The Radical Travel Guide to Beijing, China: Tips for taking public buses in Beijing

Taking public buses in Beijing is especially difficult if you don't speak or read Mandarin Chinese and have little familiarity with the city.

But if you are adventurous, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

• Schedules and stops: Bus schedules and stops are written in Chinese characters except for the names of the first and last stops which are typically written in English.
• Entering: You can enter the bus through both the front and back doors.
• Cost: Buses typically cost RMB 1 though there are exceptions for longer routes.
• Payment option #1:  If you enter through the front door you can pay by slipping your money into a slot next to the driver. Change is not typically available.
• Payment option #2: If you enter through the back door, you can either walk to the front and pay the driver or you can pay the roaming payment collector. The roaming payment collector is usually available to make change.
  
• Exiting: You can get off the bus through either the front or back doors.
• Name of your destination: Make sure you have the name of your destination written down in Chinese characters so that you can show it to the driver or payment collector and he or she can determine how much you are to pay.
• WARNING: Buses can become extremely crowded and you may find it difficult to get on or off. Be careful!

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