Traffic Guide: Solve travel problems in China

English

China is a diverse country with some of the world’s busiest cities and most beautiful natural areas. But learning how to use the nation’s transportation infrastructure might be challenging, especially if you need to speak the language or know more about the culture.

This guide gives you the words and phrases to solve travel problems in China.

Table of Contents

Common navigation terms in China

Knowing the direction terms can be helpful when giving or receiving directions, whether on foot or in a car.

转弯 (zhuǎn wān) – turn

直行 (zhí xíng) – go straight

车道 (chē dào) – lane

路口 (lù kǒu) – intersection

方向 (fāng xiàng) – direction

左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn) – turn left

右转 (yòu zhuǎn) – turn right

前进 (qián jìn) – go straight

掉头 (diào tóu) – make a U-turn

朝东 (cháo dōng) – facing east

朝西 (cháo xī) – facing west

朝南 (cháo nán) – facing south

朝北 (cháo běi) – facing north

远 (yuǎn) – far

近 (jìn) – near/close

前面 (qián miàn) – in front

后面 (hòu miàn) – behind

左边 (zuǒ biān) – left

右边 (yòu biān) – right

路口 (lù kǒu) – intersection

桥 (qiáo) – bridge

隧道 (suì dào) – tunnel

Common tools of transportation in China

Bus (公交车 gōng jiāo chē)

Taxi (出租车 chū zū chē)

Subway/Metro (地铁 dì tiě)

Train (火车 huǒ chē)

Bicycle (自行车 zì xíng chē)

Electric Bike/Scooter (电动车 diàn dòng chē)

Car (汽车 qì chē)

High-Speed Train (高铁 gāo tiě)

Tram (有轨电车 yǒu guǐ diàn chē)

Ferry/Boat (渡轮 dù lún)

Common traffic sentences

If you want to talk to people or ask for directions in China, it can help to know these common traffic sentences. Also, it can give you more confidence while you use the transit network.

请问，怎么坐地铁去市中心？ (Qǐng wèn, zěn me zuò dì tiě qù shì zhōng xīn?) – How do I take the subway to the city center?
能不能告诉我去火车站的路线？(Néng bù néng gào sù wǒ qù huǒ chē zhàn de lù xiàn?) – Can you tell me the route to the train station?
我要去天安门，该怎么走？ (Wǒ yào qù tiān ān mén, gāi zěn me zǒu?) – I want to go to Tiananmen. How do I get there?
我想租辆自行车，你知道哪里可以租吗？(Wǒ xiǎng zū liàng zì xíng chē, nǐ zhī dào nǎ lǐ kě yǐ zū ma?) – I want to rent a bicycle, do you know where I can rent one?
转左弯，然后一直直走。(Zhuǎn zuǒ wān, rán hòu yī zhí zhí zǒu.) – Turn left and then keep going straight.
这个地铁站在哪里？(Zhè gè dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?) – Where is this subway station?
这里有没有公交车站？(Zhè lǐ yǒu méi yǒu gōng jiāo chē zhàn?) – Is there a bus stop here?
停车场在哪里？(Tíng chē chǎng zài nǎ lǐ?) – Where is the parking lot?
这是去机场的巴士吗？(Zhè shì qù jī chǎng de bā shì ma?) – Is this the bus to the airport?