(UPDATED) Transportation in Beijing via taxis is convenient and relatively cheap if you can get around the traffic. However, newcomers might shy from hailing taxis on their own due to the language barrier (the prospect of having to speak Mandarin), or a fear of being rejected by a cabbie (due to his fear of having to speak English). Fortunately, taxi and car hailing mobile apps have become more commonplace. In this guide, we outline the basics of taxis and the most foreigner-friendly private car hailing apps in Beijing.

Taxis
If your phone is out of battery, not set up for payment, or you just don’t want to try to speak Mandarin over the phone, a normal taxi will do just fine.  Beijing taxi rates start at RMB 13 (RMB 14 between 11pm-5am), then RMB 2.30 per km (RMB 2.80 per km at night, RMB 3.5 after 15km).  Most drivers do not speak English — you’re lucky if they speak standard Mandarin — and many are illiterate, in case you’re wondering why they get angry when you stick an address in their face. So sometimes it helps to prepare your own GPS using Baidu Maps, or at least a map with your intended location. It might be worth investing in a “taxi book”, which has lists of destinations with their addresses in Chinese characters and Pinyin. The newer versions have maps too, and there’s even an app for i-Phone, called Beijing Taxi-Book.  Drivers tend to know major street names and landmarks such as tourist sites, but if you do encounter a clueless driver, try suggesting a nearby subway station to keep him on track.  Be warned that taxis might smell of third hand smoke! They usually only take passengers from the right side (for safety reasons), and most do not have seat belts (so don’t bother with the child car seat).  If you travel far, or use an expressway, the incurred toll fee will be added to your total cost (usually RMB 5-10) and you will receive the receipt for it.  If you prefer ordering a taxi the traditional way (for a RMB 5 tip), then call 96103 and press 8 for English service.

Taxi Vocabulary
Prefer to just hail a cab? If possible, have the Chinese address handy. At first, it’s helpful to have a contact number for someone who can guide the driver if necessary. Here are some useful phrases:

• I’m going _____.  Wǒ qù _____. 我去 _____。
• How much? Duō shao qián?多少钱？
• We’ve arrived. Dào le . 到了。
• Turn right. Zuǒ zhuǎn/guǎi. 右转／拐。
• Turn left. Yòu zhuǎn/guǎi. 左转／拐。
• Please give me the receipt. Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào. 请给我发票。
• Where are you going? Nǐ qù nǎr? 你去哪儿？

Dididache (Didi) 滴滴打车
Dididache, previously a taxi ordering service that merged with its American rival Uber in 2016, and has been providing us with everything we could possibly ask for in a car hailing service in one app.  The app is not only available on iOS, Android, and Windows interfaces, but has also been added into the WeChat platform, allowing users to order a car even without downloading their app.  The only caveat to the app is that it’s in Chinese.

How to use Didi on WeChat:
(note, you’ll need an active WeChat Wallet)
1. Click on the “Me” tab
2. Click on “Wallet” and you’ll see the option to “Order a Taxi” once you scroll down
3. Allow the app to find your location (click “OK”)
3. Fill in your locations (to and from)
4. Enter tip amount (optional)
5. The driver will call you to discuss the pick up

If you don’t want to pay via WeChat wallet, you can always pay cash and still get a receipt (fapiao), making it easy to order taxis for other people.

How to use the Didi app:
1. When you open the interface, select the type of service you want: Chūzūchē 出租车 (normal taxi), Kuàichē 快车 (private drivers), Zhuānchē 专车 (VIP version), Pīnchē 拼车 (carpool), or Dàijià 代驾 (driver drives your car for you)
2. Input pick up location by tapping into your GPS.
3. Input drop off location.
4. Wait for driver to call you.
5. Pay via app (unless it’s a legit taxi, in which case you could pay cash).

Payment method: Cash for licensed taxis, WeChat Wallet, and Alipay. Normally you have to go in and manually “pay” for the ride (and you won’t be able to request another ride until you’ve cleared your debts), but you can also set up “automatic payment” which will deduct as soon as the driver taps the arrive button.  For company reimbursement purposes, if you do not pay cash or you use Didi private car services, you can request receipts to be sent to you for free if the fare is above RMB 200.

Verdict:  Didi is the most convenient way to order a licensed taxi without having to add a tip. Since you’ve already inputted GPS locations and addresses, it also does not require much communication with the driver.  The Kuàichē function is significantly cheaper, especially since Didi regularly gives users vouchers and coupons.  While Kuàichē  cars can be domestic, or even electric, Zhuānchē has higher standards where drivers are often professional chauffeurs working on the side.  Pīnchē is the cheapest option of all as it is a legitimate carpool, but can be a slower alternative due to pitstops.

Photo: BFISHADOW and POELOQ (Flickr)

Editor’s note: This article had a section about Uber, but it was removed since the company had merged with Didi. This article originally appeared on pages 52 and 53 of the 2016 Home and Relocation Guide. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

There are over five million cars on Beijing’s roads, contributing more than 30 percent of the city’s air pollution. Heavy traffic and poor air quality are powerful incentives to check out the city’s extensive public transport network; it’s cheaper and often quicker. Read on to find out how to get started.

Yikatong
The yikatong (一卡通), which means “one-card pass” in Chinese, is a transit card similar to London’s Oyster Card and Hong Kong’s Octopus Card. You can use it for all of Beijing’s public transport options: subway lines, the airport express, city buses, taxis (technically anyway), and shared bicycles.
Cards can be purchased at around 200 locations in Beijing, including most subway station counters, some bus stations, supermarkets such as Jinkelong, and China Post branches. Technically, you rent rather than buy the card, paying RMB 20 as a deposit. You can then charge the card with credit, with a minimum top-up of RMB 10 and a maximum top-up of RMB 1,000. Add credit at any of the recharge machines (instructions are available in English) or ticket counters located inside subway stations.
Hang onto your yikatong; because you don’t need to register your ID to purchase one, the balance cannot be refunded or transferred if the card is lost or stolen. Cards can also be used at some phone booths, fast food restaurants (including KFC, Yonghe King, and McDonald’s), and stores (such as Wal-Mart, Wu Mart, and Jingkelong).

Subway
Beijing Subway’s 18 lines carry the most passengers in the world, averaging more than nine million trips per day. As much as possible, avoid riding the subway during the morning and evening rush hours (7am-9am, 6pm-8pm), when carriages are generally packed beyond capacity and line transfers are lengthy and occasionally
claustrophobia-inducing.
In 2015, fares switched from flat rate of RMB 2 per journey to a distance-based fare, ranging from RMB 3 to a maximum fare of RMB 8 for a single journey. You can look up fares in advance at ticket machines within subway stations or on the Beijing Subway website.
To enter or exit the subway, swipe your card across the turnstile sensor pad to open the gate. Children under 1.3m accompanied by a paying adult can ride the subway for free, but you’ll have to approach a subway guard to let you into the system.
You can also buy single-journey tickets from ticket counters or ticket machines, which take small bills and coins and have an
English interface. In this case, to exit the subway you need to insert the single journey ticket into the turnstile.

Airport Express
If you live near the Airport Express’ two city stops (Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao), it is by far the best way to get to Beijing Capital
Airport. Fast and reliable, it runs from 6am-10.30pm from downtown to Terminal 3 in 20-25 minutes, with Terminal 2 an additional 15-20 minute ride. The fare is a flat fee of RMB 25 with the same swipe-in-and-out system as the subway. Single-journey rides are also available.

Bus
Fixed fares for buses were phased out in 2015 and distanced-based rates were changed to RMB 2 for the first 10 km and an additional RMB 1 for each 5 km thereafter. Customers with a yikatong get a 50 percent discount, with a starting fee of RMB 1 per journey.
As with the subway and Airport Express, commuters must normally swipe their card both when boarding and disembarking the bus. On regular buses, board at the front by the driver and disembark at the back. On accordion buses, board at the middle and get off at the front and back. Swipe your card against the card reader just inside the doors; it will beep and show your current balance.
If you don’t have a yikatong, you’ll need to explain to the ticket clerk or driver where you plan on getting off, give exact change, and show your valid paper ticket at your journey’s end. Children below 1.2m who are accompanied by a paying adult ride for free. Again, the buses are best avoided at peak hours.

Taxi
A word of caution: if you intend on using your yikatong to pay for a taxi, make sure to square this with your driver upfront. Many
drivers don’t like this payment method and some may demand cash or claim their machine is broken when you get to your destination. Otherwise, it’s as simple as handing the driver your card, which they’ll swipe to deduct payment.

Bicycle
Bicycles and Beijing are synonymous, but their numbers have been dropping year-on-year – a trend that municipal transport authorities hope to reverse. Beijing’s public rental bicycles will total 50,000 by the end of 2015. Bikes are free of charge for the first hour and RMB 1 per hour thereafter, with a maximum charge of RMB 10 per day for the first three days and RMB 20 per day after that.
Bike rental is the only yikatong service that requires registration: you need to be between 18 and 65, and bring your card (with at least RMB 30 in credit), your passport with residence permit, a copy of the permit, and RMB 200 deposit to one of the registration offices. Registration offices include Dongzhimen subway station (exit A) and Jinsong subway station (exit A). A complete list of registration offices (in Chinese only) can be found at tinyurl.com/k9c7snb. Registration forms are also only in Chinese.
Find the map of all docking stations at tinyurl.com/pumhv3e or scan the QR code to the right to follow Public Bicycle in Beijing on WeChat. Swipe your card and remove the bike within 30 seconds, otherwise it will re-lock to the docking station and you will need to call the local hotline to retrieve it. The Chaoyang hotline is 400 088 7806 and the Dongcheng hotline is 400 157 7157.

This article originally appeared in the 2015 beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide. Click here to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.

Given Beijing’s perpetual gridlock, cycling or taking the subway are the best ways to ensure that you arrive on time. That being said, newcomers shouldn’t discount the humble city bus. On a sunny day, sitting next to the window with a breeze going through your hair is a lovely way to explore the city. In many ways, Beijing’s bus network is more developed than the subway and is more convenient for reaching remote locations. Here’s a basic guide to taking the bus, from purchasing a smart card to finding your way around the city.

Bus Fare
Buses in Beijing have two fee structures: a fixed rate of RMB 1 for a one-way trip and a variable, distance-based rate. Depending on the bus route, the latter system costs either RMB 1 for the first 12km and RMB 0.50 for every 5km after that or RMB 2 for the first 10km and RMB 1 for every 5km after than that.
There are two ways to pay the fare: cash or smart card. There’s a 60 percent discount if you pay with a smart card; this knocks down the price from RMB 1 to RMB 0.40 for a one-way trip.

The bus and subway use the same yikatong (一卡通) card, which can be purchased at any subway station. The card itself requires a RMB 20 deposit, which can be reclaimed upon return – but only with the original receipt. As a bonus, the yikatong can be used at shared bicycle stations, in phone booths, at select food retailers (McDonald’s, KFC, Yonghe King, Weiduomei), and in certain convenience stores (Jingkelong, Wu Mart, Watson’s, Wal-Mart).

To top up the card, use one of the recharge machines at any subway station; the instructions are available in English and Chinese. Alternatively, go to the ticket booth and give the clerk your card and the amount in cash you want to charge it with.

All routes with distance-based fares and some routes with fixed-rate fares have a ticket clerk on board to sell tickets and provide change for purchases. All passengers getting off the bus will be asked to show their ticket or swipe their smart card. On buses without a ticket clerk, the fare costs RMB 1 payable in cash or card.

Passengers carrying large suitcases may need to pay for two fares. All children under 1.2m ride for free if accompanied by an adult. Retirees and blind people also ride for free.

Navigating the City
If you don’t read or write Chinese, Google Maps will probably be your best bet when iot comes to navigational tools. However, both the app and the website tend to be slow and unreliable here. If you’re willing to learn a bit of Chinese or muddle through the following steps, Baidu Maps and BJ Bus are much better for figuring out the quickest route from point A to B. Baidu Maps has a more user-friendly interface, so that’s the one we’re using for the example below.

Step 1
This is the Baidu Maps home page. The red circle indicates the search bar, where you can enter your destination in pinyin or Chinese characters. Baidu Maps will auto complete the address as you type.

Step 2
Press “enter” or click the gray button that says “百度一下” to the right of the search bar to bring up the search results, indicated here by the red circle.

Step 3
Click the second tab labeled “bus” (公交) below the search bar. Another input field will appear. Type your starting address in Chinese characters or pinyin, then hit “enter” again.

Step 4
On the left of the screen, you’ll see several bus routes sorted by commute time. On the map, you’ll see the bus trajectory in blue. Optionally, you may refine your search options (see next step).

Step 5a The green box indicates “departure time” (出发时间). Click on the calendar icon to pick a different departure date and the clock icon to pick a different departure time. The orange box contains “transportation tools” (交通工具). If you click on the drop-down menu, you have the option of excluding the subway from your itinerary. Finally, the tabs in the purple box control how your search results are sorted. The first is “by quickest route” (较快捷), the second is “minimal bus transfers” (少换乘), and the third is “minimal walking” (少步行).

Step 5
b Moving on to the itinerary itself, the green box shows the route number (701), estimated travel time (40 minutes), estimated time of arrival (17:00), and approximate distance (4.7km). The orange box contains the directions. The first line shows the starting point. The second line shows the bus number (701), station to get off at (安家楼站), and number of stops (six). The third line shows how much you’ll need to walk after you get off the bus (910m). The last line shows the name of your destination.

Baidu Maps also has an app called 百度地图 that replicates this interface and provides a great tool for those with 3G (for more information on setting up 3G access, see p34). Within China, Baidu Maps is generally faster and more accurate than Google Maps.

Getting on the Bus
The photo above shows a typical bus sign with the route number, station names in vertical Chinese characters, the times of the first and last buses, the terminus names, and the fare (RMB 2 for the first 10km, RMB 1 for every extra 5km after that). Bus signs can be confusing at first, but learn to pick out the information you need with a Chinese app like Pleco or do your homework beforehand using Baidu Maps.

In general, there’s a door at the front for passengers boarding the bus and a door at the back for passengers getting off the bus. Don’t enter via the exit doors unless you want to get an earful from the conductor or ticket clerk. Doors for getting on will have the character shang (上) or “up” and doors for exiting will have the character xia (下). On accordion buses, passengers board through the middle and disembark at the front or back.

Pay the fare by pressing your smart card against the surface reader located next to the driver, which will beep and show the amount left on your card. Paying cash? Just put the appropriate number of paper notes or coins into the fare box. Some buses require you to swipe your card only when you get on; others require you to swipe it when you get on and before you get off. The easiest way to tell? Check whether there’s a card reader at the exit; if there isn’t, you don’t have to swipe your card a second time.

Peak hours for traffic are from 8-9.30am and 5-7pm. The experience can be uncomfortable for the uninitiated, so we don’t suggest making your maiden voyage during these hours. Conductors and ticket clerks generally don’t speak English, so it’s best to know the name of your stop or have it written down Chinese. Each station is announced over the PA system, so you can listen for yours or count off the number of stops to your destination. Happy exploring!

This article originally appeared in the beijingkids Home & Relocation Guide 2014. To get your free copy, email distribution@truerun.com or view it online at Issuu.