There are no first or second class on Chinese trains, but four categories or classes: soft-sleeper, soft-seat, hard-sleeper, and hard-seat. Usually the soft-seat class is only available for short journeys. Long-distance trains normally only have soft-sleeper or hard-sleeper facilities. The soft-sleeper class has 4-bed compartments with soft beds. It is recommended particularly for long journeys. The hard-sleeper class has open, 6-bed compartments. Boiled water is always available on the trains. There are washrooms in the soft -sleeper and hard-sleeper classes. The toilets, regardless of which class, are usually not very hygienic, and it is a good idea to bring your own toilet paper.

There are dining cars on long-distance trains.

Trains are usually fully booked and it is advisable to get a ticket well in advance. This is particularly so during the main travel season. There are special ticket counters for foreigners at railway stations.

The fare depends on both the class and the speed of the train; there are slow trains, fast trains, express trains and inter-city trains. Reservations can be made at ticket offices in the town center.

Long-distance Buses
Overland buses are the most important means of transport in many parts of China, especially where there is no railway line. In most towns and counties, there are bus stations for overland buses. They are the cheapest means of transport, but also correspondingly slow. There are regular breaks during bus journeys; on journeys lasting several days you will usually find small restaurants and overnight accommodation near the bus stations. Many overland buses have numbered seats and it is advisable to book a ticket and seat well in advance. Modern buses with air conditioning are frequently available in the tourist centers.

Town Transports
The visitor can choose between taxis and buses for transport in the cities. In Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai there is also underground (subway).

Taxi is one of the most convenient means of transportation for travelers. It is available at airports and railway stations, and can be booked at hotels. You can also hail a taxi in the street. The fare is calculated according to the distance or time and distance for chartered services. Taxis may have a surcharge for waiting or low-speed driving during traffic jams. Taking a taxi after 23:00 incurs a 20 percent surcharge on initial fee.

Public buses in Chinese towns are overcrowded. The fare depends on distance, and should be paid to the conductor. Public buses are usually easy to find, and timetables or town maps are available everywhere.

Minibus is a compromise between the relatively expensive taxis and crowded public transport. Running regular services, the small vans guarantee beach rider a seat even in rush hour and stop on request anywhere along the route. The minibuses have their certain routes that match those of the large public buses. They carry a maximum of 16 people. They are a bit more expensive but it is very convenient.

Many hotels have shuttle buses that can take tourists to the airport and other places downtown. The tickets are sold in lobbies of the hotels.

Traffic Control
While travelling in China, you should pay attention to Chinese traffic regulations for safety's sake.

The Chinese traffic regulations stipulate that all motor vehicles must keep to the right of the road. Drivers must pay serious attention to any changes of traffic signals. The red light is the prohibiting signal. The yellow light signals motor vehicles to stop before the line to continue moving. When the green light is on, motor vehicles are allowed to move forward, or to turn to either the right or the left provided they do not obstruct the movement of motor vehicles in straight directions.

Road Safety
In large cities in China most roads are well-paved, traffic lights function, and drivers generally comply with basic traffic laws. However, the growing number of vehicles, many of which are driven by relatively inexperienced drivers, as well as the large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists lead to congestion and additional risks. In any accident involving an automobile and a pedestrian or cyclist, the driver of the automobile is presumed to be at fault. Foreigners often complain that they are automatically considered at fault in any accident, simply because they are foreign. Drivers on in-land and rural roads are less likely to comply with basic traffic safety procedures. Additionally, livestock are a common obstacle on roads outside larger, coastal cities.While travelling in China, you should pay attention to Chinese traffic regulations for safety's sake.

Inland River Transport
Navigable inland waterways in China total 111,000 kilometers and berths at major harbors amounted to some 5,000 in 1997. The Yangtze, the " golden waterway" of China's inland river transport, has 6,000 kilometers navigable throughout the year. The annual transport capacity, both freight and passenger transport, amounts to more than 70 percent of China's total capacity. Other major navigable rivers are the Heilong, the Pearl, and the Grand Canal between Beijing and Hangzhou.

Civil Aviation
China has opened 967 air routes totaling 1.42 million kilometers. International air routes numbers 116. Chinese civil airways fly Boeing 777s, 767s, 757s, 747s and 737s, and A340, and other types of airplanes. The domestic airlines radiate from Beijing to all the provinces, autonomous regions and centrally administered municipalities, major tourist and open cities and border areas. The international airlines reach 57 cities, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Jakarta, Karachi, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Moscow, Nagoya, New York, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Tashkent, Tokyo and Vienna.