Transportation in China

Transportation Card

A transportation card is the easiest way to pay for public transportation in the city.  It is small, like a credit card, and can be easily placed in your billfold or wallet.  To pay for transportation, you tap it on a censor and it removes money from your account.  They have these censors on the bus, the metro, taxis, and ferries.  It does not work on the high speed train.  Your Shanghai Transportation Card can be used in Shanghai and in Kunshan, but currently does not work in Suzhou.

You can buy your transportation card here in town at the Agricultural and Commercial Bank of Kunshan.  You can also purchase it at the Shanghai metro stations.  The cost is 25 RMB in Kunshan and 20 RMB in Shanghai. Then, just like a pay-as-you-go card, you must put money on it.

**The blue Shanghai Transportation card can work in Kunshan, 

however, it may not work on all modes of city transportation. **

Train Communication
Use these bilingual train cards to communicate more easily with the ticket offices.  Please read over them carefully.  

From Kunshan to Shanghai/Shanghai Hongqiao/Suzhou

From Shanghai/Shanghai Hongqiao/Suzhou to Kunshan

High Speed Train "CRH Train"

In Kunshan there are two high speed train stations, one is located on the south side of Kunshan (Kunshan South Station) and the other on the west side (Kunshan Yangcheng Hu Station).  The most commonly used, and most frequented by trains, is the Kunshan South Station, located near TESCO.  Trains to Shanghai Hongqiao take off nearly every fifteen minutes. 

Tickets to Shanghai can cost anywhere from 15 RMB – 35 RMB per ticket.  Currently, foreigners cannot order these tickets online.  There are many ways you can buy a ticket: 

1. You can go to the train station and ask to buy a ticket.  At the Kunshan South Station ticket counters, there is usually one person who can speak limited/basic English.  For extra support, please use the image below - fill in the information and hand it to the ticket counter lady.  
2. You can go to the Post Office on Tinglin Lu.  It is similar to the above process, however, the lines are usually not as long and the location makes it more convenient to buy tickets ahead of time.  There is a man on staff who speaks English, but others do not.  For more support, fill in the information in the image below and hand it to the ticket counter lady.  
3. You can have someone in your office purchase it online.  You will need to print out a paper that has the details of your trip and take it to the ticket office at the train station. When you reach the train station, you will need to go directly to the ticket counter to collect your ticket.  Please be sure to have the printed ticket information along with your passport.

It is best to access www.chinatrainguide.com and write down the train number and departure time.  Attendants can easily recognize this and quickly give you your ticket.  You must have a copy of your passport to purchase tickets.  However, if you are purchasing your tickets online or at certain stations (like in Beijing), they ask for your real passport.  

Make sure to check the train timetables before returning from Shanghai or Suzhou.  The high speed train can close early, and you could be left taking the slow train or a taxi ride back to Kunshan.  A taxi ride can cost between 150 – 300 RMB from Shanghai to Kunshan.  The slow train runs later than the high speed train and can be found at the Shanghai Train Station.

Slow Train

I would not recommend taking the slow train for short trips to Shanghai or Suzhou.  The price is similar to that of the high speed train (13 RMB to Shanghai), but the ride can be much longer.  To reach Shanghai, it is typically an hours journey, whereas the high speed train takes 15-20 minutes at 15 RMB and has a much better environment.  You can purchase tickets for the slow speed train at the high or slow speed train stations, online, or at the post office on Tinglin Lu.

For longer distances, the slow train is much more economical.  The price significantly decreases compared to that of the high speed train or flight ticket.  For example, heading to see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an is more affordable by slow train (high speed train does not go there), although it will take much longer to reach.

Biking

In the popular areas around Kunshan, rows of green bikes attached to a bike stand can be found.  These are provided by the city as an economical and healthy way to get around town.  They are free to use, but you must first sign up for a special "bike card" that can be found at multiple bicycle renting kiosks around town.  You will need a deposit around 250 RMB and your passport to fill out the paperwork.  Once you obtain your card, you can begin to rent bikes in town.  First, let your card sit on the censor until it unlocks the bike.  Then, pull the bike out.  When you finish, return it to any other green bike stand, just leave the card on top of the censor until the lock opens up and push the bike into the stand.  A little scary at first, but don't worry, it works!  Understand that if you do not return the bike, you will not get your deposit back.  Otherwise, it is pretty much free and a great way to see more of the city.

Bus
There are many buses in Kunshan, and depending on what side of town you live on determines the importance of the bus routes you need to know.  Currently, there are no English Bus route information available.  

Bus fares range from 1 - 4 RMB depending upon how far you travel.  

Taxi

In Jiangsu Province, taxis will usually stop and pick you up if they see you.  Depending on where you are, taxis can be infrequent.  

In Kunshan, the taxis have a display light on the passenger side dashboard.  If the sign is faced up and glowing, it means it can take customers.  Once you wave the taxi over, you must say your location in Chinese or show a taxi card to the driver to reach your location.  Taxi drivers rarely know any English.

If the sign is pushed down, you will not be able to see the light, which means it cannot take you at that time.  Meters are found between the driver and the front seat passenger.  They typically start off at 10 RMB.

If you are able to speak Chinese, you can call the taxi hotline, give them your name, location, and a time you want picked up, and a taxi will come to you if they are in the surrounding area. 

Some taxis that are empty will pass by you, waving.  This just means someone has contacted the taxi hotline and they have a specific job to retrieve someone in the area.  They are not ignoring you.  :-)

Black Taxis

“Black Taxi” is the local term to describe an independent driver who uses his/her personal vehicle as a taxi service but is not certified by the government to do so.  Usually, if they see a clueless expat trying to find transportation, the price increases tenfold.  There are no meters in the car, and usually the driver will pick up more than one person along the route before dropping you off where you need to be.  Use caution when using these vehicles.  Regular taxis are safer and cheaper than this option.

Private Drivers

There are private driving services in the city.  Instead of calling a taxi, you can call a driving service and rent a vehicle for an excursion or you may decide to hire one full time.  Prices are slightly more than a taxi and vary between the different driving companies. 

If you are looking for a driving service in the area, I can recommend one to you.  Just post a comment below or contact me directly.  Otherwise, your company should easily be able to arrange this service for you.  Note that most, if not all, drivers do not speak English in the Kunshan Area.  

Kunshan Airport Terminal

On the east side of town, you will find the Shanghai International Airport Kunshan Terminal.  This is not an airport, but is a convenient way to get to the international airport in Pudong.  It is about a 10 minute taxi ride from the downtown of Kunshan.  You can take a bus, but the most convenient (less walking) option is a taxi.  When you arrive, you can buy tickets at the counter for 70 RMB a person.  

Before loading the bus, place your luggage below the coach.  The time it takes to get to the airport depends on the traffic conditions (i.e. if you leave during rush hour, bad weather conditions, etc.).  Typically, it takes one hour to Hongqiao Airport and 2 hours to the Pudong International Airport.  It is a convenient option for going to the airport because it is a direct route to the airport.        

Please see their website with timetable here:  
http://www.kscec.com/eng/czs.asp