Transportation, Bus, Train, Taxi

Avoid rush hour as a China Wanderer.

At all costs.

Transportation fills up quickly. Variables like cold weather, rain, heavy wind, etc. also influence the crowdedness of the system. There is something to be said for the experience of having zero mobility for the crush of bodies around you. It is, after all, something that is unique to the packed nations of Asia. But if you are traveling in a group as a China Wanderer (with friends or family), this makes it all but impossible to stay together.

In Beijing and Shanghai, subway and bus names relate destinations in both Chinese and English, but the chance is small that other cities will provide this service, so it is useful to always have the Chinese characters and pinyin written down when traveling to either check yourself or use to ask for help as a China Wanderer.

Train is the most highly used form of transportation when traveling from city to city in China. There are generally 5 classifications for seats: soft sleeper, hard sleeper, soft seat, hard seat, and standing room only. Soft sleeper is a doored cabin of 4 beds. Hard sleeper is an entire car with 6 beds per partition. Soft seat is a comfortable bench facing another bench with a table in the middle. Hard seat is rows of seats all facing forward. Standing room means the aisles and spaces within the hard seat cabin. Standing room passengers are the overflow from hard seat passengers. They paid the same fare, but did not purchase tickets in time to get a seat. They will sit in your seat if you get up, but if you show them your ticket, they will move again for you. Nevertheless, hard seat cabins are not enjoyable. They are crowded. Kids are screaming. People are shouting. The air is stuffy. Too cold in winter. Too hot in summer. It takes a lot of fight to work through the crowds to get to your seat let alone get up again to go to the bathroom. It’s a different side of China, to be sure. But if you are traveling for any kind of distance, especially an overnight trip, it is recommended you get a hard sleeper. You will still have a chance to experience the serendipitous meetings and random conversations that define train culture, but in much greater comfort. Also, the price difference between Hard sleeper and hard seat are not always that much. Even if it is, it is never a bad decision. If you can only get a hard seat, however, move to the dining car, if you can. You may well have to buy something, but after 15 minutes in the hard seat car, you will probably think it’s worth it.

Taxis are very convenient. Except during rush hour and in a rain. Then naturally it’s harder to find one. But they are plentiful along bar streets and business centers. Also, the fare is much cheaper than in the West. One thing to look out for, however, is black cabs. These are unmarked cabs with drivers who usually stand outside the car and ask you if you want a ride. These drivers are not strictly evil, like they are always made out to be, but what they are doing is illegal and you may well be cheated if you do not already know what the standard price of your trip should be as a China Wanderer. This is true especially for foreigners going to and from the airport. If you ever run into this situation, make sure you agree on a price beforehand, and even with a legitimate driver, make sure he turns on his meter once you start driving.

Become a China Wanderer and Live Life Less Ordinary,

Yours,

Alan Capa