In this guide we’ll cover the best way to travel between cities in China, as well as how to get around once you arrive. I’ve also included recommendations for the best navigation apps to use in China.

China is a huge country with a landmass of around 9.6 million square kilometres – that’s almost the size of Europe. You’ll probably cover bigger distances on your trip to China than you would on an Interrailing trip around Europe. So what’s the best way to get around China?

Intercity Travel in China

You don’t want to be spending half of your trip in transit, so planning how to travel between cities in China is important to get right. The two main options for travelling around China are by train and by air.

Travelling by Train in China

China has the world’s longest high speed rail network. Most major cities in China have high speed rail connections. The fastest trains can reach impressive speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). You can get from Beijing to Shanghai, slightly further than Paris to Vienna, in just 4.5 hours!

High speed trains are an affordable, eco-friendly and efficient way to travel around China. In my opinion, it’s the best way to get around China, and has been my main method of transport during my travels around China.

There are also ‘slow’ trains with sleeper carriages that often include overnight travel. These are an even cheaper way to get around China for budget-conscious travellers with more time. Taking a sleeper train is a bit of an experience, but not a comfortable way to travel by any means.

Annoyingly, train tickets in China are only released 15 days in advance. That means you can’t book further ahead than that through the official China Railway website (Railway 12306). To get around this, you can reserve tickets on Trip.com. This means that Trip automatically books the tickets for you the moment they’re released.

Alternatively, you could book train tickets closer to the time on Railway 12306 and save on booking fees. You don’t need train bookings for Chinese visa applications, so they can be sorted out later on. Provided you’re not travelling during Chinese national holidays (around Chinese New Year and May/October ‘golden weeks’), this should be fine.

For more detailed information on trains, including booking train tickets and what to expect at train stations in China, check out my comprehensive guide to train travel in China.

Travelling By Air In China

If booking train tickets in China sounds like too much of a hassle for you, perhaps flying is the best option.

Most major cities in China are well-connected by air, so taking a domestic flight is a convenient way to get around China. Airports, even domestic ones, are generally easier to navigate than train stations, as all the signs will also be in English.

Flights are a more expensive and less eco-friendly option for getting around China, however. Train ticket prices are generally fairly consistent throughout the year, but flight prices can fluctuate depending on demand. That does mean if you’re travelling during the off-season in China, you might find flying to be cheaper than taking a high speed train.

A good starting point is a flight comparison website like SkyScanner to check your options. If there’s not a huge price difference, I prefer to book directly with the airline, as upgrades like checked baggage and seat selection are usually cheaper. It’s also easier to deal directly with the airline rather than a third party agent in case of issues with your booking.

I will say that websites for Chinese airlines, even big ones like China Southern, often feel quite clunky to use. They sometimes freeze up for no reason, particularly on mobile web browsers. A bit of patience is definitely needed.

I use Trip mainly for booking hotels and train tickets in China, but they do sometimes have good deals, so it’s worth checking. I even booked an international flight from London to Shanghai once using Trip once, as it was significantly cheaper than elsewhere.

Long-Distance Bus

You can technically get around China by bus, but this is even more painful than getting the slow train. I do not recommend this as a way to get around China, unless you’re travelling short distances or have run out of other transport options.

If you did want to travel by bus, tickets are usually bought at the station on the day. You’ll need your passports and you can pay with Alipay. You can also find tickets online (ctrip or Railway 12306), but the websites are in Chinese and you may have trouble booking without a mainland Chinese ID.

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Getting Around Within Cities in China

Now let’s go through how to get around once you’ve arrived, including how to navigate in China and how to take public transport in China.

Best Navigation App for China

Recommended navigation apps for China:

Google Maps (with VPN) + MetroMan China (Android users)
Apple Maps (iPhone users)
Gaode Maps (if you can read some Chinese)

Google Maps

Google Maps is the biggest maps app out there. But it’s not necessarily the best option for getting around in China. That’s because Google and all its products, including Google Maps, are banned in China.

In order to use Google Maps in China, you’ll need to install a VPN to bypass the blockade. However, Google Maps still won’t have the full functionality that you’re used to.

You can use it to get from A to B, but lots of information on Google Maps is out of date or incomplete. Many smaller places aren’t marked on the map, and you won’t be able to access ratings and photos to help you choose where to have dinner, for example.

Crucially, Google Maps doesn’t have any information on public transportation routes in China. It does show metro stations on the map view, but you won’t be able to plan your journey within the app. When planning my trip to Beijing, I noticed that quite a few metro stations were marked as ‘permanently closed’ on Google Maps, but in reality they were fully functioning.

Download Google Maps: just kidding… I’m sure you have it already

Gaode Maps (Amap)

Gaode Maps (高德地图), or Amap, is one of the main navigation apps used in China. It’s operated by Alibaba, the same company that owns Alipay, one of the two main payment methods in China. It’s available for both Apple and Android.

You can see public transport options with live arrival times on Gaode Maps. It also has ratings and reviews for most places, as well as a rankings list for the top attractions and restaurants. All in all, it pretty much has the same functionality as Google Maps, with one major drawback: it’s all in Chinese.

Another similar app often recommended is Baidu Maps (百度地图). It’s very widely-used in China, and is only in Chinese. Unfortunately it’s not available to download outside of China on either Apple or Android.

If you can read a bit of Chinese, I recommend giving Gaode Maps a try, as it’s the most complete maps app for navigating around China. If you do get stuck, you can take screenshots of the app and use Google Translate (ironic). Useful starting point: “步行” means walk and “公交地铁” means public transport.

For regular travellers going to China, the next best thing is Apple Maps.

Download Gaode Maps: iOS | Android

Apple Maps

Apple Maps is the best app to use for getting around China as an international traveller. The app is in English and geared towards international users.

Apple Maps uses data from Gaode Maps, so the information is pretty up to date. An important feature of Apple Maps is that it shows you available public transportation options (metro and bus). That means you can, for example, use it take the metro in Beijing.

You can search for places in both English and Chinese on Apple Maps, and the map displays place names in English with Chinese underneath.

Ratings on Apple Maps are pulled from mostly Dianping (a popular reviews/ratings app in China). This unfortunately means they’re all in Chinese, but they usually also include photos. These ratings aren’t necessarily a good indication, as I’ve noticed they tend to be lower compared to Gaode Maps.

The major drawback with Apple Maps is in the name: it’s only available for Apple. If you have an iPhone, the app will already be installed on your phone. You’ve probably ignored it in favour of Google Maps, but now is its time to shine!

Unfortunately for Android users, you won’t be able to download Apple Maps. If you want to use public transport in China, you’ll need to find a friend with an iPhone or learn Chinese… (ok or get the MetroMan app).

Download Apple Maps: iOS only

MetroMan China

This is a route planner map for taking the metro in China. You can use it for all cities in mainland China with a metro system. It also works for Hong Kong and Macau. MetroMan China is available for Android and Apple.

The app tells you the journey time, distance and also cost. Pop-up ads are fairly frequent on this app, but it does the job and the app is free. There is also an option to get the ad-free premium version if the adverts really annoy you.

For Android users, MetroMan AND Google Maps is the best option to navigate your way around China.

Download MetroMan China: iOS | Android

Public Transport

Public transport is a cheap and convenient way to get around China. Most big cities have a metro system, and local buses are available everywhere.

Taking the Metro in China

Many big cities in China have a metro or subway system, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming to name a few. The metro is a quick and easy way to get around the city, and most tourist attractions are located near a metro station. It’s extremely cheap, and some journeys can cost as little as ¥2 (£0.22/$0.28).

Thankfully, all metro stations that I’ve been to in China have bilingual signs, i.e. it also has the station name written in English underneath. Chinese metro lines tend to be easier to navigate than the London Underground, as there aren’t loads of branches at the ends of the lines. The names of the metro lines tend to be numbers, but there may also be a ‘circle line’ (环线 huán xiàn).

Paying for the Metro

There are a few methods of paying for the metro in China.

The most convenient way is to register for a free digital metro card on Alipay. You get a QR code to swipe in and out at the ticket barriers, and you pay with your international bank card via Alipay. You can technically use the QR code offline without internet – I tested it a few times and it worked, but I wouldn’t rely on it, as the QR code habitually refreshes.

To activate the virtual metro card, click the ‘Transport’ tab located on the top row in the app and select ‘Metro’. There are separate transport cards for metro and bus. You’ll need to activate the digital card for each new place, as every city has their own system.

You can also get physical metro cards to tap in and out, which are available at larger stations. These usually require a returnable deposit for the card. This probably isn’t worth the hassle unless you’re planning to stay for a longer period of time, and even then the digital card is more convenient.

If you prefer not to give away yet another piece of data, you can buy tickets per journey. You can pay with cash or Alipay at the station machines, which usually have an English option. You’ll get a single-use card (or plastic chip in some places) that you feed back into the ticket barrier at the end of your journey.

The machines usually only accept certain notes and coin values (¥1 coins, ¥5, ¥10 +/- ¥20 notes) and give you change in ¥1 coins. At some stations, the ticket machines don’t accept Alipay linked to a foreign card. If you have credit in your Alipay wallet you can use that instead, otherwise you need to buy your ticket from the manned counter. Sometimes you also need a Chinese ID card to buy a ticket at the machine, so you again need to go to the counter. I’ve found that metro stations in central Beijing tend to be stricter with this kind of thing.

Taking the Bus in China

Local buses are the cheapest way to get around within cities in China. They are, however, much less user-friendly for non-Chinese speakers compared to the metro. Regular local buses usually show the name of the next stop on the screen, but it’s not always displayed in English, and getting off at the right stop can take a bit of guesswork. If you show the bus driver the name of your stop (in Chinese), they do sometimes let you know when to get off.

For some further out tourist attractions in Beijing, including the Great Wall, taking the bus might be the best option to get there without a tour group. These tend to be big air-conditioned coaches for tourists rather than regular local buses. They’re much more comfortable, and getting off will be more obvious as it will be the last, and sometimes only, stop.

Buses accept WeChat pay, cash (no change provided), or travel card. To use Alipay, you need to activate a digital bus travel card, similar to the metro. Definitely sort this out well before you board, as bus drivers aren’t known for their patience.

To use the bus travel card on Alipay, you scan the QR code when you board, and then scan again when you get off. The fare is charged by distance, so if you forget to scan the QR code you’ll be charged the maximum fare.

Taxis in China / Didi Ride-Hailing

The easiest way to get around in China within cities is probably by taxi. Although more expensive than public transport, taxis in China are very affordable compared to Europe or the US.

There are licensed taxis that you can hail  – these charge you by meter and are regulated, so won’t cheat you. Most younger people tend to use online ride-hailing apps, as it’s more convenient and also cheaper (by ~20-30%). Avoid the unlicensed taxis, even if they’re offering a cheaper price, as they’re quite dodgy.

DiDi (滴滴出行) is the main ride-hailing app in China – basically a Chinese Uber. You can access DiDi through a mini-app within Alipay. You need an internet connection to use DiDi, and you also need to have a phone number registered (you can get away with using a non-Chinese number for this).

If you open DiDi within in Alipay, the app is fully in English. You can also input locations in Chinese, which it then translates. You can message the driver within the app, and it translates it into Chinese for the driver/English for you. Sometimes the driver calls you to ask for your exact location, so sending a message can avoid an awkward phone call. If you registered with a foreign phone number, some (not all) DiDi drivers may cancel your booking, as they won’t be able to call you.

Getting a DiDi Taxi from the Train Station

Train stations usually have a designated pick-up point for DiDi cars, with signs directing you there labelled as “网约车” (wǎng yuē chē // online car hailing), sometimes accompanied by a DiDi logo. Pinpointing your location at the train station is often difficult, especially if the DiDi pick-up point is in an underground car park. Search for “网约车上车点” (wǎng yuē chē shàng chē diǎn // online car hailing pick-up point) or “滴滴上车点”  (dī dī shàng chē diǎn // DiDi pick-up point) as your location.

At train stations, it may be logistically easier to take a regular taxi, showing them your hotel’s address in Chinese, or the metro.

China by Car

In China they drive on the right side of the road. To drive in China, you need to hold a Chinese driving license.

Previously, international driving licenses weren’t accepted in China. But after a more recent update to the policy, visitors can now apply for a temporary driving license upon arrival in Beijing airport. It’s probably still easier to hire a private driver than drive yourself though.

In more remote and rural areas, it might be worth having a driver, and usually your hotel can arrange it for you. But generally in big cities, it’s much easier (and cheaper) to call a taxi or take the metro.

Renting Bicycles and Mopeds

Most cities have bicycles that you can scan a QR code to rent by the hour. They don’t come with helmets, and you’d be cycling on the busy main roads, so I don’t really recommend cycling around cities in China as a tourist. There are a few places where it can be fun to cycle in China, though.

In Xi’an, you can rent a bicycle to cycle along the ancient city walls, which were first built in the Tang Dynasty. The route is 13.7 kilometres (8.5 miles), and one of the best ways to enjoy the Xi’an city walls.

Electric mopeds (sometimes called electric scooters) are very common in China and are treated in the same category as bicycles, so you don’t need a driving license to ride one. The speed limit for electric mopeds is 25km/h (15.5 mph), and scooters also go in the cycle lane. Be aware that traffic, including mopeds and bicycles, can turn right on a red light.

In Yangshuo in Guilin, you can rent a bicycle or electric moped to explore the beautiful surrounding landscapes.

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So that’s everything you need to know about getting around in China. The high-speed train and metro systems really are game-changers, and make navigating around China so much easier.

Got any more questions? Let me know in the comments.

Check out my other China guides to help plan your trip:
Guide to Train Travel in China
6 Essential Apps for Travelling China
Getting a SIM Card for China
How to Pay in China
How to Book Hotels in China

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