Beijing Travel Forum

Hi,
Wonder if anyone can help? My daughter 21 and I are flying to Beijing for 2 weeks hols next March from the UK... We are on a budget and will be staying in a youth hostel there. Rebecca my daughter is in an electric wheelchair and we are worried whether we will be able to use the public transport their in Beijing - the taxis look like cars and the chair doesnt fold.... We are particularly worried about getting to and from the airport/city.... Does anyone know of any wheelchair accessible buses, cabs etc. that could do the airport trip for us - look forward to any comments and thanks
julie and rebecca, liverpool england

Beijing (as well as most cities in China) is NOT disabled-friendly.

I don't think any of the the taxis can cope with a non-folding wheelchair. There is an airport bus. I don't know if they can accommodate wheelchairs. It's possible that some of the limousine services have a more suitable transport, but it's going to cost more.

Public transport is going to be very difficult. The metro has stairs at all stations, very few escalators and I don't think they have lifts. Buses are crowded and are designed for quick on/off access.

I guess the best option would be to hire a car+driver that can take you where you need to go. Obviously not cheap, I guess around 500RMB/day will get you a usable car.

On the plus side Chinese people are, generally, very friendly and helpful. Hopefully things won't be too bad.

Good luck.

I lived for a few years in China and totally agree with the reply you received.
You might want to try the Chinese Tourist Board (called the CTS - don't expect much English or anything really, and you might be pleasantly surprised) - their job is helping people organise private tours, like drivers and guides.
I know some private taxies are "estate" cars - I used one in Beijing myself, when we visited the capital and had lots of lugguage. So they may order a specific car for you.
If you had stayed in a hotel, the hotel could have done this for you. I do'nt know about the hostel, though...

Hi
Thanks very much for your reply - although it sounds like its going to be difficult for us - we have booked now and i guess will have to walk everywhere we can.... and perhaps as you say hire a driver even if only for a day or so to show us a few places,
thanks again for your interest
regards
julie and rebecca
liverpool england

Hi
thanks so much for your reply - it sounds like we have a difficult time ahead, looks like we will have to walk everywhere as long as the chair battery lasts! As you say perhaps we can hire a car for a day or two to show us around, an estate car might do the trick
thanks again for your help
regads
julie and rebecca
liverpool england

thanks very much for your reply and intrest..
Looks like we may have a few problems getting around Beijing - will have to walk as far as we can
Daughter cannot use a push wheelchair that folds as she has a special chair that is molded for her back..... so it would have to be an estate car that perhaps we could hire for a day or two to get around...
thanks very much
julie and rebecca
england

Hi:

Don't give up! Beijing is doable in a wheelchair. Check out this disabled person's excellent advice on my web site: Global Access News, A Network for Disabled Travelers
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/beijingchina04.htm

Good luck!
Marti