Beijing has an extensive public transportation network. Subway and City Rail with high speed trains running at intervals of 3 to 5 minutes are the fastest public transportation in the city. There are more than 60 thousand taxis in the city. Public buses are the cheapest means of transportation which cover the entire city.
Taxi
In addition to buses, the subway and city light rail, taxis are widely available in Beijing. Taxis are called "chu zu che" in Beijing; the phrase "da di" is commonly used to mean "take a taxi."
The most common taxi cars in Beijing are Hyundai ELANTRA, Volkswagen Jetta and Citroen FUKANG or Elysee. ELANTRA cars are new and usually green, red, blue and purple on yellow background. Each taxi in Beijing has a sign upon the roof reading TAXI and a red sign can be seen behind the front window when it is ready to serve you.
All taxis have price labels on both side windows near the back seats. The charge starts from RMB 10 yuan for the first 3 kilometers, and RMB 2 yuan for each kilometer and each 5 minute waiting period after that. If you ride between 23:00 and 5:00, the meter automatically charges you extra 20%. Furthermore, toll fees and parking fees go to the passenger; a "return ride" fee is charged if the ride is over 15 kilometers.
Don't forget to take an invoice as you leave the taxi. This will help you identify the taxi if you've left items in the car or if you've encountered any problems.
Bus
The starting fare of public buses is 1 yuan in the city and 2 yuan in the suburb areas. Fixed price at RMB 1 is charged for most public buses in the city; there are also some charged by distance, i.e. RMB 1 for a ride within 12 (including 12) kilometers, and RMB 0.5 is accumulated for every additional 5 kilometers.
It is also a good idea to buy a Public Transportation Card which charges a starting fare of 40 cents per trip. You need to pay a deposit of 20 yuan and prepay a certain amount to use the Public Transportation Card just like any Beijing citizen. When you leave Beijing, just return the Card at any card sale counter and the deposit will be refunded to you. The Public Transportation Card can also be used in Subway and City Rails but no discount on the ticket fares will be given.
Bus information hotline: 96166
Subway
Currently, there are 5 lines of subway including Line 1, Line 2, Line 5, Line 13, and Batong Line. Ticket Price: RMB 2 yuan. The transfer between each two lines is free of charge.
It is also planed that by 2008 the Olympic Games, Line 10 Part I and Airport line will be built; by the end of 2012 Line 10 Part II, Line 4, 6, 8, 9, Yizhuang Line, Daxing Line and Shunyi Line, a total distance of 407 km, shall be finished; by the end of 2015, another 5 lines including Line 7, 14, Datai Line, Changping Line, and Fangshan Line, a total distance of 561km, shall be finished too.
