As the political, administrative and cultural center of China, Beijing is undoubtedly the most vital city in the country even the world. Each year, millions of people throughout the world come to visit this elegant, time-honored place, with great curiosity of course. So as to give its beloved visitors a best reception, Beijing has built a super advanced transportation system with all the airports, railways, subways, buses, taxis etc. involved. Follow TOC to know more and dig deeper!
To & From Beijing
Aviation
Visitors from long distances or even overseas could definitely benefit from its complete aviation system. The city is in possession of several airports, within which Beijing Capital International Airport（BCIA) is of the most importance. Regarded as the largest international airport in China and the second largest in Asia, BCIA is situated in the northeast of Beijing, about 20 kilometers away from the downtown. Started its career on the day of 2nd March, 1958, Beijing Capital International Airport is among the oldest ones in the country. Except for its vital location, large scale, sophisticated equipment and busiest transportation, the airport is also famous for its high quality services namely convinent online ticket booking and consultation, warm lost-and-found service etc., being greatly praised. Thus it is really a great link in the whole transport network.
Aiming to bring visitors great convenience, BCIA has prepared a group of airport shuttles to pick up and send passengers to the downtown, and also to gather them along the way to the airport. Besides, in order to convenient those passengers waiting for night flights or arriving very late, star hotels have also been built around the airport. More detailed information about timetables of the airport shuttles, and hotels around the airport etc. are provided.
Railway
Beijing is one of the most vital hub in Chinese railway network, connecting such key cities as Hongkong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ha'erbin etc. Besides, its railways also extend to some important neighboring countries like Russia, North Korea, Vietnam etc., being a great link with the outside world. All together five railway stations are available in Beijing - Beijing Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station, Beijing North Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing East Railway Station.
Beijing Railway Station was opened in the 1950s, easily seen from its traditional 50s architectural styles. Located in an extremely central part just next to Jianguomen, 
the station enjoys a quite joyful transport condition with a lot of buses dotted, namely 20, 25, 39, 59, 122, 203, 209; one can also get there by subways, subway line 2 to Beijing Subway Station and with a short walk there.
The current Beijing South Railway Station is a new railway station on the south side of Beijing that opened on August 1, 2008. It is reported to be the largest in Asia, joining Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station as the third major passenger rail hub in the capital. The station serves as the terminus for high-speed trains to the city, Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Rail to be one. Travelers can take bus 20, 53, 63, 102, 106, 122, 203, 208, 377, 381 there.
Beijing North Railway Station is a comparatively small station, mainly providing regular intercity train service to the north and northwest, including the Hailar-Baotou Grasslands Express. It is also the southern terminus forS2 Line of the Beijing Suburban Railway. Passengers can reach there either by subways - line 2 and 13 or buses such as 21, 331, 375, 387, 392, 490, 604, 650, 693 etc.
Beijing West Station handles traffic from south and west China. The well-known Jingjiu Railway, or Beijing-Kowloon Railway line, begins here. Since there is not yet a subway station that connects to it, travelers could go there by bus or taxi. No.9, 21, 40, 47, 50, 52, 54, 65, 67, 205, 209, 212, 301, 319, 320, 373, 374 all stop there.
Beijing East Railway Station is located near Sihui. There are altogether 7 passenger trains stop at the station everyday: 2110(Jinzhou-Beijing east), 7154(Chengde-Beijing east), 4453(Shijiazhuang-Chengde), 4414(Chengde-Tianjin), 4454(Chengde-Shijiazhuang), 2109(Beijing east-Jinzhou) and 7153(Beijing east-Chengde).
In & Around Beijing
Subway
Beijing Subway is a rapid transit rail network that serves the urban and suburban districts of Beijing municipality. With 8 lines, over 200 km of tracks and 123 stations currently in operation, it is the busiest subway in mainland China, and the second longest after Shanghai Metro. As the existing network cannot adequately meet the city's mass transit needs, Beijing Subway is undergoing rapid expansion currently. Three new lines were opened on July 19, 2008, ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. It is also planned that 19 lines and 561 km of tracks would be in operation by the year 2015. Subway is a key section in the whole city traffic network, doing a great favor to the city's daily transportation.
Line 1, a straight east-west line underneath Chang'an Avenue, bisects the city through Tiananmen Square. It connects major commercial centres, Xidan, Wangfujing, Dongdan and the Beijing CBD; Line 2, a rectangular loop line, traces the Ming-era city wall that once surrounded the inner city, and stops at each of the wall's 12 gates (ending in men) as well as Beijing Railway Station; Line 5, a straight north-south line, passes the Temple of the Earth, Lama Temple and the Temple of Heaven; while Line 10, a "┐"-shaped route to the north and east of Line 2, follows the Yuan-era city wall in the north, passing just south of the Olympic Green. At the Sanyuanqiao, northeast of the city, Line 10 turns straight south and follows the eastern 3rd Ring Road through the embassy district and Beijing CBD; Olympic Branch Line (Line 8 Phase I) extends north off Line 10 with three stops in the Olympic Green; Line 13 arcs across suburbs north of the city and channels commuters to Xizhimen and Dongzhimen, at the northwest and northeast corners of Line 2; the Airport Line connects the Beijing Capital International Airport, 27 km northeast of the city, with Line 10 at Sanyuanqiao and Lines 2 and 13 at Dongzhimen.
Bus
In Beijing, more than 900 bus routes link with each other into an enormous public transport network. There are all together three kinds of buses being designed to serve the public-trolleybus, air-conditioned bus and double deck bus. So as to make a full preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, in the year 2005, all those buses were updated with fresh looks and finer equipment. Most buses run in midtown are conductor-less and the fare of regular bus is 1 RMB while 2 RMB for the air-conditioned one. A number of buses with conductors mostly can be found in suburban districts and the outskirts, the prices of which are related to the stops and distances.
Taxi
Starting(minimum) fare in the day time: 10RMB /3 kilometers, 2/ per kilometer after the first three kilometers. After 15 kilometers, 3/ per kilometer.
Starting(minimum) fare at night(11 p.m.---5 a.m.): 11RMB /3 kilometers, 2.4/ per kilometer after the first three kilometers. After 15 kilometers, 3.4/ per kilometer. No fare will be charged during the waiting period.
Editor's words:
Please carefully keep your valuables such as mobile phones, purses, pcs etc. when take a bus or train, as some thieves may intermingle with the crowd. Prepare some small changes for buses, especially those conductor-less ones. If you've got private time, you could take subway to travel along the lines with several members of your tour. Wish you a good time!
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