Since the founding of the PRC in 1949, China has formed a comprehensive transportation system comprehending railways, highways, civil aviation and water transport, and a posts and telecommunications network accessible from all directions. As the market economy system was established after the initiation of the policies of reform and opening to the outside world in 1978, historic changes took place in transport, posts and telecommunications¡ªthey have developed quickly and are heading for openness and competition, emerging from a closed and monopolistic state. By the end of 1999, the total length of transportation lines in China had reached 3.55 million km, 16.3 times and 2.88 times the lengths in 1949 and 1978, respectively; the total length of optical cable lines had reached 194,000 km from zero in 1978. In 1978, there were no mobile telecommunications in China; however, in 1999, the mobile phone users reached 43.24 million. Mobile telecommunications have developed to the extent of using analogue and digital networks, and realized automatic roaming with some countries and regions. Data telecommunications have grown from nothing to the stage of having an efficient network.

A highway network has already taken shape in Tibet,with 22,300 kilometers opened to traffic and with the Qinghai-Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet and Sino- Nepalese highways radiating from Lhasa as the backbone of the network.

The level of technical equipment of transport, posts and telecommunications is continuously rising. By the end of 1999, the length of double-track railways had reached 20,935 km, with a double-track rate of 35.7 percent, a nearly 20 percentage points increase over 1978; and the length of electrified lines had reached 13,629 km, with an electrification rate of 23.4 percent, a 20.4 percentage points increase over 1978. Developing from nothing, the length of expressways has reached 9,083 km. The numbers of railway engines, civil vehicles, motor transport ships and airplanes have all doubled or redoubled. New berths at major harbors total 1,236, of which 347 are 10,000-ton-class berths, and the number of new civil airports is over 90. With the improvement of transport capacity and expansion of posts and telecommunications, transport, posts and telecommunications have developed by leaps and bounds. In 1999, the various transport means carried 4,023.5 billion tons/km of freight, and 1,125 billion persons/km¡ª4.1 times and 65 times increases over 1978, respectively. The posts and telecommunications volume totaled 331.1 billion yuan, 109 times that of 1978 in constant prices.

China¡¯s mainland coast is over 18,000 km long, and its rivers total 220,000 km in length. Such excellent natural conditions provide convenience for developing inland river transport and ocean shipping. The major inland navigable rivers in China are the Yangtze, the Pearl, the Heilongjiang, the Huaihe, the Qiantang, the Minjiang and the Huangpu, not forgetting the Grand Canal between Beijing and Hangzhou. In 1999, navigable inland waterways in China totaled 110,300 km, the volume of cargo transportation was 2,126.3 billion tons/km, and the volume of passenger transportation was 10.73 billion persons/km.

Now there are more than 5,000 berths at some 70 major inland river ports. The Yangtze, the ¡°golden waterway¡± of China¡¯s inland river transport, has considerable annual volume of both freight and passenger transport. Nanjing Harbor, the largest river harbor in China, has an annual capacity of more than 40 million tons. Ocean shipping in China is divided into two major navigation zones: the northern and the southern ones. The northern one has Shanghai and Dalian as the centers, and the southern one has Guangzhou as the center. Harbors (including inland river ports) built after 1978 have an annual capacity of 497.26 million tons. There are more than 20 major coastal harbors in China, with an annual capacity of 1.05 billion tons, and the passenger turnover of 64.01 million Shanghai Harbor ranks among the 10 largest trade harbors in the world, with an annual capacity of over 100 million tons. China has an ocean fleet with a capacity of 22 million tons of goods, sailing among 1,100 harbors worldwide.

The largest container terminal in northern China has been built in Dalian. These containers are being loaded to be transported to the railway station.

Between 1949 and 1978, China invested several billion yuan to construct and expand a group of airports, laying the foundation for civil aviation in the country. Since the initiation of the policies of reform and opening, a group of airports have been built and expanded to satisfy the needs of economic development. By the end of 1998, there were over 140 airports opened to civil airplanes. Of them, more than 80 could accommodate large airplanes such as Boeing 777s, 767s, 757s, 747s and 737s, and A340s. By 1999, the total length of civil air routes in China was 1.522 million km, 3.5 times that in 1978, and 1,122 air routes had been opened, 128 of which were international air routes.

Buses are still major public transportation means in all large cities of China. There are normally dozens of routes of buses in large cities. The buses are generally named with Arabic figures, e.g., Buses of Route 1, Route 15 and Route 320. Given the large numbers of passengers, crowded roads and complicated routes, it is not easy for a foreign newcomer to take a correct bus in China.

Buses in urban areas normally operate between 5:00 local time in the morning and 23:00 local time at night each day. There is normally an interval of 5 to 10 minutes between every two buses. During the rush hour, the interval is shortened to two or three minutes; namely, a bus is dispatched in every two or three minutes.

Passengers shall buy tickets from bus conductors. The prices of bus tickets vary in accordance with different numbers of stops.

Over recent years, some large Chinese cities have started to operate a number of air-conditioned coaches and unwatched buses on busy tourist routes, whose ticket prices are normally two to three times those of general buses but are significant lower than taxi fares. Therefore, such coaches and buses can well be a good choice for tourists.

The four largest Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou - all boast well-equipped subway systems, with all the stations, ticket-booking offices and transit points clearly marked with their names both in Chinese and English. In every subway train, travel information is read alternately in Chinese and English.

The subway transportation operates 18 hours per day, normally between 5:10 and 23:30 local time, with an interval of four to six minutes between every two trains. The hours between 6:30 and 8:30 and between 17:00 and 19:00 are the morning and evening rush hours respectively.

Mini-buses are another transportation means in Chinese cities auxiliary to buses and trolley buses, shuttling in major commercial areas, tourist areas, railway stations and major communications trunk lines. One can stop a mini-bus by merely waving the hand while passengers can ask for a stop at any nearest point. Generally, there are fewer mini-bus stations than bus stations. However, mini-buses travel faster than buses. Mini-bus ticket prices are sometimes seasonally adjustable.

With large numbers of taxis running around, it is very convenient to take taxis in all large Chinese cities. It is not very expensive to hire a taxi in China. There are taxi companies in most of the urban areas in Chinese cities. Taxis are available at any time around big hotels, guesthouses, railway stations, airports, major communications trunk lines and busy commercial areas. There is the time taxi service, which is available at any time at the request of passengers. One can also reserve a taxi by phone. However, the time taxi service is more expensive than the general service.

In China, taxi services are normally chargeable according to the mileage completed and the time used. When a passenger embarks on a taxi, the taximeter will begin to indicate a basic rate chargeable. After running four to six kilometers, the fare payable will increase progressively in line with the mileage completed, with the fare chargeable for each kilometer varying according to the size and grade of the vehicle. When the taxi runs at a speed slower than a certain standard, an extra charge will be added to the basic rate chargeable on a minute-counting basis. Besides, a percentage of night driving fee is chargeable for services between 23:00 of each day and 5:00 of the following day.

When taking a taxi, the passenger should first of all ask the driver to switch on the taximeter. When arriving at the place of destination, the passenger should ask the driver to write a receipt to prevent possible unfair charge. Secondly, if anything unhappy involving the service occurs, the passenger can write down the plate number of the taxi and lodge a complaint to competent authorities.

In the past, it was not very comfortable to take a train in China. Today, things have changed after the Chinese government invested heavily in building and rebuilding railways, increasing the running speed of trains and expanding the transportation capacity of railway systems. Consequently, the operation of railway transportation has been relatively greatly improved. Many slow lines have been changed to "leaving in the morning and arriving at evening," thus improving the travel service, raising efficiency and increasing the competitive edge of the trains.

In China, passenger trains are divided into three classes - the hard-seat class, the hard-couchette class and the soft-couchette class. An adult passenger is allowed to carry 20 kilograms of luggage free of charge each time taking a train, a child 10 kilograms and a diplomat 35 kilograms. The weight in excess of these standards will be chargeable for the luggage consignment fee. Over recent years, in an effort to further protect the safety of passengers, railway stations in some large Chinese cities have newly installed X-ray detecting equipment at the entrance of stations to scan the luggage. Passengers entering the station shall have their luggage checked by the equipment under the guidance of security officers at the station.

Train tickets, particularly tickets for the couchette classes, should normally be booked in advance. Following the coming of the Internet period, train tickets can be booked through Internet in large cities in China, and this no doubt is convenient for passengers. Foreign travelers wishing to take trains can book tickets through travel agencies or hotels.

When travelling in China, there is a great difference in fares in taking different means of transportation. The following table is on fares to various cities for a trip started from Beijing:

So far, there have been dozens of airline companies in China, including China International Aviation Company, Northwest Aviation Company, South Aviation Company, Southwest Aviation Company, Oriental Aviation Company, North Aviation Company, Xiamen Aviation Company, Xinjiang Aviation Company, Yunnan Aviation Company, Sichuan Aviation Company, Shanghai Aviation Company, Great Wall Aviation Company, Wuhan Aviation Company, Zhongyuan Avaition Company, Hainan Province Aviation Company, Xinhua Aviation Company and Shenzhen Aviation Company., All of them serve the domestic airlines of China.

1. Reservation of seats: Only after their seats are reserved can foreign travelers embark on planes with their tickets indicating the reservation of seats. Foreign travelers can contact ticket offices of airline companies or airline ticket sales agencies to have their seats reserved. For passengers whose seats have been reserved, they shall have to book their tickets within the prescribed period of time. Otherwise, the reservation of seats shall be canceled.

2. Ticket-booking: For foreigners, overseas Chinese and Chinese compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, they can book tickets with their valid passports, the "Return-Home Card" for Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, Taiwan Compatriots Card," "Residence Permit," travel papers or other valid identity papers issued by Chinese public security authorities. In booking tickets, they shall be required to fill in the "Passenger Reservation Record."

3. Reconfirmation of reservation: For passengers holding through tickets or round-trip tickets with seats reserved, where they are staying for 72 hours or longer at a stopover on the through trip or round trip, they shall have to reconfirm their reservation by 12:00 two days before the departure of the flight from the stopover airport. Otherwise, the original reservation shall be automatically canceled.

4. Term of validity of tickets: Passenger tickets of normal prices shall be valid for one year counted from the date of starting the journey. The term of validity of tickets of special prices shall be defined separately.

5. Children fare: A child between 2 and 12 years of age is charged at 50% of the adult fare. A separate seat will be provided for each child enjoying such fare.

6. Infant fare: An infant under 2 years of age not occupying a separate seat is charged at 10% of the adult fare. One adult passenger is entitled to accompany one infant enjoying such fare. Infants of less than 14 days old shall not be allowed to take planes.

7. Check-in procedure: Passengers shall generally be required to arrive at the airport for departure 90 minutes before the time of departure, and go through the check-in formalities with their passenger tickets and valid identity papers. The check-in counter shall be closed 30 minutes before the time of departure.

8. Modification: After the booking of tickets, where passengers ask for changing an flight or date of departure more than 72 hours before the time of departure, the airline company concerned shall handle the modification free of charge under the circumstance that there are seats available. Where passengers ask for a change within 72 hours before the time of departure, the airline company concerned shall handle the modification free of charge only once in line with relevant regulations. Where passengers ask for changes for a second time, they shall be liable to pay a handling charge for the modification which is equal to 5% of the ticket price.

9. Refund: Where passengers ask for a refund 24 hours before the time of departure as indicated on the tickets, they shall be liable to pay a cancellation fee equal to 5% of the original fare. The rate will increase progressively to 10% for refund between 24 hours and 2 two hours before the time of departure, and to 20% for refund within 2 hours before the time of departure. Where passengers ask for a refund after the time of departure as indicated on the tickets, they shall be viewed as having missed the flight and shall be liable to pay a no-show fee equal to 50% of the original fare. Tickets for children booked at a rate of 10% of the adult fare may not be refunded.

10. Carry-on luggage: Passengers holding first class tickets may carry 2 pieces of articles, and passengers holding business or economy class tickets may carry one piece of article only. The volume of either one or two pieces should not be more than 20 x 40 x 55 centimeters and with a total weight not exceeding 5 kilograms. Carry-on luggage in excess of the above limit of number, volume and weight should be checked in for consignment according to relevant regulations.

11. Free luggage allowance: Passengers holding adult-fare or half-fare tickets are entitled to free luggage allowance of 40 kilograms for the first class, and 30 kilograms for the business class, and 20 kilograms for economy class. No free luggage allowance is granted to infants. Each piece of luggage for consignment may not exceed 50 kilograms in the maximum weight, and 40 x 60 x 100 centimeters in size.

12. Overweight luggage: Where the luggage of a passenger is in excess of the free luggage allowance in terms of the weight or volume, the passenger shall be liable to pay an overweight fee, which is chargeable at a rate of 1.5% of the normal economy class fare for every one kilogram.

Besides, children under 12 years of age shall be accompanied by adults, or can take a flight alone with consent from the carrier. A seriously-ill patient shall hold a hospital certificate indicating that he is suitable for travel by air, and can book a ticket and take a flight with consent from the carrier. Passengers may not carry arms, edge tools, weapons or lethal articles with them in taking flights.

To provide convenience for passengers, many aviation companies have set up flight information desk or hot phone lines to book tickets, and their phone numbers can be secured through "114" information desk at various cities.

In the past few years, China's air transport network has been continuously expanded, and there are now 1,122 regular lines, including 131 international ones and 143 airports. Its international airlines connect with 57 cities in 31 countries and regions.

So far, more than 40 overseas airline companies have been allowed to operate regular passenger and cargo transportation services in China, in addition to the dozens of Chinese airline companies which also operate international air transportation services. The overseas air companies operate nearly 900 flights to China each week, with stopovers in a dozen and more international airports in China, namely the international airports of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Kunming, Huhhot and Urumqi. All these airports are equipped with various forms of complete service facilities, including service counters for changing currencies at any time, airport information counters and taxi service counters. There are public telephone booths in many parts of the airports. Users can dial to their receivers after paying a small fee by following the steps indicated on the telephone set. There are IDD telephone call service counters at large international airports.

There are generally smooth communications from the airport to the city proper, with many types of transportation means available at the passengers' choice, which mainly include: 1. taxis provided by airport taxi service counters; 2. time shuttle buses to the city proper provided by airline companies; and 3. mini-buses shuttling between the airport and the city proper.

Along with rapid development in the construction of communications facilities in China over recent years, many cities have built expressways from the airport to the city proper, greatly saving the traveling time for passengers.