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For years budget travelers in the Washington DC-Philadelphia-New York-Boston corridor have loved the Chinatown bus service. Now, they are also available on West Coast cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The Chinese buses offer a reliable service at affordable cost, and we bring them close to you so you can purchase your ticket online

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Online Booking

Here you will find:

• A comprehensive list of Chinatown bus companies and schedules
• A secure and easy to use website that allows you to purchase China bus tickets online
• An overview of the Chinatown bus phenomenon
• News about the Chinese bus industry

Chinatown Bus History

In the late 1990s a few entrepreneurs in New York’s Chinatown started running buses from Chinatown in NY to Chinatown in Boston for less than half of what traditional bus companies were charging and a fraction of what it cost to take the train or fly. Their target market was Asian immigrants who wanted to shop or visit relatives and needed cheap and …

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Chinatown Bus Service

The Chinatown Bus services, also known as Chinese Bus or China Bus, began the curbside bus industry in New York City in the late 1990s. The Chinese bus services quickly became popular and attracted passengers who needed reliable, affordable, and express intercity bus services from New York’s Chinatown to other cities in the Northeast.

Nowadays, Chinatown Bus services cover New York , Philadelphia, Washington DC , Baltimore , Charlotte , Atlanta , Chicago , and other major cities throughout the East Coast and the Midwest. Chinatown Bus also adopts new technologies to offer passengers free WiFi and movies on board.

iLIKEBUS partners with leading Chinatown Bus companies, so you can easily check schedules, compare fares, and book tickets online in only few clicks. Book Chinatown Bus tickets with us; your seats are guaranteed and you can also enjoy our 24/7 customer service for a hassle-free trip.

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PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA? Start Here

How to Travel by Bus in China | 2024 Traveler’s Guide

February 8, 2024 By Josh Summers

When it comes to traveling in China in 2024, most tourists opt to either fly or hop on a train. The reasoning is quite simple: flying is fast and trains are cheap. There are times, however, when China’s massive, intercity bus system is your best (or only!) option. In these cases, you’ll want to understand how to travel by bus in China – and that’s where this traveler’s guide will come in handy!

Perhaps you’re traveling China on a budget and flights are too expensive or the train is too full. Maybe you’re heading to a place that isn’t serviced by an airport or train station.

Whatever the reason, if you plan to take a bus in China, this 2024 guide to China buses should provide everything you need to know before you travel .

Since it has ended up being a relatively long guide, I’ve divided this into multiple “chapters” to help make it easy to digest:

Pros and Cons of Taking a Bus in China

A peek inside a chinese bus, getting to a chinese bus station, how to find the bus schedule in china, how to buy bus tickets in china, china buses: frequently asked questions, bus tips from a seasoned china traveler.

I hope you’ll find this China bus guide useful! If you’d rather download the PDF, you can do so here.

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There are a number of reasons why you might want to take a bus in China…as well as a few reasons you would potentially want to avoid it. Over the decade, I’ve seen my fair share of both while traveling on a Chinese bus.

Let’s start by breaking down a few of the reasons that a bus is a good option for tourists:

• Frequency : Chinese buses often run at a higher frequency than flights in China or trains. Most of the time you don’t have to worry about booking in advance because there will be a bus between two cities that runs at least once every hour, if not more.
• Convenience : Compared to Chinese airports and train stations, security at a bus station is a breeze. I rarely arrive at a bus station any earlier than 30 minutes before my departure and I still end up waiting for 15 minutes.
• Station Location : Most of the time, Chinese bus stations are located in the heart of a city as opposed to airports and train stations which are usually on the edge of town. This can not only save you time, it also saves you the expense of a taxi into town.
• Availability : I have never bought a bus ticket earlier than a day in advance and often I buy it on the day of departure. Unlike flights and trains in China , bus tickets tend to have more availability, giving you the flexibility to change your itinerary at a moment’s notice.

That’s what makes China bus travel good. Here’s a bit of what I don’t like about China bus travel:

• Unreliable Comfort : Sometimes you get a relatively new bus but often you’ll find yourself riding a vehicle that has seen a couple decades worth of use. It’s a gamble you take and sometimes it can be quite uncomfortable.
• Unreliable Delays : Unexpected delays are possible (or in China, rather probable) no matter what form of transportation you decide to take. Unlike planes and trains, buses usually leave right on time. The difficulty comes with the unpredictability of the roads. I have been stuck in horrendous city traffic for hours, my bus has been stopped on the highway for a security checkpoint, my bus has broken down and I’ve run into road construction delays. It sucks but there’s nothing you can do about it.
• A Different Kind of Traveler : Buses are the poor man’s transportation, there’s just no way around it. Don’t get me wrong, the people are great, but since it’s not a high-profile means of transportation the rules don’t always get enforced. Smoking is a great example: it’s not uncommon to see people smoking on a bus despite numerous signs saying it is forbidden. I’ve also seen a man walk onto a bus carrying a car windshield. I’m not even kidding. His seat mate was miserable during the entire ride! These kind of things technically aren’t permitted but the rules are much more relaxed on Chinese buses.

Hopefully I haven’t discouraged you from attempting to take a bus in China, I just want to make sure you have a dose of reality.

There are plenty of good reasons to take a bus in China – and I hope you do! – but make sure you set your expectations before buying your ticket.

If you’ve never had a chance to look inside a Chinese bus and you’re afraid about what you’re getting into, allow me to walk you through the average bus.

Generally speaking, there are two basic kinds of buses in China: the seated bus and the sleeper bus.

China Seated Buses (Traditional)

The seated bus is exactly what it sounds like. There are usually two sets of two seats with a middle aisle and all the seats facing toward the front of the bus.

As a tall guy, I’ve never had a complaint about the leg room in a Chinese bus but the seats can be somewhat narrow.

Most buses have an entertainment system that will play Chinese movies throughout the duration of the journey and most buses have an air-conditioning and heating system (though not all).

Your seat will recline slightly but don’t expect a great sleeping position. A few seated buses have a bathroom but often they won’t be available for use (or you won’t want to use them anyway).

All seats in a seated bus are priced equally and are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Prices are fixed.

China’s Sleeper Buses

A sleeper bus is different in that travelers each have a bed instead of a seat. There are usually three rows of beds with two aisles in between and a bathroom toward the back (which again, may or may not be available for use). There is a top and bottom bed the entire length of the bus.

Anybody whose height exceeds 5’8″ will have trouble fitting onto one of these beds, as I do. I don’t have the option to hang my feet over the edge since that is somebody else’s bed so I end up having to scrunch up a little.

These buses also usually have an entertainment system, A/C and heating, although it all depends on the age of the bus you’re riding.

Beds are priced higher for the top bunk than the bottom bunk in a sleeper bus.

To the unseasoned China traveler, it seems simple enough to find a bus station, right? Just look up the word for “bus station” in your handy Mandarin phrasebook and tell the taxi driver.

Boom! You’re done 🙂

Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. With the exception of small towns, most cities in China have a number of different bus stations scattered around.

One may be a “long distance bus station” while the other is an “International Bus Station.” Often, bus stations are categorized by which direction their buses head (north, south, east or west). Others by which specific city or region they service.

The bottom line is that the word “bus station” just doesn’t cut it. You need to know exactly which bus station you want to go to. How do you do this? Here are a couple ways:

• Travel Guide Books : Often, the best China travel guide books will give details on which bus stations go to which cities.
• Ask Your Hotel : Chances are they won’t know off-hand, but they’ll be able to ask the appropriate people and then write down the name of the bus station on a piece of paper that you can hand your China taxi driver (read more on how to take a taxi in China ).
• Ask Your Taxi Driver : Don’t just tell the taxi driver to head to a bus station, tell him specifically which city you’re taking a bus to. In many cases, a taxi driver will know where you should go.

In my opinion, the most confusing part about taking an intercity bus in China is figuring out the schedule.

Unlike trains and airplanes, you can’t easily check schedules or even buy tickets online. It’s possible, but it’s always in Chinese and it’s not a simple process.

For most major intercity connections, China buses commonly depart once every twenty minutes, half-hour or hour. I’m making a major generalization here, I realize. I’m assuming you’re not wanting to go to some po-dunk village that isn’t on any map.

There are some cases where only a handful or even one or two buses depart each day. In this case you’ll want to have an idea of the bus schedule.

I’m going to separate the following recommendations by whether or not you can read Mandarin:

• Yes, I Can Read Mandarin! Congratulations, your job will be a bit easier here. Most bus stations either post their schedule on the wall or have an LED board that lists destinations and departures to each city. Sometimes they are translated into English but often they are not. Since you can read Mandarin, I assume you can also write/type as well. In this case, I’ve had moderate success looking up “[city] to [city] bus schedule” in Mandarin on baidu.com. The results aren’t always up-to-date, but you’ll at least get a general idea of when a bus should depart and how much it should cost.
• No, I Can’t Read Mandarin . That’s ok, it’s really not a big deal. As I mentioned in an above chapter, you can always check out a good China travel guide book for bus schedules, although you should make sure that the book is the latest edition. Other options include using a Chinese voice translator app or just asking the people at the bus ticket counter who can often show you on a computer screen the times of departure and how much a ticket will cost. Alternatively, perhaps your hotel or hostel can give you some good information.

Since buying tickets online for a bus in China has not yet become an option, you’re left with only two options. You can buy a ticket at the bus station or (maybe) have a proxy do it for you.

China now runs on a “real-name ticket system.” This means that you have to have an official form of ID (your passport) in order to purchase bus tickets. Once your ticket is bought, you can’t transfer this ticket to anybody else without returning it and buying a new one.

Standing in line at a Chinese bus station isn’t my favorite activity in the world. It’s usually not as bad as, say, standing in line at a train station though.

Most of the time I arrive on my day of departure, stand in line and purchase a ticket. You’ll want to have cash ready for the purchase since bank cards usually aren’t accepted. They will accept WeChat and Alipay, though, so if you have WeChat setup on your phone you can pay using this as well.

It used to be that hostels would offer a ticket purchasing service for guests (I’m not sure how many still offer this). You would need to provide a photocopy of your passport and they’ll charge you a fee, but at least you don’t have to stand in line yourself.

I’ve tried to provide as much information as I can in the above chapter. However, I consistently receive questions that I want to answer here in detail.

The beauty of the Chinese bus is that you can take almost anything you want. People take bicycles, overweight pieces of luggage, instruments…you name it. There isn’t an official weight limit so whatever can easily fit in the underneath hatch is usually permitted.

Like any other form of transportation in China, there are still some things that you can’t take with you through the security checkpoint of the bus station. This includes: knives, bottles of any kind of liquid, fuel canisters (used for camping i n China ), lighters, etc. For drinks, you can buy water and sodas at shops inside the bus station.

While officially prohibited, unfortunately I’ve seen plenty of passengers and even bus drivers smoke on a China bus. Most people wait for a rest stop to pull out their cigarettes but that’s not always the case. If you don’t like smoking, it’s not impolite to ask the smoker next to you to put out their cigarette. Be bold! You’re a foreigner and you can get away with it.

No. I wish there were but I have yet to see a seated or a sleeper bus with electrical outlets.

Yes, you can. Just tell the driver exactly where you want to get off. Whether it’s a specific village or place along the road, they will stop to let you off.

Yes, they do. If you’re out in the boondocks, you can stand on the side of the road and try to wave down a bus. They won’t stop if they’re full, but if they stop just tell them where you’re going on and hop on. You’ll have to pay the driver directly and they’re usually pretty good about giving a fair price for transport.

Over the many years that I’ve taken buses all across China, there are a few quick tips I’ve learned. I believe they could be helpful to you or even save you money. Hopefully you find them useful!

• Take the Night Bus : Want to save some money? Take the night sleeper bus to save yourself the money of a hotel. It won’t be as comfortable of a sleep but you’ll manage, I promise.
• Take Your Own Food : The rest stops for buses can be sketchy at best. Food options are limited and the hole-in-the-wall restaurants are usually a recipe for disaster. Stock up on food before you leave to make sure you can survive on what you have in your own bag.
• Keep Valuables Up Top : While I definitely recommend you store your luggage in the lower storage compartments, make sure you have all your valuables with you at your seat. I’ve known a couple people who have had items stolen from the below compartments.
• Bring Your Own Light : This tip is for the overnight sleeper buses. Sometimes you’ll have a light to read by but many times you won’t.

Enjoy Your China Bus Adventure!

That’s it!

I hope you’ve been encouraged to give buses in China try after reading this 2024 guide to taking a bus in China. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience and adventure of taking a bus across China’s beautiful landscape. I hope you have the opportunity to do the same!

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below. If this guide has been useful please share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or any other social media platform.

Remember, if you’d like to download a PDF version of this China bus guide to have with you, enter your email address below. I’ll send it to you immediately.

Further Reading & Resources

Traveling or Moving to China Soon?

Download "44 Tips You MUST Know Before Traveling to China". These simple but often overlooked tips could make or break your trip !

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About Josh Summers

Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country.

Reader Interactions

November 19, 2018 at 4:28 am

Thank you for the great resource! I own a small french bulldog and would like to go from zhengzhou to beijing, as i am planning on leaving china. However my frenchie is not allowed to fly and I am trying to find ways to get back home with her.

Will it be possible to take her with me on the bus?

November 19, 2018 at 8:19 am

I’ve seen crazier things taken on a bus. I can’t tell you for sure that you can, but a bus is the best chance you have aside from a private taxi.

December 15, 2018 at 7:59 am

Is there a luggage size and luggage limit per person, if we take the intercity bus? For example from Chengdu to Maoxian.

December 17, 2018 at 9:54 am

Technically, there is, but I’ve never seen it enforced. If it can fit underneath the bus – you can take it!

September 8, 2019 at 5:38 pm

can i book a bus ticket at the beijing bus station for a bus leaving from kunming ? or do i need to book in tHAT CITY. thanks

September 8, 2019 at 8:38 pm

I’ve been able to purchase for other cities, but they often tack on a fee.

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Traveling by Road in China

Long distance bus travel isn't recommended for new visitors for various reasons. Trains or flights are better alternatives. However, you can get around almost anywhere by bus, and they can be the cheapest way to travel, so here are tips to help you navigate your way around and be safe along with suggested alternatives.

Highways and Buses Go almost Everywhere

In the past 20 years, China built one of the world's best highway systems that covers most of the vast area except in the least populated regions such as Tibet, mountainous Qinghai, and most areas of Xinjiang. So bus travel is an option to most of the places tourists want to go to. The favorite tourist cities in Tibet and Xinjiang are linked by highways.

Extensive road system: In 2012, the total mileage of highways in China reached 2,633,060 miles (4,237,500 kilometers). Almost all towns and cities are accessible by highway, and buses can take you almost anywhere. The government is actually intensifying their highway construction effort in 2015.

Road quality: The quality of the highways and most roads is quite good, but be prepared for poor roads in remote areas such as Guizhou, Tibet and Xinjiang. So don't have high expectations about the travel facilities or comfort there.

Benefits of Long Distance Bus Travel

Economy: Depending on what quality of bus you ride, you can travel for less money to most places by bus, but be prepared to pay in time and discomfort and perhaps other problems.

• Go to remote places: You can reach remote towns or areas the trains don't go to.
• Frequent departures: Buses leave more frequently, and this makes the tickets easier to get than train tickets.
• Real China experience:  Sitting (or lying) next to people you don't know and communicating as best you can is a way to get to know Chinese people and learn about the country up close.

Some Problems of Long Distance Bus Travel

We generally recommend that tourists should avoid the long distance buses unless there are better alternatives especially if you are new to China and don't know the language. Here is why:

Sleeper buses (卧铺车, wòpū chē): Most long distance buses that travel more than five hours are sleeper buses. What this means is that instead of a seat, people lie in cots stacked two or three high and two usually three across. For foreigners not used to it, this arrangement is uncomfortable because the cots are small, sometimes not clean, and you're cramped up close with strangers.

Theft: While you are sleeping, people can steal your things or pickpocket you. This happens commonly enough. So keep on extra eye on your belongings. Theft is more common on buses than in the hard bed or soft bed cabins on trains. It is best to not go alone.

Cleanliness: Different classes of bus will travel the same route usually. The more expensive tickets are less cramped and usually clean unless you get on in the middle of its route after other passengers have already ridden. The locals tend to spit more and drop trash and food more. For lower priced buses, you can expect that the blanket might not be washed.

No bathrooms: Unlike in the West, there are no bathrooms. So is not uncommon for people to throw up on the bus or have other issues. Foreigners not used to this situation may often have big meals beforehand or take drink too much liquid. Bus drivers may not stop if you have to get off. There are usually stops every few hours though.

Miscommunication and scams: Since tourists usually don't know what to expect, ticket sellers might overcharge or sell fake tickets. You might get on the wrong bus or not get off at your stop. The bus driver might not speak English.

Tips on How To Travel by Long Distance Bus

Getting tickets.

Tickets for long distance buses (长途客车, chángtú kèchē) are sold at the bus station and need to be booked in advance. You simply need to go to the ticket window and tell the clerk your destination and the number of tickets needed. Or, you can ask someone to write down the Chinese name of your destination and show it to the clerk.

Unlike trains, buses do not have different classes within a single vehicle; however, ticket prices vary according to the condition of the bus, and the price difference might be large. It is always advisable to choose the more expensive ones, for they are cleaner, more comfortable, and more likely to be well air-conditioned.

Be aware that it is often possible to bypass the ticket window at a bus station and buy tickets from a ticket seller at the bus itself. People can bargain. Also be aware that ticket sellers scout out tourists at bus stations and offer tickets for buses from the station or nearby that might be less expensive.

Sometimes these buses give even better service and cleanliness and are a good deal, and sometimes it is a scam or a fake ticket. But we suggest tourists avoid the hassles and problems of trying to go on your own.

Finding Your Bus

Be sure you know from what door or area of the station the bus departs and the time. People working at bus stations usually speak little English, but they try to be helpful. If you are not sure where your bus is or which bus is yours, you can show your ticket to the worker and he/she will show you.

What's Inside the Bus

Better quality coaches with seats: These are usually used on routes less than six hours long. Usually an express non-stop bus is clean and air-conditioned, and it has safety belts and one attendant. The locals never use the safety belts. There might be bathroom. The windows are shut and the air-conditioning is good. A bottle of water and sometimes a local newspaper is provided for free to each passenger. Often a video is played on flat screens.

Regular quality coaches with seats: Used to travel within three or four hours, the most common regional buses are tolerably clean, and they have no attendant. These buses stop along the way to pick up passengers. The windows are open and the air conditioning might not be on. There will be no water provided for free to passengers, but you can buy some for yourself. This type of bus has no washroom.

Sleeper buses (卧铺车, wòpū chē): Most long distance buses that travel more than seven hours are sleeper buses. As explained above, people lie in cots stacked two or three high and two usually three across. Sometimes a bottle of water is supplied. There is usually an attendant or two, and often they'll speak some English. There is no bathroom. A sheet, blanket, and pillow might be supplied. On an overnight trip, such a bus will usually stop every few hours where people can buy food.

Suggested Alternatives to Long Distance Buses

Though taking a bus is possible for tourists, there are better ways to travel to most places .

Private Tour — free of hassles, more flexibility

Private drivers: The most convenient, safe, and pleasant way is to go with a reputable private tour company . Our driver and guide will wait for you at your hotel and drive you around where you want to go by air-conditioned car.

We are known for providing hassle free and individualized help for our customers. We are especially helpful for tourists who don't speak the language and are new to traveling in China.

Trains and Flights

Bullet trains : On routes to cities where it is available, we recommend the speed, safety, convenience and low prices of the bullet trains. China's new bullet train system is unique in the world for its size and low priced tickets . For example, you can travel between Beijing and Shanghai by the superfast G train in five or six hours for 88 USD. China Trains Schedules and Booking>>

Domestic flights : For travel where there are no bullet trains, such as to the far west, to the northwest, or to the southwest and Tibet, taking a flight is the fastest and safest way.

Local Transportation

City buses: Once the main form of public transportation, you could use these to travel around. In most cities, tickets cost only about 2 RMB (30 US cents), but they are often crowded, especially at rush hour, and there is a good chance a tourist might get on the wrong bus or miss their stop. Instead we suggest you take the subway or a taxi .

Subway : When you arrive at a city, we suggest you take the local subway instead of experiencing the problems of city buses . Subway lines are now operating in about 25 cities, and they are best for tourists for the English language help, safety, speed, and economical prices. Tickets may only cost about 2 RMB (30 US cents).

Car Rental?

Car rental: Many tourists ask about car rental services in China. We don't recommend it for tourists. First of all, it is illegal for foreigners to drive without a Chinese drivers license in almost the whole country.

In Beijing and Shanghai, there are special laws that allow foreigners to rent cars at the airport and drive within the city with an international license, but there is a great danger to tourists driving in these cities. The unusual driving conditions, Chinese signs, unfamiliar laws, and congestion make this a poor option.

Recommended China Bus/Road Tour Packages

• 2-Day Hong Kong Bus Tour : Travel by bus to see the main sights in Hong Kong.
• 2-Day Hong Kong and Macau Bus Tour : Travel by bus (and ferry) to these two different and popular cities.

As one of China's biggest travel and tour companies , we can help you go almost anywhere. Tell us how we can help, and we'll also arrange accommodations, tours, and meals. Our guides can help interpret. Save time and money too.

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1-day new york/new jersey to camelback mountain resort ski or aquatopia indoor waterpark tour tour code : gol-nyc-104.

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Highlights : Explore the adventure and beauty of the Camelback Skiing Park!  A perfect family-friendly tour with unforgettable memories.  Various ski packages are available for guests to make your adventure more playful, easier, or thrilling! Experience a ski lift to the top of the mountain while enjoying the beautiful snowy, scenic views! Explore the East Coast’s largest Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark!

• A minimum of 2 people are required for booking this tour.

2-Day New York/New Jersey to Corning, Watkins Glen State Park, Niagara Falls (Scenic Hotel Stay) In-depth Tour Tour code : GOL-NYC-101

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Available Days : Tue, Thu, Sat & Daily

Highlights : Stay Overnight in scenic hotel, few minutes walk to the one of the Seven "New World Wonders" - Niagara Falls! Get to Goat Island, visit the "Cave of the Winds", and experience roaring waterfalls a few steps away! 24 hours in the Niagara Falls area with many in-depth tour options, and watch the spectacular Niagara Falls Illumination! Experience the Watkins Glen in Finger Lake Area. Get closer to Niagara Falls by taking the Maid of Mist! Enjoy the night view of Niagara Falls. In-Depth tour of Niagara River: Whirlpool Park, Old Fort Niagara and Great Lake Ontario.

• An additional $40/room will be charged for groups departing on Friday and Saturday.  

2-Day New York/New Jersey to Thousand Islands, Cornell University and Taughannock Falls State Park Tour Tour code : GOL-NYC-170

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2-Day From New York/New Jersey to Corning, Whirlpool State Park and Niagara Falls Tour Tour code : GOL-NYC-476

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Highlights : Take a trip to Washington D.C. and Niagara Falls for an unforgettable trip!  We prioritize your safety by traveling with thoroughly disinfected sightseeing coaches and our professional well-trained tour escort. Visit the nation’s capital at Washington, D.C., and check out its most iconic sites including the White House, Lincoln Memorial and so much more. Visit the Corning Glass Center and watch the exquisite glass craftsmanship. Explore the power of nature and take an in-depth tour to Niagara Falls!

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• MoMA will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)

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Highlights : Experience the beauty of nature by walking into Watkins Glen State Park. Take a ride on the "Hornblower Niagara Cruise" and visit Skylon Tower Observation Deck. Sit back and take a look at the majestic Niagara Falls views. Explore Toronto and visit the famous landmark of the CN Tower. Enjoy the stunning views on the Thousand Islands Cruise. 

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Departure City : Brooklyn NY, Flushing NY, New York City NY

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Highlights : Visit the largest aviation museum in New England and learn about aviation technology and history. Explore the breathtaking views of the mountains!  The Mall of New Hampshire, sure to give you the pleasure of shopping. Ride on a railway up Mount Washington to enjoy spectacular views!

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How One Chinese EV Company Made Battery Swapping Work

• Chengyi Lin

While Tesla and others focused on bigger batteries and faster charging, Nio invested in customer experience, infrastructure, and leasing programs.

Battery swapping is a technology that could solve one key barrier for EV adoption: consumers’ range anxiety and the long waiting time for battery charging. Wouldn’t you feel more assured on a weekend trip if you knew you could stop at a swap station and replace depleted battery packs with fully charged ones in five minutes ? But this isn’t easy to do, as Tesla and Better Place’s past failures. In China, however, battery swapping has been a reality for a couple of years. How did Chinese companies like Nio make it work with 2,300 swapping stations nationwide? What can companies outside China learn from the Chinese experience?

Range anxiety has been one of the most significant barriers for electric vehicle (EV) adoption among consumers. For example, if I wanted to drive a Tesla Model 3 from Paris to the famous Mont Saint-Michel, which is roughly 360 km (or 220 miles away), I would need to carefully plan my route and stop at one of Tesla’s Supercharger stations near Paris before heading east, as there are simply no other Supercharger stations along the way.

• Chengyi Lin is affiliate professor of Strategy and a leading expert on digital transformation at INSEAD. His research and teaching explore the strategic impacts of digital technologies, such as AI, and drivers of innovation for global and multinational organizations.

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China’s Golden Week Travel Signals a Revival. Plus, Why U.S. Travel Is Still Lagging

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

May 30th, 2024 at 12:42 AM EDT

China’s outbound travel is coming back, driven by favorable visa policies, increased airline capacity, and a growing interest in diverse global destinations. However, challenges remain, particularly in travel to the U.S.

Peden Doma Bhutia

In a rebound of international travel, over 1.5 million Chinese citizens embarked on outbound trips during the recent Golden Week holiday , marketing technology firm China Trading Desk told Skift.

This surge points to a significant revival in global travel following the easing of pandemic-related restrictions.

The relaxation of visa policies between China and several countries has played a crucial role in this uptick. During the Golden Week in late April and early May, the growth rate of inbound and outbound bookings outpaced domestic tourism, Trip.com Group told Skift.

Popular Destinations and Emerging Trends

According to data from Trip.com Group, Chinese tourists visited nearly 200 countries and over 3,000 towns worldwide during the Golden Week period.

Thailand emerged as the top destination, with over 215,000 Chinese tourists between April 27 and May 4, according to China Trading Desk’s data. Factors such as visa-free entry offer by Thailand, shorter flight durations, and cost-effectiveness compared to other destinations have driven this trend.

While strong, the numbers still haven’t reached pre-pandemic levels, said Subramania Bhatt, CEO of China Trading Desk.

The popularity of outbound travel is further evidenced by Ctrip’s report of a 190% year-on-year increase in the number of outbound tourists. Alibaba’s Fliggy also noted a near doubling in outbound travel bookings during the five-day holiday, with per capita spending on outbound travel surpassing 2019 levels significantly.

Alipay transactions reflect this increased spending, with a 77% rise in overseas markets during the initial days of Golden Week, particularly in destinations like Thailand and Malaysia.

Challenges in US-China Travel

Travel to the U.S. still faces hurdles , with flight capacity between the two countries around 25% of pre-Covid levels. During the 2019 Labor Day holiday, 70,000 travelers journeyed from China to the U.S., but most recently it was around 42,000.

Bhatt cited several reasons for this:

• Limited Flight Availability: There’s a slower resumption of direct flights and connectivity between China and the US, impacting the ease of planning trips.
• Visa Processing Delays: Longer visa processing times have been a deterrent, likely due to staffing issues and backlogs caused by the pandemic.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing political tensions between China and the US may make some potential travelers hesitant.
• Concerns Over Racial Treatment: There is apprehension about the treatment of Chinese individuals in the U.S., which can influence travel decisions.

Airline Capacity and Pricing Trends

Though limited, there has been a gradual restoration of airline service and that has helped. Fliggy said that the average price per person for international air tickets dropped by more than 10% compared to the previous year.

The preference for Asian destinations remains strong, with 9 out of the top 10 outbound destinations being in Asia. Bhatt attributed this to the ease of travel, increased flight availability, and visa-free access in many Southeast Asian countries, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

Europe continues to attract Chinese tourists, with over 100,000 travelers heading to European countries excluding the UK during the holiday season, according to China Trading Desk’s data. Trip.com reported notable increases in travel to Spain, Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and Georgia, with year-on-year growth exceeding 1.5 times.

Domestic capacity in May still accounts for 92% of all seats to, from and within China this month, with international making up the remaining 8%, according to aviation data firm OAG .

Shifts in Travel Preferences

There is a notable shift towards exploring less traditionally frequented destinations. Austria, Turkey, Morocco, and other less traditionally frequented destinations by Chinese tourists saw the fastest growth rates in bookings, indicating a shift towards exploring new and diverse destinations

Fliggy also reported that bookings for long-distance travel to places like Austria, Turkey, Morocco, Russia, Portugal, Georgia, Egypt, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Brazil quadrupled compared to the previous year.

Additionally, Trip.com group noted significant increases in travel to Middle Eastern destinations such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, with numbers more than tripling year-on-year.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are set to increase the number of direct flights connecting China and Hong Kong, capitalizing on the resurgence of Chinese tourists. Having welcomed 140,000 Chinese tourists last year, Saudi Arabia aims to attract 5 million Chinese visitors by 2030.

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Tags: alibaba , alipay , asia monthly , china , china airlines , china outbound , coronavirus recovery , ctrip , fliggy , golden week , trip.com group

Photo credit: Fliggy reported that bookings to Turkey, Morocco, Georgia, Egypt and Kazakhstan have quadrupled compared to the previous year. Rachel Claire / Pexels

Election latest: New poll says Starmer beat Sunak in debate with big lead on NHS and economy - but Sunak 'did better than expected'

Researchers at Savanta found Sir Keir Starmer beat Rishi Sunak by 44% to 39% in the ITV leaders' debate. Savanta said Sir Keir outperformed Mr Sunak on NHS and public services 63% to 25%, on the economy 52% to 36%, and defence and security 43% to 41%.

Wednesday 5 June 2024 08:12, UK

• General Election 2024

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Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard with their guide to the election day ahead.  

This is day 14 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss last night’s debate in Salford, the upcoming 80th anniversary of the D Day landings, and Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething faces a motion of no confidence. 

Email Jack and Sam: [email protected]  

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The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our data and forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Last night, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer went head-to-head in the first televised debate of the general election campaign.

An initial snap poll, published by YouGov after the clash, had suggested Mr Sunak narrowly came out on top - with 51% of the audience believing he fared better than Sir Keir.

However, another published this morning had a different result.

Researchers at Savanta found Sir Keir Starmer beat Rishi Sunak by 44% to 39%.

Savanta said Sir Keir outperformed Mr Sunak on NHS and public services 63% to 25%, on the economy 52% to 36%, and defence and security 43% to 41%.

Pollsters at the firm also found Sir Keir "came across as most honest" 54% to 29% for Mr Sunak, and that the Labour leader "remained the calmest" 51% to 36% for the Conservative prime minister.

Chris Hopkins, Savanta political research director, said in a statement: "Presentationally, it felt like the prime minister had the upper hand at times - in particular towards the end of the debate - and although our figures suggest he lost narrowly, he probably still outperformed expectations."

Jonathan Ashworth has accused Rishi Sunak of spouting "desperate lies" in last night's debate, after the prime minister pointed to a "black hole" in Labour's spending plans.

Mr Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, says Mr Sunak made claims that are "categorically untrue".

This relates to Mr Sunak's claim that Labour has a £38.5bn black hole over four years, which would force the party to hike taxes substantially. 

The frontbencher says: "I think last night, what was exposed was just how desperate Rishi Sunak has become, because he lied about Labour's tax plans.

"What he said last night about Labour's tax plans is categorically untrue. Labour will not put up income tax, not put up national insurance, will not put up VAT.

"And I think what we showed last night with Rishi Sunak, what we saw last night was just how desperate he becomes.

"What desperate people do, is they lie."

Tax and the economy

Mr Sunak claimed Labour's plans for the country were not costed and would require tax rises of £2,000. He pointed to the Conservatives bringing inflation down, cutting NI and his pledge to cut taxes for pensioners through the "triple lock plus" as reasons why people should vote for him.

Sir Keir said Mr Sunak's £2,000 claim was "absolute garbage" and his plans were fully costed. He pointed out the tax burden had risen to the highest level in 70 years under the Tories and used Mr Sunak's vast personal wealth to suggest he did not understand the cost of living crisis.

Mr Sunak was groaned and laughed at for claiming waiting lists were coming down and blaming industrial action on the backlog.

Sir Keir pointed to Labour's plans to create 40,000 new appointments while bigging up his credentials as the husband of an NHS worker.

When Mr Sunak claimed "waiting lists are coming down", Sir Keir responded: "They were 7.2 million, they're now 7.5 million. He says they are coming down and this is the guy who says he's good at maths."

Mr Sunak said parents who "work hard" should be allowed to send their children to private schools, in an attack on Labour's VAT policy to tax private schools.

Sir Keir said that one of Labour's first steps would be to recruit 6,500 teachers to fill gaps, and he "will get rid of the tax break on private schools to pay for it, that's a tough choice, I do understand that".

Immigration

Mr Sunak offered his strongest suggestion yet that he could be willing to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if the government's stalled Rwanda deportation plan remains blocked by the courts, but said flights should be taking off in July.

Sir Keir said the UK risked becoming a "pariah" state if it left international conventions and pointed to his plan to target criminal people-smuggling gangs to stop small boat crossings.

Mr Sunak defended his decision to water down policies designed to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions, saying the targets would still be met, it would cost households less, and the UK's energy security would be maintained.

Sir Keir said there was a "huge opportunity" in the renewable energy sphere that would see cheaper bills, energy security for the UK, and more jobs. He said he would deliver clean power by 2030, despite scaling back the initial investment he intended to put forward to get there.

Closing statements

Rishi Sunak appealed to voters wavering between the Tories and Reform UK in his closing statement at the ITV debate.

He said: "Either Keir Starmer or I will be your prime minister and a vote for anyone else makes it more likely that it will be him."

He also told voters "you don't know what you'd get" if they chose Labour.

While in his closing argument, Sir Keir said: "I don't offer you the gimmicks or unfunded promises that Rishi Sunak does.

"I don't pretend there's a magic wand that will fix everything overnight. Instead, I offer a practical common sense plan to change Britain."

On 12 June, Sky News will host an election leaders' event in Grimsby - a key marginal seat and one of our Target Towns this election year.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative leader Rishi Sunak have been invited to attend, and we are looking for a live audience to join us on the night.

If you would like to be part of this studio audience, and be given the opportunity to ask a question to one of the party leaders, please complete the short questionnaire in this link .

By Faye Brown , political reporter

Sir Keir Starmer said it was "garbage" to claim he would raise taxes by £2,000 as he traded blows with Rishi Sunak in their heated first TV debate.

The Labour leader initially failed to challenge the prime minister's repeated accusations that Labour's spending plans would cost each family £2,000.

He eventually called it "nonsense" and "absolute garbage", saying his pledge to invest in green projects would result in cheaper energy bills.

Labour said the figure is based on misleading information put out in a "dodgy Tory dossier" and called on Mr Sunak to correct the record.

You can read more from Sky News below:

General election campaigning is to take a back seat for a couple of days, as commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day begin.

The leaders' differences on the economy, immigration and the NHS, which were brought to light during the first debate of the campaign last night, will be put to one side as the Normandy landings are remembered.

Both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will attend the UK's national commemoration event in Portsmouth alongside members of the Royal Family and armed forces veterans today.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Reform UK's Nigel Farage will also be in attendance.

Tomorrow, attention will then turn across the Channel for further anniversary events in Normandy.

The sombre proceedings follow a heated showdown on ITV in which Sir Keir rejected Mr Sunak's claim that he would hike taxes by £2,000 as "absolute garbage", branding the attack line as "nonsense" after the prime minister deployed it repeatedly.

In his opening pitch to voters, Mr Sunak sought to draw dividing lines with his rival as he claimed Sir Keir would "raid" pension pots and raise taxes on families.

Meanwhile, the Labour leader questioned the timing of the election, accusing Mr Sunak of calling a summer polling day because he "knows" inflation and energy prices will take a turn for the worse later in the year.

Good morning!

We're in the midst of the second full week of the tooth-and-nail fight for all 650 parliamentary seats - and the keys to Number 10.

Political parties are spreading out across the country to get their message out ahead of polling day on 4 July.

Here's what you need to know as campaigning continues today:

• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives aren't on the campaign trail today, but we're still expecting to hear from the party leader at a D-Day event in Portsmouth;
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy will also be in attendance, as the UK prepares to mark 80 years since the Normandy landings on Thursday;
• Despite the pause in active campaigning to mark the anniversary, Labour has today proposed new legislation to establish an Armed Forces Commissioner - and "strengthen the rights of veterans";
• Both Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Reform UK 's Nigel Farage will also be in Portsmouth today;
• Sir Ed will continue his election campaign in Hampshire this afternoon;
• Scottish Labour and the SNP will also be out on the campaign trail, with Anas Sarwar expected to visit a food poverty charity in Glasgow West;
• Away from the general election campaign, Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething will face a motion of no confidence tabled by the Welsh Conservatives at around 4pm;
• And fall out will likely continue after the first televised debate of the election took place overnight.

We'll be discussing all of this and more with:

• Labour's Jonathan Ashworth at 7.10am;
• Keith Brown , deputy leader of the SNP, at 8.15am.

Stick with us for all the latest political news throughout the day.

Thank you for joining us for live coverage of the general election campaign today - and updates and analysis throughout the first TV debate between the two men vying for the keys to No 10.

Scroll down to read our full coverage, and we'll be back from 6am tomorrow with the latest.

If you want to relive tonight's prime ministerial debate, watch the highlights below...

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