Getting around in China
Metro, taxi, ride-hailing and buses — how each works and which to use when.
What everyone needs to know
- DiDi is the dominant ride-hailing app and has an English interface; it is usually the easiest option without Mandarin.
- Metro systems screen every bag and cost ¥2–10 per journey, paid by QR at the gate.
- Taxis are metered and cheap but drivers rarely speak English — show the destination in Chinese characters.
- Traffic in major cities is heavy, so metro beats taxi for almost every journey under 10 km.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Metro fare | ¥2–10 per journey |
| Taxi flagfall | ¥13–16 in tier-1 cities |
| DiDi vs taxi | Similar price, no language barrier |
| Airport express | ¥25–50 where it exists |
Do it in this order
- Install DiDi before arrival and bind your international card.
- In metros, scan the Alipay/WeChat transit QR at the gate; no separate ticket needed in most cities.
- For taxis, keep your destination written in Chinese characters and photograph the driver’s licence plate.
- Use the airline-style airport express where available — it skips traffic entirely.
Mistakes to avoid
- Hailing an unlicensed taxi at a station exit instead of using the official rank.
- Assuming the driver will understand an English address.
- Riding the metro at 08:00–09:00 or 17:30–19:00 with large luggage.
Sources
Getting around city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna