Public Transport
Metro, bus, taxi and ride-hailing, and high-speed rail — the general rules rather than a city-by-city catalogue.
Public transport in China
Which way to travel in China, decided by luggage, hour and distance, plus the three transport tasks that have to be finished before you fly.
Read the guide →Public TransportChina metro guide
Riding the metro in China on a passport: ticket windows, the cash-guaranteed machine, Alipay transit codes, security checks, luggage limits and last trains.
Read the guide →Public TransportChina bus guide
City buses in China: the three officially listed ways to pay, why exact change matters, and where official guidance stops and editorial judgement starts.
Read the guide →Public TransportDiDi and taxis in China
Ride-hailing and taxis in China: the mainland DiDi app versus DiDi-Rider, hailing from inside Alipay or WeChat, and the rule that taxis must take cash.
Read the guide →Public TransportChina high-speed rail
Taking a Chinese high-speed train on a foreign passport: e-tickets, the disputed self-service gate, security screening and how early to reach the station.
Read the guide →Public Transport12306 for foreign travellers
12306 for foreign passport holders: email registration, the 3-5 working day passport check, English-site opening hours and one ticket per document.
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