Talking Travel: Time to Book Dragon Boat Train Tix, Second Ring Bike Lanes Widen
Talking Travel: Your semi-regular roundup of Beijing's latest transportation-related news.
Dragon Boat Ticket Bookings Start May 29
Those of you eagerly planning your domestic travels for Dragon Boat Festival may have been wondering – why can’t you book train tickets yet? The answer is that, for the time being, train tickets nationwide have restricted booking to 15 days in advance (previously 30 days). This means you’ll be able to start booking for the holiday by tomorrow, May 29.
You’ll want to keep your phones ready and the booking app open, because we’re still in the phase of what Chinese media refer to as “revenge travel” for all major holidays, and tickets to popular locations may sell out quick.
Beijing and Guangzhou subway ticketing now interlinked
Guangzhou has linked it subway ticketing system to Beijing’s, joining Chongqing and Shanghai as destinations that Beijingers will no longer need to download a separate app or go to a ticketing machine to board the subway. Rather, you can simply use the Yitongxing app that you would use for your daily Beijing commute.
In other subway ticketing news, Beijing has finally taken a cue from Hangzhou and allowed Alipay to integrate with the system so that riders can scan their QR code using that app. However, foreigners are currently unable to use the feature unless they have a permanent residence permit number. Keep an eye out though, and we’ll update you when foreigners can use the service.
Second Ring bike lanes widen
Attention cyclists – traveling the Second Ring Road is about to go from roomy to downright spacious. The ring is currently expanding the two-meter wide bike lanes to a full three meters or wider, a process that’s expected to finish by the end of June, the Beijing News reports.
The project reflects an optimistic trend of increased cycling in central parts of Beijing over the past few years and a need for infrastructure to keep up with demand.
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Image: Beijing News
