#126 Beijing Transport

Getting around Beijing is very easy, even with no Chinese and a terrible sense of direction.

Taxi

The one taxi I used had no English but I had prepared my destination in Chinese in advance. He copied it into his GPS, turned on the meter and soon I was there! I can't verify they are all so honest, but it was a good experience, compared to Manila when they always ripped me off or took me wrong place.

Subway

The subway is the main method of transportation around Beijing. It was completely in English, including transfers and announcing the next stop, and also the signs and transfer directions in stations. I found it very easy to navigate - but I would caution you to know which exit to take and what direction to go when you get there. Anyone who has experience with large underground stations will know one wrong exit and you're completely confused.

It is cheap, as most trips will cost only 3-4rmb (50c). As for accessibility some transfers between lines can be long, and a few have only stairs (including transferring from Yonghegong Lama temple to Dongzhimen for the airport express. Painful with a suitcase!)

A sign on the platform. The subway car has similar inside but it lights up for the stops.

I bought a subway transport smart card for 20rmb refundable deposit. My hostel advised against it because there weren't so many places to return but I decided it would be easier than queueing for tickets and working out fares so I got it anyway, and was able to easily return it at the airport express station at terminal 3 before I left China. You can buy it at any subway station, but can only return at some bigger, major stations. There are machines that you can use to buy tickets or top up your card but I thought it was easier to go to the desk.

You should note that all subway stations in Beijing have security checkpoints, and you have to put your bag through an x-ray machine before scanning your ticket. Apparently this can cause lines at bigger stations at rush hour but I didn't have any problem waiting.

The subway has many (unofficial) apps which work offline, the one I used was 'Explore Beijing' for android and it worked just fine, telling me the start and end times of train lines, how to get there and where to change. It also had an area for people to submit 'tips', some were useful for pointing out exits etc.

Bus

The bus has OK English, and is ridiculously cheap (I paid 1.5rmb [20c?] for about a one hour journey). At one point I got lost and couldn't find a subway, but I found a bus stop on the side of the road. It was basically all in Chinese, but thankfully my Japanese skills allowed me to work out the name of one of the central stations and I waited for that one.

However, once actually on the bus there is a list of stops in English and it also indicates ones that have subway transfers, so worst case scenario you could always just get on any bus and get off at the stop with a subway and find your way home from there. The bus also announces stops in English and it flashes up in English too. Also to note, you get on the bus at the front and get off in the middle, and swipe your card getting on and off.

Walking/Street Names

A subway station at 5.30am...very quiet

Many street names have both Chinese characters and the English written underneath.

Due to the Great Firewall Google Translate won't work, but you can download the offline Chinese package. The only problem is that it doesn't show you the reading/pronunciation - so you won't be able to even try say it, just show it to someone.

You can even get a boat from Beijing Zoo to Summer Palace!

The same with Google Maps - while alone and lost I was desperate enough to turn on my roaming when I suddenly remembered the firewall would block maps anyway.
So instead I used my offline Chinese app to ask a street cleaner where the subway station was (for some reason I decided a city worker might be more kind than anyone else), she couldn't explain in English but a man came along and he showed me to a bus stop. Later the woman walked by again and came over and checked I was OK (I think!) which was very kind of her. So don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

There are also some offline maps apps but I didn't use any.

#20 Transport in Tokyo

To get anywhere in Tokyo, you have two options - the train or the subway. You could also factor in walking, bus and bike. But the first two are the ones you will use all the time. Car and taxi aren't options.

Here's some general info, as well as some hints and tips I've picked up:

Trains and Subways: 

Platform sign for the Yamanote Line around Tokyo.

There is one website you need, www.hyperdia.com
This website tells you how to get from one station to another, all you need to know are the names. It gives you different options, prices, and the timetables of the trains. Basically, it is a life saver and I use it all the time here.

Now, there are some things you should know. In Tokyo, everything is in English (including the platform signs and all the main trains have English signs and announcements for the next stop), so don't worry about that. Also, there is no such thing as a return ticket - everything is one way. This also makes it more expensive. And you should know the trains/subways aren't cheap. On a typical day going to and from any place will cost you about 1000yen.

The trains are cheaper, especially the JR ones (which are most of the ones around Tokyo). Tokyo Metro and the private subway lines always seem to be more expensive, so if you can, try get the trains for all or most of your journey.

The trains and subways run from around 5am - 12am. If you are caught without a train, there are hundreds of 24 hour cafes and restaurants on every corner you can just go into and sit down/sleep. I believe the Japanese are usually far too polite to come and wake you up.

The trains and subways aren't as crazy as you see on the internet, with a hundred people squished against the glass. Mostly. Weekdays from 7-9am is the only time you will see this, and I've been on these trains, and it is not a pleasant experience. Going home around 6-8pm is quite busy, but not near as bad as the mornings.
And don't worry about being groped - you probably won't be. I've been here two months and it's never happened to me or anyone I know, and talking to women who have lived here for years they say the same thing - it's not as common as the media would have you think.
Don't ever expect to get a seat. It is a rare and joyous occasion when this happens.

The Suica and Pasmo cards:
If you are going to be in Tokyo for more than a few days, I would recommend one of these. From what I understand these cards are both the same, but since I have the Suica card I'll give you more detail on that. Basically it is a type of credit card that's topped up with money, and then used to get the trains/subway. It is much easier and faster to just scan it as you go onto the platform than having to calculate fares and buy tickets each time. You can also use it to buy things at a lot of vending machines, as well as some supermarkets.

The Suica card cost me 2,000 yen, but this was with 1,500 yen on it to use, so really the price is only 500 yen, which is very cheap. It also gives you an option to put your name on it so it can be returned to you if lost (or they will give you a new card with the amount you had on the last card). I bought mine at a ticket machine in central Tokyo, although I am not sure if every station has these machines. Every station has machines where you can top up the card, and if there's a problem (such as you have no money left and the barriers won't let you leave. . .don't worry it happens often!) you can go to the help desk and they will sort it out. It's free to top up and use the card, so I'd see no reason for not having one (although my friend still doesn't, unbelievable!).

Car, bus, taxi. . . .
Driving in Tokyo is madness. Don't do it.
I've never gotten a taxi but they are supposed to be pretty expensive, and only to be used when you need to (such as if the train isn't running).
I've never gotten a bus either, but I always see them around Tokyo, so it definitely could be an option.
Bikes are pretty cheap here and you always see people cycling around the outskirts of Tokyo, not so much in the middle of the city. You can't put a bike on a train subway or bus though.


Walking
As with every city, you will walk until you can walk no more! Unless you're like some of the local girls and can walk comfortably in your six inch heels, comfortable shoes and blister plasters are a must. Crocs are very popular in Japan, especially during the summer, and now I know the reason why.