wheelchair travel in China

overview

China is filled with awe-inspiring natural sights. it is also home to many man-made wonders such like the Great Wall, forbidden palace, Terracotta Warriors, are all ancient edifices.

In China, Accessibility have improved a big step in most of large-middle-scale city since 2008 Olympics and paralympics such like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an.

1.general transportation
1) bus
The Beijing Transportation Department disclosed that currently, Beijing has 3,600 disabled-accessible buses in operation.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing opened 34 accessible special bus lines and 750 accessible buses were put into operation.
During the Paralympics, 16 disabled-accessible special bus lines connecting the Olympic central area, Paralympic Village and several other major areas were opened. At that time 600 accessible buses were put into operation.

After the Olympic Games, 10 disabled-accessible bus lines, which had a concentrated passenger flow and met the travel demands of the disabled, were kept as permanent lines.

According to statistics from the Transportation Department, Beijing added accessibility for the disabled to 70 subway stations on subway lines 1, 2, 13 and the Batong Line as well as the subway stations on the five new subway lines, including subway lines 5 and 10.

Out of 411 entrances and exits to 123 subway stations, 143 entrances and exits are equipped with elevators, lifting platforms or wheelchairs that can climb stairs and 337 entrances and exits have laid sidewalks for the blind.

In addition, the areas that connect entrances and exits to 183 entrances and exits in 64 subway stations, as well as the outside ground roads have completed modifications to make them accessible.(source:http://www.chinese.cn/adult/en/article/2010-08/19/content_166420.htm)

2)taxi






3)subway

4)railway station
accessible toilet seat, accessible drinking site, lifts, ramps, and low (bilingual) ticket window, wheelchair, stretcher services


5)Beijing Capital interantional airport
Beijing Capital Airport provides careful and thoughtful services for special passengers.
(i) Blind Path and Handrail Braille
(ii) Accessible Restroom

(iii) Low-Positioned Counter


(vi) low-positioned telephone
(v) Emergency Call beside Driveways
(vi) Accessible Seats
(vii) Accessible Elevator
(viii) Accessible Water Fountain
(ix) Accessible parking spaces
(x) Boarding Gate Flashing Indicator
(xi) Accessible Channel
Accessible channels are for special passengers for a convenient security check







2.Wheelchairs traveler in China

some of most famous scenic spots like Greatwall,forbidden palace,terrycotta army, are accessible to wheelchiar tourist. Some handicap services like wheelchair rent,Bathrooms,guiding have already equiped. most of sceninc points in China are free of charge to disablitlies.
1) Great Wall

The scenic spot of Badalin Great Wall went through reconstructions to build up some barrier-free structures before the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The disabled might advance freely from getting off vehicles to climbing the Great Wall. The barrier-free structures comprise barrier-free parking facilities, barrier-free sidewalks in the main roads for sightseeing, barrier-free ramp ways, barrier-free elevators, barrier-free sightseeing stands, low-position information desk for wheelchair users, and barrier-free easy travel appliances. These facilities help the disabled to realize their dream of independently climbing the Great Wall to be true men.(http://www.badaling.gov.cn/language/info_en.asp?id=39)






2) Forrbidden Palace

The Museum is accessible to wheelchair users via the barrier-free route that is specially designed for visitors with mobility difficulties . The route is illustrated here.(source:http://www.dpm.org.cn/shtml/2/@/8797.html#143)

However, persons with disablility could feel the real accessibility only in a few cities and scienic points in China. some tips for the disabled traveler in China are below:

1. limit your destination within the super big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an.

2. If not, you need keep somebody company to travel any other places else.