Getting Around Meizhou: An Overview
Meizhou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong, made up of the Meijiang and Meixian urban districts plus Xingning City and five surrounding counties. It sits at the junction of Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, which makes it a genuine transport hub for the region — but the practical reality for a visitor is that this is a city built around buses, taxis and private cars rather than a dense urban rail network. There is no metro or tram system in Meizhou, so plan your movements around the road network and the mainline railway stations.
Rail: High-Speed and Regular Trains
Meizhou's rail connections are the strongest part of its transport picture, and for many visitors the train will be how they arrive. Two stations matter most:
- Meizhou West Railway Station — the high-speed rail terminus, opened when the Meizhou–Chaoshan high-speed railway began service. It provides high-speed links to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Shantou, Chaoshan, Yichang and Xiamen.
- Meizhou Railway Station — used by the Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou railway and the Meizhou–Kanshi railway, with regular (non-high-speed) connections to Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Dapu, Wuchang and Kunming.
Both stations double as transport interchanges: Meizhou West in particular is a main hub for local buses, so arriving by high-speed rail puts you directly onto the city bus network. Additional passenger stations serve the wider prefecture, including Xingning, Fengshun, Fengshun East, Dapu, Huacheng, Shejiang North and Jianqiao. Further high-speed lines are under construction or planned, so the rail map is still expanding.
Buses and Local Public Transport
The bus network is the backbone of public transit in Meizhou. Buses cover most urban areas and extend out to the surrounding districts and towns, which makes them the default option for getting around without a car.
- Main hubs: Meizhou Passenger Transport Terminal and Meizhou West Railway Station. Other significant bus stations include Meizhou Bus Station, Meizhou Central Hub Bus Station, Meicheng Jiangnan Bus Station and the Meixian District hub stations.
- Operating hours: roughly 6:00–6:30 AM until 9:00–10:00 PM.
- Frequency: on central main routes, buses typically run every 10–20 minutes.
- Fares: typically ¥2–3 for an urban ride.
- Payment: cash (exact change is expected), the Meizhou Public Transport Card, or mobile payment via WeChat Pay or Alipay by scanning a code.
- Accessibility: some newer buses have low-floor access, but this is not universal.
- Real-time info: use Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps to check routes and arrivals.
Long-distance buses also connect Meizhou with other cities. There is a five-hour bus journey from Shenzhen, and a long-distance service from Meizhou to Hong Kong that stops at the Shenzhen border crossing — a cheaper but slower option than rail, with limited facilities on board and only one stop en route.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced. Licensed taxis are typically green or yellow, with a meter, roof sign and driver ID. You can hail one on the street, pick one up at designated stands such as train stations and hotels, or call one by phone. The flag-drop fare is around ¥7–10 and the meter runs from there; mobile payment via WeChat Pay or Alipay is preferred, though cash is generally accepted.
Ride-hailing is dominated by Didi Chuxing. Note the practical hurdles: the app requires a Chinese phone number and links to a Chinese bank account, WeChat Pay or Alipay. A few tips:
- Insist that taxi drivers use the meter.
- Confirm the driver and vehicle details in the Didi app before boarding.
- Share your trip details through the app.
- Enter destinations in Chinese characters to avoid miscommunication.
Beyond taxis and Didi, you will often be approached by private cars with drivers offering inexpensive travel within Meizhou and the surrounding areas. Three-wheeled bicycles are also available for hire — typically around ¥5–6 for a couple of miles, though drivers may ask for more, so agree on the price beforehand. Occasionally a private motorcycle will be waiting on a street corner for hire; this is one for the adventurous only. Be aware that local traffic is chaotic and often reckless by outside standards: vehicles may drive on sidewalks or the wrong way down streets, mixed in with bicycles.
Driving, Car Rental and Bicycles
Self-driving is not a realistic option for most foreign visitors. Car rental is generally unavailable to foreign tourists, and an International Driving Permit is not recognised — you would need a local Chinese driving licence or a temporary driving permit. Motorcycle and scooter rentals are uncommon for tourists, and the traffic makes them hazardous for unfamiliar drivers. The practical alternative is to hire a car with a driver through your hotel or a local travel agency, which is also the recommended approach for day trips and for visitors who need flexibility or accessible routes.
Bike-sharing schemes such as HelloBike operate in the city, but they require a Chinese phone number and mobile payment. Dedicated bike lanes are limited, so cyclists usually share the road with vehicles; helmets are advisable. Expressways and high-speed roads are off-limits to pedestrians and cyclists.
Walking
Walking works well in specific places rather than as a way to cross the whole city. Good pedestrian-friendly areas include the Han River promenade, Renjing Ancient Street and the city's various parks. The Hakka tulou and heritage villages in the surrounding countryside are best explored on foot. Self-narrated walking tours are feasible, and local agencies offer guided versions.
Do bear accessibility in mind: infrastructure is still developing. Major hotels and newer public buildings may have ramps and elevators, but older buses often lack low-floor access, historical sites frequently lack ramps, and cobblestone or uneven surfaces are common.
Other Ways to Get Around
- Sightseeing transport: there are no hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses, but local agencies run planned day excursions.
- Water: passenger ferry services mainly serve nearby islands, and boats on the Han River are for recreational sightseeing rather than commuting.
- Cable car: the Wuzhishi Scenic Area has a cable car.
Getting from the Airport into the City
The main airport serving Meizhou is Meizhou Meixian Airport (MXZ). It is served primarily by domestic flights, with some international services, and has regular air routes to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The airport opened in its current form in October 2018, with domestic flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing, and plans to expand internationally.
For more international connections, the second-closest option is Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA) in Jieyang, which is served by more international flights to other Asian countries. It is about an hour and a half away by car.
Once you land at Meixian Airport, the onward options are the same road-based modes that serve the rest of the city: taxis and ride-hailing into the urban districts, or local buses. Because the airport sits within the Meixian District area, it is reasonably close to the city's bus hubs and railway stations rather than being a remote outpost. As elsewhere in Meizhou, having your destination written in Chinese characters will make the taxi or Didi leg much smoother.
Practical Tips
- Carry a charged phone with maps, a translation app and payment apps installed, and keep addresses and useful phrases saved in Chinese characters.
- Download offline maps in case internet coverage is unreliable.
- Small vendors may accept cash only, so carry small denominations.
- English proficiency varies, especially outside main tourist areas; rural areas may have unclear signage or infrequent transport.
- Emergency numbers: 110 (police), 119 (fire), 120 (medical).