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Continuing your trip

Shanghai, China

DiDi replaces Uber. WeChat + Alipay replace cards and cash. The high-speed rail network is world-class and the cleanest way to cover long distances. Foreign credit cards are barely accepted — set up Alipay Tourcard before arrival.

•DiDi: The Chinese equivalent of Uber (Uber left China in 2016). Set up DiDi with an international card or pay cash — DiDi is essential for getting around.
•Alipay / WeChat Pay (Tour Card): Mobile payments dominate everything in China. Set up an Alipay Tourcard or WeChat Pay with your foreign bank card before you arrive — without it, you will struggle to pay for anything.
•High-speed rail: Beijing–Shanghai in 4.5 hours, Guangzhou–Shenzhen in 35 min. Book through Trip.com (English) using your passport number — foreigners cannot ride without passport verification.

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Private airport transfer pickup in arrivals

Travel Services · Transfers & Transport

Transfers & Transport

Airport transfers, buses, trains, ferries and car hire — arranged before you arrive, wherever you're going. Skip the taxi touts with a fixed-price private pickup.

Can I book it?

Book transport

SE Asia

Buses, trains & ferries

Ferries

Island boat routes

Private

Fixed-price airport transfers

Self-drive

Compare car hire worldwide

Why should I book here?

Built on how you actually travel

Fixed-price airport pickups

Pre-book a private transfer and skip the touts and first-hour haggling.

Buses, trains & ferries in one place

12Go compares ground and sea routes across a region.

Island & coastal routes

Searadar covers ferries and speedboats on popular island hops.

Self-drive when it suits

Compare car hire worldwide for road trips and rural areas.

What could this journey become?

Where it could take you

Skip the touts

Intercity travel

City arrivals

How it works

Transfers & Transport in China

Makutet recommends

For most visitors to China, we recommend pre-booking an airport transfer if arriving late at night, and using the local ride-hailing app for daily journeys.

Quick facts

Currency:CNY (Chinese yuan / renminbi)
Visa:30-day visa-free entry for many Western nationals (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland — but NOT the UK or US at time of writing).
Best local option:DiDi

Things to avoid

Unmetered taxisInsist on the meter or use a ride-hailing app — unmetered taxis are the most common tourist scam, especially at airports.
Scooter without insuranceScooter accidents are the leading travel insurance claim in SE Asia. Confirm your policy covers scooter riding with a valid licence.

Local tips

Install and test a VPN (Astrill, LetsVPN, ExpressVPN) before you land — without it you cannot reach Google, WhatsApp or Instagram.
Set up Alipay Tourcard with your foreign card before departure — China is increasingly cashless, and foreign credit cards are rarely accepted.
Book high-speed trains on Trip.com with your passport number — real-name verification is mandatory for all rail travel.
Carry your passport at all times — required for train travel, hotel check-in and many attractions.

Helpful Information

Read before you book

How to Choose Your Transport

Match the transport to the journey

For airport arrivals — pre-book a private transfer (Kiwitaxi) so you skip the taxi touts and avoid the first-hour haggling.

For intercity travel in Asia — 12Go is the easiest way to compare buses, trains and ferries on the same route.

For islands and coastal routes — Searadar covers ferries and speedboats across the popular island routes.

For road trips and rural areas — RentalCars (via QEEQ) gives the best like-for-like price comparison.

For long-distance rail in Europe and North America — book on the national rail app ahead for the cheapest fares.

Destination Considerations

Southeast Asia

12Go dominates here — buses, trains and ferries all in one place. Grab and Bolt cover city rides.

Europe

Trainline for UK & cross-border rail; Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Trenitalia for national rail. Uber and Bolt in most cities.

USA & Canada

A car is essential outside the Northeast Corridor. Uber and Lyft cover the cities. Amtrak for scenic rail.

Japan

Suica IC card for metro & regional trains. JR Pass only pays off for 4+ long-distance Shinkansen legs.

Middle East

Careem is the regional ride-hailing app. Taxis are metered and affordable.

Booking Tips

Pre-book airport transfers — a fixed-price private pickup avoids taxi touts and first-hour haggling after a long flight.

Compare rail ahead — European and Japanese trains get expensive on the day — book 6–12 weeks ahead.

Check ferry schedules — island ferries are weather-dependent — book flexible tickets in storm seasons.

Insurance for scooters — ensure your travel insurance covers scooter riding — many policies exclude it.

Car Hire

Self-drive vs airport transfer

Flights

Find the right route first

Travel Toolkit

All services in one place

What should I know?

Good to know

Yes — a fixed-price private pickup avoids taxi touts and first-hour haggling after a long flight.

Continue planning your trip

Other decisions to make before you travel — pulled from the same intelligence behind this page.

Flights in China

The cheapest fares almost always appear 6–8 weeks ahead.

Explore

Accommodation in China

Hotel, hostel, apartment and guesthouse prices vary by date — 3+ weeks lead time gives the widest inventory.

Explore

Travel Connectivity in China

China has excellent 4G/5G coverage.

Explore

Tours & Experiences in China

Trip.com is the dominant booking site for attractions in China (Forbidden City reservations, Great Wall tickets).

Explore

Continue planning your Shanghai trip

Next recommended step: Flights in China — or jump straight back to your full itinerary on Mantra.

Return to Mantra Try Flights in China

Continue Planning

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