From November 12 to November 27, 2010, Guangzhou will stage the 16th Asian Games, a multi-sport Olympic-style event for the sportsmen and women of Asia. As well as the standard sports like athletics, swimming and football, there are some quirkier additions like Go, Kabbadi, Twenty20 cricket and dragon boat racing.
7,987 athletes and almost 4,500 officials from 45 countries are already registered for the games, but how are they and the spectators going to reach the venues? Guangzhou’s transportation networks have been receiving significant investment before the Games. The Guangzhou Metro network has several new lines and extensions opening, and over the next few days we’ll be looking at the new lines and stations in detail. Continue reading
Buy single journey tickets for 3-9RMB each depending on distance. Purchasing is pretty simple using the ticket machines which have instructions in English. Then swipe your card on the way in, and let it be swallowed on the way out.
Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (ask at an information desk) for a 20RMB refundable deposit, and you can top it up with 50RMB or 100RMB increments using a recharge machine. Then just swipe your card at the ticket gates in and out. Individual trips cost the same as single tickets, though there is a 10% discount if you travel enough in a month. Also at certain “virtual interchange” stations (Shanghai Railway Station, Yishan Road, South Shaanxi Road, Hongkou Stadium) you can avoid paying for a second ticket if you have a card.
Buy a one-day pass for 18RMB or a three-day pass for 45 RMB, available at the airport and some information desks. Unless you’re using the metro for many trips every day, this will probably be more expensive than single tickets, however it does speed things up, particularly if you’re travelling in a group.
