EASC Study Tour 2006
Topic of the Week
Welcome to the "Topic of the Week" series! Each week we will discuss areas of interest or things that need your attention in preparing for the Study Tour to China.
Week 11: Transportation
The quoted sections below are taken from Culture Shock! China , by Kevin Sinclair with Iris Wong Po-yee (Portland: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co., 1996)
Traffic
"Prosperity has meant a huge increase in cars, trucks, motorbikes, taxis, mini-buses and anything else that coughs, bumps along the road without being towed by a horse and coughs out noxious black fumes. So, hello to the world's capital of traffic jams and diesel pollution. Major cities have thrown up circular ring roads, triple-decker flyovers and all the other concrete paraphernalia of the vehicular age. Chinese cities are beginning to resemble Los Angeles . Chinese drivers like to drive fast and, wherever possible, in the middle of the road."
"On most stretches of roads, pedestrians keep to the side. Then come the cyclists. Then there are small puffing tractors converted to small trucks. Swerving past these slowly-travelling road users, heavy trucks swing out to the middle of the road. Passing them on the wrong side of the road are buses and cars. So, on one narrow lane, you have up to five classes of travelers all going in the same direction at various speeds. Coming in the other direction the traffic flow is likely to be identical. In the middle of the road, the swiftly-moving cars and buses jostle for position. It is a situation designed for disaster and the end results are frequently seen where two vehicles have slammed into each other head on."
Taxis
"Always ask your hotel doorman or concierge desk to write the address for you in Chinese. If you are using a map, make sure the address in Chinese can be read and that local landmarks are prominently displayed. Never get in a cab until you are sure the driver knows where you want to go."
[Anne's note: Most hotels have preprinted cards with a map and printed directions to the hotel on one side, and a place for the concierge to write your destination in Chinese on the other. They are very happy to do this and will prepare multiple cards for you if you're going to several places. Most taxis aren't luxurious, but they will get you directly from point A to point B at what will seem to you a ridiculously low price.]
Buses
Buses are used for both local and long-distance transportation. If you're interested in trying the bus system, make sure you get detailed instructions from a good guide book and that you understand where to get on and off the bus.
Buses in Hong Kong are another matter. The buses, maps, routes, etc. are all marked in both Chinese and English, and they're fun! I recommend sitting at the front on top (they're double-decker buses) for great views. Bus fares differ depending on the type of bus (air-conditioned or not) and the distance traveled, but the fares are always clearly marked. You can avoid having to carry lots of small change by using a pre-paid transportation card (Octopus Card) or you can always resort to overpaying a little. They won't mind!
Trains
There are two classes on Chinese trains-hard seat and soft seat. In the past, soft seats (the more expensive) were reserved for foreigners and high-ranking Party officials, but now anyone who has the money can travel soft seat. Soft seat tickets are sold at a different ticket window, often quite a distance from the hard seat ticket window. Ticket clerks are not likely to speak English, so it's a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese. Hard seat and soft seat waiting areas are also separate, and you'll find snacks and perhaps souvenirs for sale in the waiting area.
Before boarding a train in China , any luggage or packages, purses, backpacks, etc., will go through an x-ray machine. You'll then wait in the waiting room until your train is announced (it will also be posted on an electronic board).
In theory, Chinese trains are non-smoking.
Pedicabs
In tourist areas you will have a hard time fighting off the offers to take you on a pedicab ride. If you really want to try it, make absolutely sure you and the operator come to an understanding on the fare.
Subway
The HK subway is modern, sleek, efficient, and easy to use. If you've ever used a subway system in any city in the world, you'll have no problem with HK. Remember to keep your ticket-you'll need it to get out when you arrive at your destination. Announcements are in both Chinese and British English (mind the gap!). (Hint-the metal seats can be very slippery, so hang on when the trains go around corners!) The cost varies depending on the distance traveled. Tickets are purchased from machines which are in both English and Chinese.
The Beijing subway system is limited and mostly useful for moving from one general area of the city to another. Signs and announcements on the trains are in both Chinese and English, and you purchase the tickets, which cost 3 yuan (2004 price), from an attendant.
The Shanghai subway system is much more modern than Beijing's, and it greatly resembles the HK subway system. In fact, both were designed by the same company. Fares cost 3-4 yuan (2004 prices) depending on the distance traveled, and tickets can be purchased from a machine. I don't remember for sure if the machines are in both English and Chinese. All signs and announcements on the trains are in both Chinese and English.
Star Ferry-Hong Kong
The greatest ferry ride in the world is the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. For more than one hundred years tourists and locals alike have been crossing the bay on the Star Ferry. The upper deck costs less than 50 cents, and the lower deck is even cheaper. The upper deck is partly air-conditioned, but the sea breezes are usually sufficient to cool you on the 15-minute crossing. Try both the upper and lower decks for a different perspective on the city and its inhabitants.
Last updated: 05/08/2006
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