Bus Travel

Traveling by bus in Eastern China is a great way to get around, as even tiny cities and villages have a station. Large cities such as Hangzhou have several stations. Buses in Eastern China are usually relatively new, air-conditioned vehicles, and almost always leave on time. The biggest headache you'll likely encounter is trying to navigate through the masses at the stations to buy your tickets. Ask your hotel to purchase tickets in advance, as line etiquette in China can be frustrating, especially for non-Mandarin speakers. Buses between major cities such as Hangzhou and Ningbo leave frequently, so just show up and get on the next available departure.