Travel inside China

Travel in China 

Trains

This was easily my favorite part of traveling in China for one reason. Just like India, China has an extensive and incredibly efficient railway network, which makes long distance travel both comfortable and relatively affordable if planned smartly.

For almost an entire month, Trip.com became my go-to platform. The interface is fully in English, easy to navigate, and extremely user-friendly, even for first-time travelers in China.

China offers different types of trains and classes, but broadly, you’ll come across two main options:

High-Speed Trains (Bullet Trains)
These are a must-try experience. China’s high-speed rail network is one of the most advanced in the world. Trains can cover distances of 1000–1200 km in just about 3–5 hours. They are fast, punctual, and extremely smooth.

However, relying only on high-speed trains can significantly increase your travel budget, sometimes up to 3–4 times more than regular trains.

Regular (Slow) Trains – Overnight Option
This is where smart planning comes in. Regular trains take longer, typically 8 to 12 hours for similar distances, but many of them run overnight and offer sleeper classes.

I mostly chose these because:

• They were 3x cheaper than high-speed trains
• I could book AC sleeper berths, making the journey comfortable
• I saved on one night’s hotel cost, since I traveled while sleeping

It turned out to be both economical and efficient.

How to Book

Using Trip.com makes the entire process seamless. All you need to do is:

• Enter your departure and arrival cities
• Select your travel date

The platform then shows:

• All available trains
• Departure and arrival timings
• Train duration
• Seat and sleeper classes
• Ticket prices

This makes it incredibly easy to compare options and choose what fits your budget and schedule.

Cabs 

DiDi – The “Uber” of China

DiDi, often referred to as the Uber of China, is honestly a far more advanced and refined version of ride-hailing technology. It’s not just about booking a cab, it’s about precision, efficiency, and real-time intelligence.

For short-distance travel, I found it to be extremely affordable, quick, and highly reliable. The interface is smooth, the bookings are instant, and the tracking system is incredibly accurate.

But what truly stood out to me was the level of real-time detail it provides. The app doesn’t just show your driver’s location, it goes much deeper. At one point, I was amazed to see that it displayed my cab waiting at a traffic signal, along with the exact countdown of the red light. It literally showed how many seconds were left for the signal to turn green, giving me a precise estimate of when the cab would start moving and reach me.

This level of micro-detail means you’re never guessing or waiting blindly, you know exactly when your ride will arrive, down to the second.

Subway

The underground metro network in China is nothing short of incredibly efficient, extensive, and extremely well-organized. It’s one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get around, especially within cities.

Across major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, and Chongqing, the subway systems are vast and seamlessly connected, allowing you to travel from one end of the city to another quickly and at a very low cost.

While it is possible to activate your forex card on WeChat/Alipay and pay for metro rides digitally, I personally found it just as easy, if not easier to buy tickets directly at the subway stations. The process is quick, automated, and takes just a few minutes, even for first-time users.

Navigation within the metro system is also very straightforward. Stations are well-marked, routes are clearly mapped, and interchanges are efficiently designed, making it comfortable to move between lines without confusion.

One of the biggest advantages is connectivity, most airports and major railway stations are directly linked to the metro network. This means you can land in a city or arrive by train and seamlessly hop onto the subway to reach your destination without needing additional transport.

Cycles : 

While writing this, one thing keeps coming back to me,I could talk endlessly about China’s transport system, and almost everything I say would be positive. It’s rare to see a country get something this complex so right, but China truly has.

What really surprised me was the level of planning on the roads. Almost every road has clearly defined, separate lanes for e-bikes, bicycles, and cars. It instantly removes the chaos that we’re so used to, no unnecessary honking, no zig-zagging through traffic, no constant need to dodge vehicles. Everything just flows. Even buses follow strict lane discipline and are driven in a controlled, predictable manner, which adds to the overall sense of order.

And then there’s how seamlessly technology blends into everyday commuting. Apps like Alipay make getting around incredibly convenient. If you want to cover short distances, renting a cycle is probably the easiest option. You’ll find cycles parked every few hundred meters across the city. All you have to do is scan the QR code using Alipay, and the cycle unlocks instantly, no paperwork, no hassle. Within seconds, you’re on your way.

The best part? It’s extremely affordable. A one-hour ride costs roughly INR 30–40, making it not just convenient but also budget-friendly. It’s these small, thoughtful systems that make daily life in China feel so efficient and effortless.