How to Travel in Beijing

Travelling to Beijing during your vacation? You should know everything that is there to know about the city. Now, if you are trying to find out how to get around the city, know there are many ways. The transport network of Beijing consists of public transportation and private transportation. Here’s how you can travel in Beijing.

Public transportation

Owning your own car is still not a thing in Beijing. But there are many public transport options to make up for the lack of privately owned cars. The city has a commendable public transport network with buses and subways.

You won’t find monthly passes or multi-day tickets here; if you want to use public transport, you should buy an IC card, which is rechargeable. You can use this card for both buses and the subway. The card is available to buy at many subway stations; there are outlets that say IC Card.

Taxis

Due to the fact that not many people in Beijing own cars, there are many taxis. This is a cheap mode of transport, and they are pretty common too.

Pedicabs and Sanlunche

Sanlunche is a three-wheel car that’s quite common in Beijing; some people call this BoingBoing because it makes for a bumpy and slightly uncomfortable ride – these are tuk-tuks you see in South Asian countries. The rates are similar to regular taxi rates, which should be discussed before getting in. Tuk-tuks are faster than regular taxis as they can squeeze through traffic using sidewalks and space in between other vehicles; this also makes them dangerous.

Pedicabs, also called rickshaws, are a common sight in touristy areas. These are a great method of travel for short distances; however, they are not ideal for long distances and are not very safe. As with tuk-tuks and taxis, you should negotiate the fare before setting off on your journey.

Cars

This is the most comfortable way of getting around, but not the fastest way. If you can get your hotel to arrange a car for you, you should definitely go for it, but the rates are a bit too steep.

Driving isn’t an option as you are supposed to have a Chinese driving licence if you want to drive in China. So, the immediate option is to hire a car with a driver; this is the recommended option for tourists.

Two-wheelers

You can rent a bike or a scooter. Two-wheelers are fast becoming popular among locals as well as tourists; this is mainly because of rideshare companies offering competitive rates.

You can drive your own bike or scooter; you don’t need a licence to drive two-wheelers in Beijing. Also, you don’t need to wear a helmet, but it’s recommended for tourists who are not used to Beijing traffic.

Many regions of Beijing are equipped with bike lanes, so getting around by bike is easy, but you need to share the lanes with tuk-tuks.

Walk

Unless you hire a car or a bike, you will have to walk a lot. If you decide to use public transport, you are going to have to walk to the stations. However, if you are staying in Beijing Daxing, accommodation providers are located close to many tourist attractions and transport links, so walking might be possible.

What travellers need to know

You should get your hotel to arrange transport for you whenever you can; this should be easy if you are staying at a place like Somerset Daxing Beijing. While the public transport network in Beijing is quite good, buses are often crowded, and you need to know a bit of the local language to navigate your way around. Bikes aren’t a safe option, so if you want a cheaper and safer transport option, you should opt for tuk-tuks. Also, when hiring a car, make sure it comes with a driver.

Furthermore, there are two seasons for visiting Beijing: the season from March to May and the one from September to October.