Getting Around Baise
Baise is the westernmost prefecture-level city of Guangxi, bordering Vietnam as well as Guizhou and Yunnan. It sits roughly between the provincial capitals of Nanning, Kunming, and Guiyang. The city itself is compact enough that a visitor can rely on a mix of city buses, taxis, ride-hailing, and shared e-bikes, with a railway station and a bus terminal anchoring the western side of town. This guide covers the practical options for moving around and for reaching the city from its airport.
City Buses
The city has more than 20 bus routes, and these basically cover three areas of Baise. Fares are either ¥1 or ¥2 per trip, with the higher fare applying to air-conditioned buses. A digital map of the city is the easiest way to check which routes serve the places you want to go.
Several routes are useful for reaching the main transport hubs:
- Buses 1, 3, and 8 serve Baise Railway Station on Zhanqian Avenue in Youjiang District.
- Buses 9, 10, 13, 16, and 25 serve Baise East Bus Terminal, also on Zhanqian Avenue, about a kilometre from the railway station.
If you are arriving or departing by train or long-distance bus, these routes are the cheapest way to connect with the rest of the city.
Rail
Baise Railway Station sits in the west of the city at the end of Jinzhan Road, at 103 Zhanqian Avenue in Youjiang District. It is an important hub on the Nanning–Kunming railway and the corresponding high-speed line. Chief cities served include Nanning, Guilin, Kunming, and Guangzhou, with both high-speed trains and slower sleeper services available depending on the route.
The station building is split into arrival and departure levels. The arrival level has convenience stores and fast food restaurants serving Guangxi cuisine, and the bus stop is on this level. The entrance is in the middle of the departure level, with a ticket office on one side and a McDonald's on the other. The waiting hall is divided into two floors, each with its own ticket gates, so check which floor your ticket corresponds to before settling in. By modern Chinese standards the station is not big, and the shops inside sell local specialties, snacks, and drinks.
Baise has no metro or tram network; rail travel here means the national railway station described above.
Long-Distance Buses
Baise East Bus Terminal, at 108 Zhanqian Avenue in Youjiang District, is the biggest bus terminal in the city and is operated by the Chicheng Group. It serves counties within Baise Prefecture, and from here you can reach towns in the other counties. Some buses are air-conditioned and some are not. The terminal is relatively large, so pay attention to the ticket gate matching your ticket to avoid going to the wrong one. There are convenience stores inside that also sell instant noodles and provide hot water.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are both available in Baise. Note that taxis generally do not use meters and instead quote prices directly, so it is worth agreeing on a fare before you set off. Ride-hailing is a straightforward alternative, particularly if you are not confident negotiating a price.
E-Bikes
E-bikes are very popular in Baise and are a good way to travel freely around the city. You can find shared e-bikes on the streets, or rent one from a hotel or shop. If you use one, be careful to park only in the marked parking spaces.
Walking
Walking works well for getting around within the central parts of the city, and the arrival level of the railway station and the area around the bus terminal are easy to navigate on foot. For longer hops across the three main areas of the city, though, the bus, taxi, or an e-bike will save you time.
Getting from Baise Bama Airport into the City
Baise Bama Airport (AEB) is located at Qilian Village, Baiyu Town, Tianyang District, east of the city and close to Tianyang itself. It is a dual-use military and civilian airport, mainly for military services, so the airport and terminal are relatively small and there are no jet bridges. The VIP lounge is simple, providing only bottled water and some snacks and no beds. There are small convenience stores in the terminal, both landside and airside.
There is one airport bus line connecting the airport and the city, with a fare of ¥30. Because flights are limited to a few days a week, with a maximum of two flights per day, the bus schedule is built around flight departure and arrival times:
- The bus to the city centre picks up passengers at the airport at the time of each flight's arrival.
- The bus from the city centre to the airport departs two hours before flight departure.
- The airport bus departs from the Meng Zhi Yuan Hotel (梦之源大酒店) in the city centre, stops at the Baise East Expressway tollgate, and takes about an hour to reach the airport.
There is only one bus, with approximately 40 seats, so if it is full you will have to take a taxi instead. Because flights are few, taxis at the airport are also relatively few, and they generally do not use meters but quote prices directly; a relatively reasonable price is within ¥150.
Practical Summary
- Cheapest option: city buses at ¥1 or ¥2, with routes covering the three main areas and connecting to both the railway station and the east bus terminal.
- Most flexible: taxis and ride-hailing, though taxis quote rather than meter fares.
- Best for free roaming: shared or rented e-bikes, parked only in marked spaces.
- Arriving by air: the ¥30 airport bus timed to your flight, or a taxi at around ¥150 or less if the bus is full.
- Arriving by rail: Baise Railway Station is on the Nanning–Kunming corridor, with buses 1, 3, and 8 stopping on the arrival level.