Getting There
Ji'nan is connected byairto many Chinese cities, including Beijing (1 hr.), Shanghai (1 hr., 40 min.), Xi'an (1 1/2 hr.), Guangzhou (2 1/2 hr.), Chongqing (2 hr.), Zhengzhou (1 hr.), and Hong Kong (2 1/2 hr.). CAAC buses (1 hr.; ¥15/$1.90) depart for the Yao Qiang Airport 40km (25 miles) to the east from the CAAC office at Luoyuan Dajie 198 every hour from 6:10am to 6:10pm. Buses also meet incoming flights but end their run at the long-distance bus station(changtu qichezhan)in the northern part of town at Beiyuan Lu. Plane tickets can be purchased at theCAAC office(tel.0531/8602-2338) from 7am to 9:30pm.China Eastern Airlinesis at Jingshi Lu 408 (tel.0531/8796-4445;open 8am-8pm).
From Ji'nan's mainrailway station(tel.0531/8242-8862) in the west of town, trains run to Beijing (16 trains daily, 4 1/2-7 hr.), Shanghai (6 trains daily, 9-14 hr.), Tai'an (1 hr.), Yanzhou (2 hr.), Qufu (3 hr.), Zibo (1 hr.), Weifang (2 1/2 hr.), Qingdao (5 hr.), and Xi'an (19 hr.). Train tickets can be bought 5 days in advance at the railway station.
From thelong-distance bus station(changtu qichezhan;tel.0531/96369) in the northern part of town, buses depart for Tai'an (every 30 min. 6:30am-6:30pm; 1-1 1/2 hr.; ¥13-¥20/$1.50-$2, different types of buses), Qufu (every 20 min. 6:30am-6:30pm; 1 1/2-2 hr.; ¥21/$2.80), Qingdao (every 30 min. 6am-6:30pm; 5 hr.; ¥50-¥95/$6-$12), Zibo (every 30 min. 6:10am-6:40pm; 1 hr., 40 min.; ¥20-¥30/$2.50-$3.75), and Weifang (every 30 min. 6:30am-5pm; 3 hr.; ¥32-¥40/$4-$5).
Getting Around
Mosttaxischarge ¥7 (90¢) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.20 (15¢) per kilometer until 5.5km (3 1/2 miles), after which the price rises to ¥1.80 (25¢) per kilometer. From 10pm to 5am, the cost after 3km (1 3/4) is ¥1.40 (15¢) per kilometer, then ¥2 (25¢) per kilometer after 5.5km (3 1/2 miles).
Tours
TheChina Shandong Travel Service (Zhongguo Shandong Luxingshe)at Lishan Lu 185 (tel.0531/8260-8108) can arrange customized tours of other Shandong destinations like Tai Shan, Qufu, Weifang, and Zibo.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs-- TheBank of Chinaat Luoyuan Dajie 22 (Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1:30-6pm) is open for foreign exchange.
Post Office-- The main post office (open May-Sept 8am-7:30pm and Oct-Apr 8am-7pm) is in the old part of town at Jing Er Lu 162 (corner of Weier Lu).
Visa Extensions-- The localPSBis in the old part of town at Jing San Lu 145 just east of Wei Wu Lu (tel.0531/8508-2461;open Mon-Fri 8-11:30am and 2-5:45pm.). The surly staff at counters 2 and 3 can process visa extensions; allow 5 business days.