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Bus Transport System
For city bus transport information, Jiangsu.NET has two suggestion:
1. If you need bus transport information for a special location, please search the location in an appropriate category, as Jiangsu.NET has already listed the information under its name.
2. For general information, please see the content below.
Jiangsu Province has an efficient network of public bus transportation system for each of its cities. The network provides cities, specifically for its 13 major cities, convenient routes to diverse parts of the cities or suburbs and costs only 1 Yuan (1 Chinese Yuan ? 0.15 USD) for buses without air conditioning or 2 Yuans for buses with air conditioning per trip. However, bus transports for towns and townships have not been listed.
One of the best initiatives of this is that the name of each bus stop is announced as the bus makes its stops along its route. And some announcements also have English translations. Roads and express ways are extremely wide with several lanes and systematic traffic lights. Prepare your change or coins, or pay with an IC card.
Almost all signs are displayed in Chinese and if you do not plan in advance it would be quite hard to get around on the buses. Try to get a city map from local news vendor and make sure the printing on it is clear.
Sometimes the bus stops can seem pretty hectic and there are often a hundred people at one stop and the buses arrive so frequently that there may be 3 or 4 buses stopped at a stop at the same time.
IC Card
There is an IC card for cities like Nanjing or Suzhou that can be used to access both the buses and the subways. The IC card is called a "Yue Piao", meaning monthly pass, and can be purchased at some bank, bus or subway stations. It is also possible to recharge a monthly pass card at convenience stores. IC card gets you a 20% discount for the buses. On buses the card can be swiped as many times as you want to get you and your friends on.
Subway System
In Jiangsu, Nanjing, the capital of the province, is the only city where the subway system is available in providing the city its influential provision.
The Nanjing’s subway system opened its first section of the transport line in September, 2005, which includes 21.75 km in a length and totally 16 stations, and runs north – south direction. The subway was expected to handle a maximum of 290,000 travels on the first day of the experimental operation.
The subway has been starting to extend its north – south line in 2006 with an expending project of 18 km in a length and twelve stations. The extension line runs southwards from Andemen Gate to Jiangning University and is expected to be finished by August, 2008.
The another planning of expending project is underway, in which an east-west track line with a length of 25.15 km and a budget of 10.5 billion Yuan (about $1.3 billion USD) will greatly improve the city’s transport capacity.
Taxi Services
Taxis are convenient means of transportation in Jiangsu and are available in most streets, hotels, and other public spaces.
In most of the provincial cities, fares begin 5-8 Yuan for the first three kilometers, and 1-2.5 Yuan for each additional kilometer. At night the fare is the same initial charge plus about 0.3-0.5 Yuan more for each additional kilometer. But you'd better choose a taxi with a business license, and before you leave from the taxi, ask the driver for a receipt.
Rentals and Regulations
Rentals are available in most cities of the province. Before you start driving, make sure if you are eligible to drive in this province and well follow its regulations.
You can not drive with an International Driver's Permit (IDP) in mainland China; The country has not signed the convention which created IDPs. You have to drive with a Chinese license.
From this year of 2007, however, China is going to change its present driving permit system to ease the process for international travelers and. Drivers licensed by certain countries may drive Chinese vehicles after a quick hour-long traffic law briefing. Your license, however, will be time-limited.
Laws and regulations for driving
The province of Jiangsu enforces laws legislited by the central state govervment plus its by-law system.
The traffic in the province, as well as in mainland China, drives on the right-hand side of the road and it is different with two exceptions that Hong Kong and Macau, othewise, drive on the left. Beware well of the transitions!
The official driving code in the province is carried out by the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. It applies for all vehicles in China, except military vehicles. A vehicle with a military license plate would not follow any rule. It may not stop at a red light, or it might go from the wrong direction. Beware well of this.
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