After seven years in China, you’d think that navigating the streets of Beijing should be a piece of cake. Unfortunately, it’s anything but. Just yesterday, I was trying to get to my school for some editorial work and spontaneously decided to take public transport for the first time in a long time, because I’m just that adventurous (and my phone was out of service so ordering a Didi was a no-go).

I thought I knew my way around the city pretty well. Boy, was I wrong. I couldn’t seem to find a bus station anywhere in the area. After walking for what felt like an eternity, I finally spotted my golden goose: the Jintai Lu subway station. I’m much more familiar with subway routes, which is why I was relieved to have seen a station on the horizon. Before I knew it, I was darting through the busy streets and running down the escalator to buy a subway ticket, so that I could reach school as fast as my little legs would allow.

I’m not entirely fluent in Chinese which is why I was not able to ask around for guidance or direction. Even if I had, I would not have understood a single word and would have probably hit them with a good old “Duì!” or “Shénme?” Worst of all, I couldn’t rely on my best friend Google Translate (nor Google Maps) either. Tell me you’re having a bad day without telling me you’re having a bad day.

Living in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language is a struggle on the whole, and not just here in Beijing. The language barrier often sets us back and restricts us in countless ways: whether we’re ordering food, trying to find our way around town, or even something as simple as buying groceries from the local jingkelong. All of it requires some sort of communication and verbal interaction, which is one of the many reasons I’ve decided to stop taking Chinese for granted and really learn the language (a decision that is seven years late, but better late than never, am I right?). And honestly, I encourage everyone living in China who can’t speak Chinese yet, to do the same.

Learning the language will not only keep you open-minded but also allow you to get the most out of your stay here in China. Becoming entirely fluent certainly won’t happen overnight. However, it’s a great first step towards autonomy and having to rely less on the same three Chinese words you learned the first week you got to Beijing.

KEEP READING: Mind Your (Text) Language: Texting and Teen Literacy

Images: Unsplash

It’s no secret: Beijing is massive and getting from point A to point B as a functioning adult is tough some days. Doing it with kids…on the best of days…nightmare! For most of us, getting around requires my least favorite form of travel – Didi. It’s expensive, it’s slow, it pollutes the air and in my case, induces motion sickness. So here are a few alternatives. None of them are particularly creative but all of them will save you money, time, and could even reduce the amount of vomit you need to scrape off some stranger’s back seat.

Old-School Walking: Like I said, not creative but it has worked for thousands of years. If it’s not a yucky AQI day or pouring rain, it will help your family get their steps in and provide some much-needed fresh air. Pro tip: To pass the time, play a focused game of I-Spy. Decide what your family will look for before you leave the house. Younger kids can see how many red items they pass for instance, while older ones can try to spot as many different flags as possible. Enjoy getting around outdoors while you can. In the winter, when temperatures dip below zero, it’s simply not an option. So take advantage of the capital’s beautiful spring and fall weather. Heck, even balmy summer afternoons or evenings are an excuse to get outside and move, albeit in shorter spurts. Just make sure you put on your SPF!

Scooters and Bikes: They’ve been an iconic part of Chinese life for more than a century and by far the fastest way to navigate the city! I found foldable scooters for kids on Taobao for as little as RMB 45. There are also tons of baby bike/scooter seats a mere click away. Just please make sure they have a helmet and I’m begging you: Don’t put them in the basket of a rented bike while weaving in and out of traffic. Check out this article on cycling with kids for some great safety tips.

The Subway: Okay, not my favorite – especially in the middle of the sweaty summer heat. But, if given the choice between sitting in rush hour traffic with a potty training child for an hour or doing a 20-minute subway ride, I know what I would pick. The subway is also fun for kids. They love the trains and lights and maps so take advantage of the inexpensive adventure.

Public Bus: Did you know that Apple Maps has integrated public buses into its navigational system? A colleague of mine followed instructions on the user-friendly app and seamlessly boarded, alighted, and transferred buses from downtown CBD all the way to her home in east Beijing. She prefers buses to the subway because she loves the passing scenery and fresh air (the windows are usually open on the bus unless it’s raining). Also, you can pay your bus fare with a simple tap using Alipay!

Final Thoughts: The number one reason I hear parents say they take a taxi is not because of the kids, it’s because of kid stuff. We live in the middle of a major city, not the desert! So ask yourself, do we really need three water bottles, four snack options, half a dozen toys, a full liter of hand sanitizer, and the Nintendo Switch for a one-hour trip to the park? A friend of mine used to have a house rule that if the 3-year-old couldn’t fit it in her mini-backpack it couldn’t come. Occasionally they would need to buy a bottle of water or some extra SPF, but I never knew her to be woefully unprepared. 

No matter how you get where you’re going remember we’re expats, travel is kind of our thing, so make it fun! Explore some new options of getting around the city; it’s really is as easy as riding a bike. *wink 

KEEP READING: Beijing Students Say the Darndest Things!

Photos: Unsplash

Beijing’s ever-expanding subway system has welcomed three more lines on the city’s west side.

Line S1, the Yanfang Line (燕房线), and the Xijiao Line (西郊线) started operation last December 30, bringing the number of Beijing Subway lines to 22, with a total line length of 608 kilometers.

The 10.2-km Line S1, which originates from the western end of Line 1’s Pingguoyuan station, is the city’s first Maglev line that has a top speed reaching to 100kph. That means whole eight-stop journey only takes less than 20 minutes. The line runs through Shijingshan and Mentougou, two districts in western Beijing with a rich history and abundant tourist destinations including the temples of Lingguang and Fahai, as well as the ancient villages of Jieshi and Housangyu.

• Eastern terminus: Jin’anqiao (金安桥) -6am (first train); 9pm (last train)
• Western terminus: Shichang (石厂) – 6.25am (first train); 8.35pm (last train)

The 16.6-km Yanfang Line bounds for Yanshan, farther in Beijing’s Fangshan district. The line connects western Yanshan to Yancun East, a transfer station at Fangshan Line. The Yanfang Line the mainland’s first driverless subway with a top speed of 80kph, bringing down the commuting time to less than an hour to downtown for those living in the Yanshan area.

• Eastern terminus: Yancundong (阎村东) – 5.05am (first train); 10.30pm (last train)
• Western terminus: Yanshan (燕山) – 5.30am (first train); 10.55pm (last train)

Xijiao Line is the city’s first modern tram that operates in the western Haidian District. Its eastern end stops at Bagou, which transfers to Line 10. This line is ideal for sightseeing as it passes several scenic attractions including the Summer Palace, the Beijing Botanical Garden, and the Fragrant Hills Park.

• Eastern terminus: Bagou (巴沟) – 5.30am (first train); 10.30pm (last train)
• Western terminus: Xiangshan (香山) – 6am (first train); 11pm (last train)

The three new lines are on the western side of Beijing. Xijiao Line is the short red line from Bagou (on Line 10’s northwest), while Line S1 is directly on the west end of Line 1. The Yanfang Line is the orange extension in the lower left of the photo.

Photos: Pixabay, Andy Penafuerte III

It may be too late to help us during this sweltering summer, but Beijing residents can all look forward to riding in public buses fully-equipped with air conditioning expected to arrive before the end of next year.

The Beijing Public Transportation Group said the introduction of the new climate-controlled buses will coincide with the city’s next shipment of new energy public transportation vehicles.

Compared to cities like Hong Kong where air conditioning is everywhere, the same can not be said for Beijing’s public transportation. Only a tenth of Beijing’s 21,000 public buses are not equipped with air conditioning. These older models awaiting retirement usually serve the city’s less-traveled routes that include lines #5 and #806.

As a group spokesperson told the Beijing Evening News, the city was forced to accept these AC-less buses. “There was no way to modernize many of the buses made before 2008; our only recourse is to keep them running on their routes,” said the spokesperson.

For some people, the air conditioning can not come soon enough.

The driver of the #58 bus, 30-year veteran Mr. Hou, can only reply with humor whenever a passenger complains about the lack of air conditioning on his bus. “I usually jokingly tell them that I would, in fact, turn it on, but there’s nothing for me to switch on,” said Hou. “Once I say it like that, they usually understand.”

According to the group’s own regulations, Beijing public buses equipped with air conditioning must maintain an interior temperature under 26 degrees Celsius, no matter the outside temperature. Complaints can be made to the group’s telephone hotline at 96166.

Although conditions are quite pleasant in Beijing at 30 degrees Celsius, other Chinese cities have been hit with scorching heat waves. Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Xi’an have all reached temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, inspiring Chinese motorists to raise their windshield wipers on their parked cars in order to avoid heat damage.

But having endured a number of heat waves already, some Beijing residents who can’t stand the heat have flocked to a comfortable place well known for its hospitality: IKEA. Many visitors are seen lounging on its beds and sofas during the dog days of summer. Although store personnel seemed content to offer their hospitality earlier this summer, reports now say IKEA has begun using loudspeakers to regularly broadcast messages discouraging visitors from sleeping on its furniture.

Images: VCG, NBD, Weibo

This post first appeared on our sister site, The Beijinger. See more stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath
E-mail: charlesliu1@qq.com

We’ve all been there, stuck in a situation where it seems like there is no way out. It’s a state of panic, of complete and utter nervousness that you just can’t escape. My traumatic predicament happened yesterday morning, on my way to my internship at this very magazine. What could’ve ended up in disaster, ended up being a moment that I will treasure for years to come.

Before I leave my apartment for the office, I pack my bag with all the essentials I will need for the day: my laptop, money, and a subway card. At home, we don’t each have our own subway cards. My mom insists that we all ‘share’ them, so the four cards we have just circulate between us on whatever day we happen to need it. Yesterday however, I forgot to ask my mom for one before she left for work in the morning. I happened to find a lonesome card on the top of my dresser, so I instinctively grabbed it and headed towards the door to leave. A thought came to me as I left: Will it have any money on it? I should have taken it as a warning; my subconscious mind trying tell me something that I blatantly ignored.

My apartment isn’t exactly located in the most convenient location. Getting to the subway requires a ten-minute public bus ride, which isn’t the most pleasant thing to do at 9:00 in the morning. It’s rush hour at that time, so the bus is often packed to the brim with what feels like all of humanity.

As the bus pulled up to the stop, I squished on along with many others, all of us equally anxious to get to our desired locations. As the doors closed on the back of my heels, I reached over the many heads around me and swiped my card. To my horror, a message appeared on the screen as soon as I scanned it. Though I couldn’t understand the specific characters that stared back at me, I knew what they meant. My card was out of money.

Of course, I had brought money with me. I had a RMB 50 bill to buy lunch at the 7-11 near the office, but I had no small change for the RMB 2 bus fee. I’ve seen people on the bus sneakily get away without paying, but in that moment, all eyes were on me as I frantically searched through my bag to find smaller money. To my dismay, there was nothing. Since I couldn’t communicate my problem to the driver with my limited Chinese vocabulary, I pulled out my 50 as a cry for help. He angrily hollered back “língqián?” which translates to “small change.” It was obvious to me that I was wasting his time. I shook my head no, and immediately began to ponder how I was going to get out of this dilemma.

When you can’t understand the world around you, it’s not uncommon to assume that the people around you feel likewise towards you. Yesterday I was reassured that this theory of mine often isn’t true. A middle-aged man beside me in that instant stepped up to my rescue. He gave me a quick nudge to get my attention, pulled out two ones, and slipped them into the plastic money slot for me. I took a breath of relief, and thanked him in the best Chinese that I could mutter in that moment: “xièxiè,” meaning “thank you”. He replied dutifully with “méishì，méishì,” which means “no problem.”

I didn’t get to express nearly as much gratitude as I would’ve liked to. In a city where being a foreigner isolates you, to have someone to come to your aid in times of you most need it can seem like an angel from heaven. Though it was a small gesture, I wish I could repay the man for his act of kindness towards me.

Photos:  c1.staticflickr.com

Here’s a good rule of thumb for September 2 until the evening of September 3: wherever you’re going, call first to make sure it’s open. And if you’re thinking of taking any public transportation to get there, you may wish to plan a back-up route, or borrow, buy, or rent a bicycle.

Going for a walk in the park? Leave that contraband at home. According to Beijing News, from September 1-5, "strict" inspections of everyone entering any of the city’s major public parks will be conducted. "Tourists will be required to open bags and packages for inspection, with the seizure of contraband, focusing on firearms, ammunition, explosive, knives, toxic and hazardous and other dangerous items," the News reported. Then again, don’t sweat it: Chaoyang Park, Longtan Park, Taoranting Park, Pioneers Park (Honglingjin Park), and Yaowahu Park will be closed until 2pm on September 3. Yuyantan Park will be closed from 10.30pm on September 2 until 2pm on September 3.

As for public transportation, the News also reported that from September 2-4, 256 public bus lines and 10 subway lines will be subject to temporary closures or diversions. Some of the better known lines include public bus lines 1 and 2, which will be halted all of September 2-3. Lines temporarily stopped from the morning of September 3 until the end of the military parade include: 9, 10, 14, 15, 22, 24, 38, 47, 52, 60, 69, 82, 88, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 116, 120, 126, 127, 140, 603, 673, the News said. Click this link for the complete list. It’s in Chinese, but if you see the number of a bus you regularly ride, expect it to be affected.

Subway line 1 and the Batong Xian to Tongzhou will be closed until 1pm on September 3. Lines 2, 4, 5, and 10 will not stop at stations along or near the parade route, including Jianguomen, Guomao, Dongdan, and Chongwenmen.

As for restaurants, we have word that a fair number of establishments will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. However, taco and pizza lovers are in luck: Ramo will be open for their Pizza Party on Wednesday but will close at midnight and Luga’s will be open for their half-price tacos. Meat lovers should note that Home Plate will be closed Wednesday but will reopen on Thursday at 5pm.

If you’re looking for a bar to chill in and a film to watch, specifically Fritz Lang’s M, Camera Stylo will remain open on Wednesday (but Là Bas will be closed).

See our list of holiday closures here. Our advice above bears repeating: wherever you’re going, call first to make sure it’s open, at least on the evening of September 2 and daytime on September 3. Have fun!

This post appeared on thebeijinger.com on September 1, 2015

After years of waiting for the subway to come to our neighborhood of Wangjing, (motto: Good things come to those who wait while enjoying kimchi!) Line 14 finally opened this week. Sure, there is still work being done on many of the exits and several stops remain closed, but that doesn’t bother me one bit since now I can ride the train from my place to the neighborhood of best Beijing buddies without even switching lines.

When we descended the steep escalators at the station outside Indigo Mall, we were reminded that the subway system, even the new lines, like most of Beijing, are not stroller friendly. Nor friendly to wheel chairs or people with any kind of walking issues for that matter. Steps leading up to the station entrance so that you can go down into the subway is still the norm. Once inside, the system for purchasing tickets in English was simple enough, though if we didn’t know the name of the station we were going too, it would have been challenging.

After passing through “security” we headed down the escalators again to the brand spanking new platform. Minutes later, a sparkling new “wide body” train arrived. It still has that new subway car smell – no doubt slightly toxic – with plenty of available seating for weary travelers. My eyes were immediately drawn to the “family friendly” advertising of a young woman with pursed red lips wearing only a bra and panties. I can’t help but feel the ad is out of place.

The train runs smoothly and the extra space will no doubt be welcome when the crowds finally catch on. One unfortunate note is that the new subway toilets on the platform already smell like those of older lines and look grungy. It seems some things in Beijing will never change.

Photo: Michael Wester

According to brief statement in today’s Beijing News, a decision has been reached on Beijing’s new distance-based subway prices: Tickets will start at RMB 2 or 3, with the average overall fare to run between RMB 4.3 and RMB 4.4 – a price hike that more than doubles the fare yet keeps it lower than similar cities in China like Shanghai and Guangzhou.

It also appears they are concurrently launching a discount plan for frequent commuters that spend more than RMB 100 a month on public transport: fares above RMB 100 will be discounted at 20 percent, while fares in excess of RMB 150 will be discounted at 50%. Discounts will stop after total monthly expenditure reaches RMB 400.

Presuming the average subway commuter is traveling both to and from work 20 days a month, this should mean monthly commuting costs would average around RMB 150, or about USD 24 –  almost five times lower than a monthly pass on the New York City subway system.

This morning’s Beijing News added that there will be a live discussion at 2:30pm today (Tuesday Oct 28) to settle the final as-to-yet undetermined portion of the pricing: whether the initial price will be RMB 2 (for the first 3km) or RMB 3 (for the first 6km).

No word yet on what the maximum fare will be, nor the distances at which the rates will go up, nor a timeline for implementation (which is not unusual as they like to announce these things slowly in bits and pieces, Chinese Water Torture style).

Previous announcements indicate the fare hike is likely to be implemented before the end of 2014. We’ll keep you posted as the details continue to be leaked out, a bit at a time.

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on October 27, 2014

Table: Global Times

Photo: The Beijinger

Here’s a story to make you go “awww” and “whyyyy?”: Aussie Michael K. Sheridan and his son Oscar Sheridan are taking on the challenge of riding the entirety of Beijing’s newly-expanded subway system. And they’re doing it today. On a Saturday.

On their website, Beijing on 2 Kuai, the Sheridans lay out a rough itinerary for the journey, which they’ve dubbed “Beijing Subway Saturday”:

1. Line 15 international exhibition center to FengBo then from FengBo to WangJing West transfer to line 13.
   
2. Line 13 to LiShuiQiao then transfer to line 5 and go to TianTongYuan North and then down to SongJiaZhuang and transfer to line 10
3. Line 10 to ShuoJingMao then back to JiaoMen West and transfer to line 4
4.  Ride Line 4 to TianGongYuan and turnaround and ride to AnHeQiao North then turn around and ride to HaiDian HuangZhuang transfer to line 10.
5. Ride line 10 to HuJiaLou turn around and ride it to CiShuoSi and transfer to line 6.
6. Ride line 6 to HaiDian WuLuJu and turn around and ride it to CaoFang then back to HuJiaLou And transfer to line 10
7. Ride line 10 to SongJiaZhuang then turnaround and ride back to GuoMao and transfer to line 1.
8. Ride line 1 to SiHui East then turnaround and ride it to PingGuoYuan then back to GongZhuFen and transfer to line 10
9. Ride line 10 to CiShuoSi then get off and turnaround and ride it to XiJu then turnaround and back to LiuLiQiao and transfer to line 9.
10. Ride line 9 to GuoGongZhuang then turn around and ride it to National Library and transfer to line 4.
11. Ride line 4 to XiZhiMen and transfer to line 2 and head to GuLouDaJie and transfer to line 8
12. Ride line 8 to HuiLongGuan DongDaJie then turn around and ride back to HuoYing and transfer to line 13 and ride to XiZhiMen then ride line 2 to GuLouDaJie and turnaround and ride back to DongZhiMen and transfer to line 13.
13. Ride line 13 to HuoYing Then turnaround and ride back to WangJing West and transfer to line 15.
14. Ride line 15 to international exhibition center get off and feel as though you got your 2 kuai worth.

The Sheridans will be taking photos of the sign for each subway stop as proof that they covered the entire network. A friend helped them translate an explanation of Beijing Subway Saturday to show other passengers:

We are a father and son team from Australia.
We are attempting to ride the entire Beijing Subway system in one day.
It is a feat that has never been done before.
We are therefore Record Makers! 
You can find out about our challenge on subwaysaturday.com and we would love your support.
We need to get on and off the train to take a photograph of the sign at each station to prove that we really visited every station.
If you smile and treat us nicely we will take your photo and remember you forever!
Thank you for your support and your friendliness.
We love Beijing! We love the Subway!

Two years ago, two Global Times reporters – Alex Taggart and Chris Hawke – completed a similar exploit based on the rules of the London Tube Challenge. Hawke ended up winning the race with a time of 16 hours and 12 minutes (versus Taggart’s 16 hours and 56 minutes). The story was picked up by the Beijinger and The Huffington Post.

This year, the Sheridans are raising the stakes by taking the subway on a Saturday – as opposed to Taggart and Hawke’s Wednesday foray. Plus, the recent expansion now gives Beijing the distinction of having the longest urban subway network in the world. If you see the Sheridans on the subway today, be sure to say hi, get a photo, and cheer them on!

Photo: Gabriel White via Flickr