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The bus system services the entire city. Unfortunately, virtually all signs and maps are written in Chinese and the drivers hardly speak any English. On the bright side, there are a handful of lines that call out each stop in English. If you remain undaunted, taking the bus can lead you to anywhere you want to go in Beijing – and, certainly, to a lot of pleasantly surprising places where you did not want to go.
Beijing buses are impressive and so many of them are brand new, specifically to meet the high demand for transportation during the Beijing Olympics. Most buses are fully air-conditioned (but heated in winter), have their own television sets and a scrolling screen that flashes upcoming stops in Chinese. For help using the bus system, tourists can call 96166, the number for the Beijing Public Transportation Customer Helpline.
All bus lines have their designated routes indicated by number, running from 1 to 999. Those below 300 cater to the city center. Those from 300 and above travel from the city center to various outside locations. Those starting from 900 and above service the city's rural outskirts.
Difficult for the visitor
to use as no English
information is provided
but they are cheap and
people will help you. Buses numbered between 1 and 100 operate within the Third Ring Road; between 200 - 212 are night buses and those with 300 numbers are for the suburbs. Bus passes are available and easily bought at McDonald's.
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