Getting around Chinese cities can feel unfamiliar at first, especially when you are working out payment apps, station entrances and addresses in Chinese. With a little preparation, the metro, local buses and taxis can make independent sightseeing much easier.
This guide explains how UK visitors can use urban transport in mainland China. Ticket systems, payment methods and operating hours differ between cities, so check the local operator’s current instructions rather than assuming one setup works nationwide.
Which Transport Option Should You Choose?
For many first-time visitors, the metro is a good starting point where a suitable network exists. It avoids road congestion and lets you follow a route using line numbers and station names.
Buses can be useful for local neighbourhoods or places not served by the metro, but require closer attention to stops and direction. A licensed taxi or an app-booked ride may be more convenient with luggage, after an evening out or when your destination is far from a station.
For airport and railway-station journeys, compare the entire trip, including walking, transfers and luggage handling, rather than choosing only by fare.
Prepare Your Phone, Payments and Chinese Addresses
Before setting out, save your hotel’s name and address in Chinese. Do the same for attractions and railway stations, including the exact entrance or terminal if relevant.
Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used, but being able to pay a shop does not automatically mean you can use every city’s transport QR code. Transport services can require separate activation, verification or an accepted payment arrangement.
Try setting up the relevant service before your first journey. Keep a backup such as a locally available single-journey ticket or accepted cash payment, and check what the operator supports.
Do not assume a UK contactless bank card can be tapped directly at every metro gate or bus reader as it can on some UK networks. Direct bank-card acceptance is city- and system-specific.
Have mobile data available, save key information offline and carry a charging cable or suitable power bank.
How to Use the Metro in China
Find the Correct Entrance
Look for the metro operator’s logo, the station name and signs marked 地铁. Entrances may have letters or numbers, and the closest entrance to your destination may not be the first one you see.
A metro entrance is different from an intercity railway entrance, even when both serve the same transport complex. Follow signs for the urban metro rather than railway departures.
Get a Ticket or Activate a Supported Transport Code
Depending on the city, you may be able to buy a single-journey ticket at a machine or counter, use a local transport card, or activate a supported metro QR code in an app.
For a single-journey ticket, select your destination and follow the machine’s payment instructions. If your payment method is not accepted or you cannot find the station, ask at the service counter.
If using a transport QR code, select the correct city and service. A general payment code is not necessarily a metro travel code. Follow the instructions on the reader and keep your phone available for the exit.
Choose the Right Line and Direction
After any required security checks and the entry gate, follow your line number and colour. Check the station list for the direction you need; platforms are often labelled by the line’s terminal station rather than your individual destination.
At an interchange, follow the signs for your next line. Do not leave through an exit unless your route or the operator’s instructions require it.
Let passengers get off before boarding, stand clear of the doors and follow onboard station announcements and displays.
Exit at the Right Place
Keep your ticket or travel code until you have passed the exit gate. Some systems retain single-journey tickets on exit, while other methods require another scan or tap. Follow the gate’s instructions.
Check the exit map before going to street level. Choosing the right lettered or numbered exit can save a long walk around a large road or station complex.
Check Metro Operating Hours and Last Connections
Check the first and last trains for your boarding station and direction, not just the network’s general opening hours. Different lines and directions can have different timetables. Look for 首班车 (first train), 末班车 (last train) and 运营时间 (operating hours) on station notices or the operator’s official information.
If you need to change lines, check that you can catch the last onward train at the interchange. Boarding the last train on your first line does not guarantee that the connection will still be running. Allow time for walking between platforms and ask station staff if the connection is unclear.
Check current notices for holiday changes, maintenance or temporary service adjustments. Do not assume the metro operates all night. For early airport departures or late evenings, prepare a backup such as a licensed taxi or app-booked ride.
How to Take a Local Bus in China
Check the route number, direction and boarding stop before waiting. The same route number can serve opposite directions from different stops, and some routes have branches or shortened services.
Save your destination stop in Chinese and track the journey with a suitable map or the bus’s onboard display where available. If you are unsure, show the stop name to the driver when boarding, without distracting them while they are driving.
Payment arrangements vary. A bus may accept a local transport card, a dedicated bus QR code or cash. Do not assume that the metro code you activated also works on the bus.
If paying cash, check the fare and whether exact payment is needed. Some cash boxes do not provide change. On services requiring entry and exit taps, remember both; follow the local signs.
Use the doors indicated for boarding and alighting, hold a rail while the bus moves and be ready to leave at your stop. Check whether you need to press a stop-request button rather than assuming every bus stops automatically.
Check Bus Operating Hours Before You Travel
Bus operating hours vary by city, route and direction. Check the first and last departures for the specific service you plan to use, including your return journey. Do not assume that all buses run as late as the metro or that a night service is available.
At bus stops, look for 首班车 (first bus), 末班车 (last bus) and 运营时间 (operating hours). Check whether the displayed times refer to departures from the route’s starting terminal rather than arrivals at your stop. If this is unclear, confirm with the operator or ask for local help.
Airport buses, tourist shuttles, suburban routes and night buses can have different schedules from ordinary city services. Check for weekend, public-holiday or seasonal changes, as well as temporary route notices. If your journey involves another bus or a metro connection, check the operating hours of that service too.
Leave a buffer before the last service rather than planning around the latest possible departure. For an evening trip or a visit to a less central attraction, prepare a backup return option such as a licensed taxi or app-booked ride.
How to Book a Ride with Didi or Another App
Didi is a ride-hailing option you may encounter in China. App access, English-language options, supported phone numbers and payment methods can vary, so check your setup before relying on it for an urgent journey.
If the service is available through your payment app or a separate app, follow its registration and payment prompts. A data-only eSIM does not necessarily provide a phone number for verification or driver calls.
- Enter your destination and check the map location carefully.
- Choose the ride category and review the price information shown.
- Set a precise pickup point where the driver can legally stop.
- At airports and railway stations, follow signs to the designated app-ride pickup area if one is provided.
- Check the registration plate and vehicle details against your booking before getting in.
- Complete payment through the agreed booking process and keep the trip record.
Do not assume the GPS pin marks your actual pickup entrance. Large malls, stations and hotels can have several access points. Use a named entrance or clear landmark and check any message from the driver.
Do not board a different vehicle simply because someone claims to be your driver. Verify any change through the booking service.
How to Use a Metered Taxi
Look for a clearly identified, licensed taxi or use an official taxi queue at an airport or railway station. Avoid informal offers from people approaching you in arrivals halls or outside transport hubs.
Show the driver your destination in Chinese and confirm it before departure. For a normal metered ride, check that the meter is running. Ask about any applicable tolls or other charges rather than assuming the displayed fare includes everything.
Confirm the accepted payment method before travelling. Carry a backup instead of relying on a UK bank card or an untested payment app.
Ask for a receipt and keep the vehicle number. If you leave something behind, these details can help you identify the journey.
The FCDO advises avoiding unmarked or unmetered taxis and warns that fare disputes can escalate. Avoid physical confrontation and seek assistance if threatened.
Using Translation Apps and Asking for Help
A translation app can help with a destination, payment question or pickup message. Use short sentences, check place names carefully and show the Chinese text on your screen.
Where supported, download offline English–Chinese language packs and test them before departure. Save addresses separately because translation, voice and map features may not all work offline.
Useful phrases to save include:
- 请问，地铁入口在哪里？ — Where is the metro entrance?
- 请问，这辆车到这里吗？ — Does this bus go here? Show the destination.
- 我要去这个地址。 — I would like to go to this address.
- 请打表。 — Please use the meter.
- 请给我发票。 — Please give me a receipt.
Transport Safety and Evening Journeys
Keep valuables secure on crowded buses and trains. Wear a seat belt in taxis and app-booked cars where available, and check your belongings before leaving.
Plan your journey home before going out. Check the last metro or bus service, keep your phone charged and save your accommodation address offline.
For urgent police assistance in mainland China, call 110; for a medical emergency, call 120. If your phone cannot make the call, ask a nearby person or staff member to contact the emergency services.
Your First-Day Transport Checklist
- Save your hotel and destination addresses in Chinese.
- Plan the route, including the correct entrance, direction and exit.
- Check the local payment options and prepare a backup.
- Test any transport QR code or ride-hailing account.
- Allow extra time for security, transfers and unfamiliar stops.
- Check the return journey and service hours before leaving.
Start with a straightforward metro journey, then try buses or app-booked rides as you become more familiar with the city. The right choice is the one that gets you to your destination comfortably, with a payment method you know works and a clear plan for getting back.
Safety reference: guidance at GOV.UK China travel advice: Safety and security. Emergency contacts: guidance at Getting help. Check local transport operators for current routes, fares, payment methods and service hours.
