Railways provide the principal means of transport for goods and people throughout China. The routes are generally cheap, safe and well-maintained. The major routes are from Beijing to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Harbin, Chengdu and Urumqi. Roads are not always of the highest quality. Distances should not be underestimated and vehicles should be in prime mechanical condition as China is still very much an agricultural nation without the mechanical expertise or services found in the West.
Traffic drives on the right.
Buses are normally crowded. Cars with a driver can be hired on a daily or weekly basis. There is a metro system in Shanghai and limited metro services in Beijing and Tianjin, and tramways and trolleybuses in a number of other cities. New lines are under construction in Beijing. Most cities have extensive bus services.