Train

China operates the largest high speed network in the world – so while you’re there I would strongly encourage you to give it a try! Theres nothing quite like flying over 300km an hour in a completely still and modern train.

Booking train tickets are relatively simple, keep the following principles in mind:

• Tickets can only be booked 15 days in advance, no exceptions.
• You must have your passport in order to board a train (your passport is your ticket).

To book a train ticket in China you have a couple of apps available:

Trip.com – Available in English, accepts international bank cards, charges a 10-15% booking fee on top of the standard price

12306 – What Chinese people use, only accepts Chinese payment methods, no booking fee

As a tourist you can use either app to book, if you’re looking to save money 12306 will be the cheapest option.

High speed trains are categorised as ‘G,D or C’, and regular trains are ‘K, T, Z’. I would strongly recommend choosing the high speed train where possible as you will get to your destination 3x quicker.

Taxi

Taxi’s are a cheap and convenient way of getting around, but there are scams to watch out for, especially when getting a taxi from the airport.

The absolute best way to use a taxi is to order it via online apps like Didi or Amap. This way the fee is automatically calculated and payment is online and transparent. It works exactly like Uber, and you will have significant peace of mind.

If you absolutely must hail a taxi from the street or airport without using the online apps, keep the following principles in mind:

• Always ask for a receipt at the end of the journey (no exceptions). The word for receipt is xiàopiào (小票), and the driver is obligated to print one out for you every time.
• Always take a picture of the number plate before getting into the taxi.

This way, if anything goes wrong (i.e. you were overcharged, or the driver acted out of line), you are able to report it via official channels and you will have all the details you need.

Note: Taxi scams are far and few in between, but they are more prevalent in certain areas and will prey on foreign tourists. Understand that there is no tipping culture whatsoever in China so you do not need to tip your taxi driver, and if they ask for a tip they are attempting to scam you.

Underground

Most large cities in China will have an underground system which are usually new, modern and cheap to use. The underground is one of the most convenient public transport methods in China.

The best way to pay for your underground ticket is to use Alipay. There is a specific ‘Transport’ button, which generates a QR code for you to scan in and out of the station. The cost will be determined by the distance you’ve travelled.

The underground systems in China are exceptionally affordable, with trips costing between 2 to 10 yuan (25p – £1.10).

Note: You will be subject to security checks when entering the underground in China, all bags will need to pass through an X-ray machine and you might be asked to take a sip of your water bottle to verify its safe. This is standard practise for most places in China including airports, hospitals, attractions etc.

Plane

Of course domestic flights exist in China and you can book those easily with your preferred provider (I usually use Skyscanner).

However, while it may seem quicker to fly from one city to another, often Chinese people will choose the high speed train as when taking into consideration the travel to and from the airport (usually on the outskirts of the city), plus the security/check-in time, it can often work out better with the train.

I would suggest researching where the airports are in relation to where you want to go, as usually the train stations are much more central. Of course, if you’re travelling from the top of China to the bottom, a flight would still be much quicker.

Note: For domestic flights you will not need to go through immigration again, but you will be subject to Chinese domestic travel policy including confiscation of power banks that don’t meet the very strict standard of having a visible ‘China Compulsory Certification (CCC/3C) mark, a capacity under 100Wh, and much be carried only in carry-on luggage.