Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Suzhou
2nd/1st class ¥75/91, two hours, three daily
Xiamen North Train Station
2nd/1st class ¥284/341, 7½ hours, two daily
Regular D class trains (2nd/1st class ¥54/65, 1½ hours) also run to Shanghai
Hongqiao Train Station, mostly from Hangzhou South Train Station ( Hang-
zhou Huoche Nanzhan), south of the Qiantang River. Due for a late 2012 com-
pletion date, Hangzhou East Train Station ( Hangzhou Dongzhan) is being re-
built to accommodate high-speed trains and will be linked to the metro system.
Getting Around
To/From the Airport
Hangzhou's airport is 30km from the city centre; taxi drivers ask around ¥100
to ¥130 for the trip. Shuttle buses (¥20, one hour) run every 15 minutes
between 5.30am and 9pm from the CAAC office (also stopping at the train sta-
tion).
Bicycle
The best way to hire a bike is to use the public
bike hire scheme
( 8533
1122;
www.hzzxc.com.cn
,
in Chinese)
. Stations are dotted in large numbers
around the city. You can apply at one of the
booths
( 6.30am-9pm Apr-Oct,
6am-9pm Nov-Mar)
at certain bike stations (marked on the Hangzhou map),
where you will need ¥300 (¥200 for the deposit and ¥100 as credit) and your
passport as ID. You will then get a swipe card to hop aboard one of the bright
red bikes which you can return to any other station. The first hour on each bike
is free, so if you switch bikes within the hour, the rides are free. The second
hour on the same bike is ¥1, the third is ¥2 and after that it's ¥3 per hour. Your
deposit and unused credit is refunded to you when you return your swipe card.
Youth hostels also rent out bikes, but these are more expensive.
Public Transport
BUS
Hangzhou has a clean, efficient bus system and getting around is easy
(but roads are increasingly gridlocked). 'Y' buses are tourist buses; 'K' is
simply an abbreviation of '
kongtiao'
(air-con). Tickets are ¥2 to ¥5. Following
are popular bus routes:
