language.
Click on the profile icon at the top left
Select the last item on the menu which means “settings”
Select the second item which means “change language”
Select “English”
Now, you can set up the payment method. Click your profile icon on top left, select “My Wallet”, then select “Payment Methods”
You can add major international credit cards
How to use DiDi?
Using DiDi is similar to using any other ride-hailing app. You can type your destination in English and it will automatically translate this into Chinese for the driver. It will even translate simple messages between you and the driver.
One thing to note is that in some areas, you may need to meet the driver at designated spot because cars may not be allowed to stop where you are. Follow the map on DiDi closely to see where you are vs. where you are supposed to be picked up.
For long distance rides, the app may deduct a deposit balance first.
Train
If you need to take a train in China, you can book tickets on Trip.com. This is the English version of the most popular travel booking site Ctrip.com in China.
However, keep in mind that the official train booking site is 12306.cn and Trip.com is just an intermediary. When you book tickets on Trip.com, they may not able to confirm your booking instantly.
Even if you have a confirmed ticket, you will need to pick it up at the train station using your ID. Be prepared to show up at the station at least 1-2 hours before the departure. The lines can be very long and since you do not have Chinese ID, you cannot use the automatic ticket machines. There may also be multiple security checks before you can eventually board the train.
DO NOT take train around Chinese New Year! DO NOT take train around Chinese New Year! DO NOT take train around Chinese New Year! Unless you want to join billions of other -0=7people in what is now called the world’s largest annual human migration.
Bicycle
Bike-share is very popular in China as well. Two of the most popular bike-share apps are Mobike and Ofo. You can easily set up an account with them if you have Alipay or WeChat Pay. I’ve never used them myself because I didn’t want to deposit a balance in their accounts when I only had a short stay in China.
Bus & Subway
To get around within a city using public transportation, subway is a good option where available. You can use cash to buy tickets or passes at the station, and the sign for each stop typically comes with English translation.
Taking bus is not easy for foreign travelers. There is no English sign on many buses and bus stations, but there is a vast network of buses without a reliable schedule. It’s easy to get to any destination by bus if you can be flexible with your routes, but this requires a lot of familiarity with the area.
Many buses now no longer accept cash. Mobile payments only.
Rental Car
Don’t bother if you are just traveling in China for a short period of time. It’s not possible to rent a car in China without a Chinese driver license. International driving permit is not accepted. Plus, it’s difficult to drive here as both drivers and pedestrians don’t really follow the rules. I’ve not even heard of many Chinese who choose to drive in China if they had become accustomed to driving in the US.
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