Getting to Beijing

Airport
The Beijing Capital International Airport is located around 27 kilometres north of Beijing's city centre. Buses regularly depart for downtown Beijing every 10-30 minutes. Tickets can be bought inside the terminal for 16 Yuan. Depending on the route and traffic, the bus ride can take between 30 minutes and 1 hour. If you need to get to the city centre faster, take a taxi, which will get you downtown in about 20 minutes for roughly 85 Yuan.
Phone: +86 (0)10 6456 3604

Public Transport
One of the best ways to get around Beijing is by underground. The subway system consists of four lines, with Lines 1 and 2 serving most of the top tourist sites. Even though it's small, the local authorities are planning to expand the network in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. You'll recognize a Beijing subway station by the blue 'D' symbol. A ticket costs 3 Yuan. There are also plenty of buses taking you almost anywhere in Beijing for 1 to 2 Yuan, though they are often packed. There are also some double-decker buses within the city centre.

Taxi
Due to its sheer size, it is often necessary to take a taxi. Rates vary and depend on the models of the taxis, with larger and more luxurious vehicles commanding higher prices. Look out for a green sticker on the side rear window of a cab to check how much it charges per kilometre. Make sure the taxi metre is up and running or the driver may try to overcharge you at the end of the journey. If you don't speak Chinese, you may want to ask someone to write down the name of your destination in Chinese letters and hand it to the driver to avoid ending up in the entirely opposite part of town. Taxis can be hailed on the street or ordered by phone.
Phone: +86(0)10 6858 2661 +86(0)10 6513 8893