Railways provide the principal means of transport for goods and people throughout China. The major routes are from Beijing to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Harbin, Chengdu and Urumqi. Children under 1m tall travel free and those under 1.3m pay a quarter of the fare. 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. There are 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. Guides who accompany every visitor or group will ensure that internal travel within the cities is as trouble-free as possible.