China Highway/Road Travel

Types of Long Distance Bus

There are two main categories of buses: the sleeper and the seater. The sleepers feature two or three rows of bunk beds, lined up on either side of the aisle and in the middle. The seaters vary greatly and you can adjust the width your seat and make it comfortable.

Buy Tickets

Travelers can buy tickets at the long distance bus station, travel agencies, ticket-booking website and even show up at your leisure with no ticket and buy at the time you will board. It is suggested to book tickets in advance, especially during Chinese holidays, like May Day (May 1 to May 3), Chinese National Day (October 1 to October 7) and Chinese Spring Festival and some other public holidays. Otherwise, you’ll get into the crowds and wait for long time and even no tickets to buy at all.

Find your Bus

Take your tickets with you to pass through the security check. Then, check which ticket entrance you are going to use and check with the staff whether your bus will go or not. If it is a little bit early, you can find a seat in the waiting room to take a rest and wait for the bus. Please make sure you get it very clear which bus and which ticket entrance you are going to use. If you have no idea, find a staff who can speak English and check with him/her.

Luggage

Bags and suitcases can be stored in the ample belly of the bus before boarding. Small bags can be put at the shelf over your head.

Toilet

Usually, there is no toilet on long distance bus. The drivers will let the passengers get off to use toilet on the way. The break usually takes 15 minutes.

Food & Drink

Prepare some snacks and water before you get aboard. You can eat in the bus and waste bags are provided in the front of your seats. Some buses even have hot water dispensers, so be sure to pack a thermos and instant coffee! Otherwise, you can buy some or eat some food during the break.

For example, taking our private car you can visit First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge in one day. Your private service begins at your hotel in Lijiang and transfer to First Bend of Yangtze River with 1.5 hours for the visiting and follow your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge, either Upper Leaping Gorge or Middle Leaping Gorge. After the visit, you’ll be transferred to Shangri-La with 2 hours’ drive. All the tour arrangement (sightseeing and transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La) will do in one day. If you take long distance bus on your own, the journey can be tiring. China Discovery suggests you use our private car service in the areas with incomplete transportation system, like Yunnan, Tibet, Guizhou, and Inner Mongolia, etc.

Beijing-Harbin Highway (G1): 1280 KM, with Qinghuangdao, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin on this route;

Beijing-Shanghai Highway (G2): 1245 KM, with Tianjin, Jinan, Tai’an, Suzhou, Shanghai on this route;

Beijing-Taipei Highway (G3): 2330 KM, with Hefei, Huangshan, Fuzhou, Taipei, on this route;

Beijing-Hong Kong Macau Highway (G4): 2285 KM, with Shijiazhuang Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong on this route;

Beijing-Kunming Highway (G5): 2865 KM, with Taiyuan, Linfen, Xian, Guangyuan, Chengdu, Ya’an, Xichang, Panzhihua, Kunming on this route;

Beijing-Lhasa Highway (G6): 3710 KM, with Hohhot, Baotou, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Xining, Lhasa on this route;

Beijing-Urumqi Highway (G7): 2540 KM, with Hohhot, Baotou, Ejinaqi, Hami, Turpan and Urumqi on this route.

9 North-South Highways

This north-south network includes Hegang-Dalian Highway (G11), Shenyang-Haikou Highway (G15), Changchun-Shenzhen Highway (G25), Jinan-Guangzhou Highway (G35), Daqing-Guangzhou Highway (G45), Erlianhaote-Guangzhou Highway (G55), Baotou-Maoming Highway (G65), Lanzhou Haikou Highway (G75), and Chongqing-Kunming Highway (G85).