Squeezing the Most out of City Transport

Taxi survival skills

It would be very difficult to find a foreigner in Beijing who hasnt used the taxi system, so our five top pieces of advice for the non-Chinese speaker are:

1. Try to know where you are going-a map or a card with your destination is extremely helpful to your driver.
2. Carry small change-your driver may not be able to change a 100-yuan note.
3. Sit in the front seat to make hand gestures more visible. Zuo guai is a left turn, you guai right.
4. Say ting xia to stop.
5. Ask for your receipt by saying fa piao.

Taxis come in three per-kilometre rates: the cheap and cheerful 1.20 yuan taxis, mid-range 1.60 yuan vehicles and the luxurious 2.00 yuan limousines. You are within your rights to select any vehicle you wish from a rank- unlike many Western countries, you are not compelled to take the taxi at the front.

Subway saves time 

 For some reason, few expats living and working in Beijing use our citys' underground railway system. While it is true that many other world cities' subways are dirty and unsafe, these adjectives simply don't apply to the Beijing subway system. If you have thought about using the subway but haven t yet made the leap, we hope this information can save precious time.

The Beijing ditie subway system consists, at the time of writing, of three rail lines and one light-rail line. The two most well-known lines, Line 1 (the east-west line) and Line 2 (the loop line), have recently been joined by the Batong Line (extending the old eastern terminus of Sihui Dong to the residential districts of Batong) and the light-rail northern Line 13. With a little forethought, a subway ride beats a taxi ride across town.

In a nutshell, to ride the subway you should enter the closest station and buy a ticket from the ticket windows. A ticket to ride between any two stations on the main Line 1/Line 2 network costs a flat 3 yuan. Riding between any two stations on Line 13 also costs 3 yuan. Simply ask the lady at the ticket booth for san kuai and she will give you a small paper ticket (piao). Surrender your piao at the entrance to the platform and enjoy the ride. Trains arrive every few minutes from 5.15 am-10.40 pm. Route signs are bilingual and all stations are announced in English and Chinese. It can be a bit disorientating-even for Beijingers- trying to locate the correct exit. Our tip-make a mental note of your train's direction and your destination on the subway map.

The two interchange stations between Line 1 and the loop line are Jianguomen and Fuxingmen, the interchange stations between the loop line and Line 13 are Dongzhimen and Xizhimen, and you can change from Line 1 to the Batong Line at Sihui and Sihuidong stations.

Chauffer-driven convenience

While foreigners can obtain driving licences in Beijing, the process of authorization from the Beijing Traffic Administration and the need to show a residence permit can make the prospect daunting for many. Fortunately, the always-flexible Beijing business environment offers an affordable and convenient alternative-rent a car with a skilled driver. What better way to attend a punishing string of meetings across town, or to show a visiting foreign colleague the wonders of the Great Wall?

Most reputable car hire companies offer a range of vehicles with drivers, from budget conscious micros to luxury limousines, however not all speak English. Business Beijing has confirmed that the following companies all offer car rentals with drivers, and speak English: Hertz (800 810 8883), cars with driver available from 340-1,380 yuan/day; Beijing Liantuo Car Rentals (010 6778 3599), cars with driver available from 400-1,200 yuan/day; Beijing Zhongyuan Car Rentals (010 8448 3366) cars with driver available from 400  1,300 yuan/day. For long-term rentals with driver, try the local English-speaking specialist, Beijing Anji Station Car Rentals, who will even buy you a new vehicle if your term is of two years or more.

Airport tips

Arriving at airport departures, you will probably be pursued by young men in bright yellow-and-pink vests. These keen workers are not touts. Rather, they represent fine value and convenience. For a mere 10 yuan, your valet will load your bags onto a trolley, guide you first to the departure tax window, then through Customs and finally accompany you and your luggage to the correct check-in counter, where he will leave you relaxed and ready to check-in. For business travelers, this is possibly the best value shi kuai in Beijing!

Business Beijing's editors offer more handy tips for the Beijing Capital Airport:

• Use the automatic money-changing machines in the baggage collection hall for quick and convenient foreign exchange-they accept and recognize most foreign notes and give fast access to Renminbi upon arrival. The rate of exchange is set across all of Beijing, and so there is no risk of being "ripped off".
• Never accept a ride into the city from a tout. Always take a taxi from the rank for a trouble-free transfer to your hotel or office.
• Visit the Tourist Information Kiosk on the main arrivals floor  you can pick up the latest copy of Business Beijing and Beijing This Month, and get a wide range of other helpful information from the English-speaking staff.

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