My Journal

Beijing capital airport has 3 terminals, be sure you know which one to use. More importantly the transportation to/from the airport. Sure we can use a taxi, but would cost around 100 yuan depending on your location in Beijing. This might sound cheap for some expats in China, but there are other cheaper means. To use subway is pretty convenient, it costs 25 yuan. Cheapest transportation tip for living in China including Beijing is the bus. To go to the airport is only 16 yuan with special airport bus. Be sure to know where the stations are. (As of 2011)

Beijing has other aiports other than Beijic Capital aiport. For domestic flights, consider to use them. It's less crowded and smaller so simpler to use. Prices could be lower too, for example to go to Wuxi. (2011)

Beijing is very famous for the bike. That's true... I bike everyday too! All roads have special bicycle lanes. Very convenient. We also bought a tricycle with a cart on the back. Very useful to buy stuffs from local store and to pick up my kids from school. Biking is very convenient, healthy, environment friendly and cheap. My bike costs 170 yuan.  To fix a broken pedal costs 3 yuan, to get new tires is around 20 yuan...  (as of now, 2009).

The popularity of electronic bike starts to catch up! The price range is 1500-3000 yuan, (2011). Depends... It has a battery in addition you need to pedal too. Really environment friendly too.

Beijing has LOTS of people. During rush hours it's very difficult to get on the bus. Really full. But during other times, it's pretty empty. It's cheap, with a card it costs only 3 mao (year 2010) and the price increases with distance.

Great, fast, CHEAP. With a card it costs 2 yuan. They keep building newer routes every year. You don't need to pay extra for transfer. I use this a lot for long distance, however, it's really full during rush hours. They build fast service to Tian Jin and the international airpot. Beijing subway has a web site here.

 The minimum cost is 10 yuan. To use a taxi from the Capital Airport to down town is around 100 yuan. But if you used a bus, it'll be around 15 yuan, subway 20 yuan...

 China has a good train system. Train is used heavily here. Chinta train guide has the train schedules.  Almost all major cities have train connections. China how has a the high speed train system (高速火车). From Wuxi to Nanjing took only about 2 hrs the speed could go above 300km/hr. From Wuxi to Shanghai took about 1/2 hr. Beijing-Shanghai in about 6 hours.

We went to wu xi once by driving. The highway was super good. The road was really evenly flat. It's really similar with highways in the USA with rest areas, clear directions, etc. If you had a car, try it. It worths it, not to mention the beautiful scenary! The cafetaria in the rest area offers buffet for only around 20 yuan (he bei, shan dong, year 2010). The food is okay, but I hope one day they open the service to private businesses however. I also wish they had a better restroom :( See below for a picture of one rest area in he bei.

A rest area in Hebei.

We can buy a pass valid for 1 year to visit famous sites. I bought one in Beijing. You can visit great wall and other famous sites infinite amount of time for one year for only 100 yuan! To buy, go to any park, ask when you can buy it. Web site.