Life in Mainland China
Getting around China: high-speed rail, metros and taxis
The world's largest high-speed rail network, metros in dozens of cities, and taxis and bikes summoned by phone.
Play: Getting around quizHigh-speed rail
China's high-speed lines, almost all built since 2008, are longer than those of every other country combined. Trains run at up to 350 km/h: Beijing to Shanghai takes about four and a half hours, and most big cities are linked. Train numbers begin with a letter: G for the fastest high-speed trains, D for slightly slower ones, C for short intercity runs, and K, T and Z for conventional trains, including overnight sleepers.
Tickets are sold in your name through the railway's official app and website, 12306, or at stations, with an ID card or passport. Stations are run like airports: a security check at the door, a big waiting hall, and gates that open a short time before departure and close a few minutes before it leaves. Hot water taps are on every train.
Metros, taxis and bikes
Dozens of cities have a metro, and Shanghai's and Beijing's are among the longest in the world. Bags go through a scanner at the entrance, and most people pay by scanning a QR code in an app. Taxis are metered, and ride-hailing apps are used everywhere; drivers are addressed as master. Shared bikes and e-bikes stand on every corner, unlocked by scanning their code.
The golden weeks
Two holidays move the whole country: the Spring Festival and National Day on 1 October, each with about a week off. Trains, planes and famous sights are at their busiest then.
Getting around quiz
Trains, tickets, taxis and bikes.
How long is the fastest train from Beijing to Shanghai?
Answer
About 4.5 hours. About four and a half hours for some 1,300 km. Overnight sleeper trains still run too.
On a ticket, which letter marks the fastest high-speed trains?
Answer
G. G. D trains are also high-speed but a little slower; K, T and Z are conventional trains.
What do you need to buy a train ticket?
Answer
Your ID. Your ID: tickets are sold in your name and checked at the gate.
When do ticket gates usually close?
Answer
A few minutes before departure. A few minutes before departure, so arrive with time for the security check.
Which are the two biggest travel weeks of the year?
Answer
Lunar New Year and the National Day week in October. Lunar New Year and the first week of October; trains sell out weeks ahead.
What is a taxi driver called?
Answer
Master. Master, the polite word for a skilled worker.
How do you unlock a shared bike?
Answer
By scanning its QR code with an app. By scanning the QR code on the bike with an app; you pay for the minutes you ride.
What happens to your bag at a metro entrance?
Answer
It goes through a security scanner. It goes through an X-ray scanner, in most cities.