You might have planned to spend the week-long May Day holiday idly, if so it's quite likely you have got a bit bored by now. But it is still not too late to get about and see more for less.

Beijing has a large, densely-woven network of public transportation, which operates a total of 708 routes with a fleet of 19,065 vehicles running between more than 4,000 stops scattered in downtown, urban and suburban areas of the city. Although having developed dramatically over the years, the public transportation system always seems a step behind the demands for more efficiency and comfort from commuters. Everyone has had the nightmare experience of being packed like sardines on a bus during rush hour, which is made worse everyday by the fading tempo of the traffic jams.

The idea of using the buses for sightseeing could sound oddly romantic regarding the unpleasant conditions both inside the carriages and outside on the streets during normal days. However, the situation is greatly relieved by the week-long holiday during which you will have noticed bustling Beijing become less populated with millions having gone back home or on trips.

Preparation time for such an outing is minimal: a bottle of water, a portable music player, a digital camera and, ideally, a city map with some introductions to the sites.

1. Bus No 10-from Beijing Railway Station East to Nancaiyuan:

Beginning near the Beijing Railway Station, the bus goes by Wangfujing, the arbor-covered Nanheyan and Tian'anmen Square, along Chang'an Avenue until it makes a turn to the south and enters Beijing's Muslim neighbourhood, the Niujie area, where you will also see a mosque.

2. Bus No 20-from Beijing South Railway Station to Beijing Railway Station East:

You can get on from the Beijing Railway Station East stop and go on the same route as the Bus Te 1 mentioned above until the bus turns south at Tian'anmen West to pass Qianmen, Dashilan, Tianqiao areas and the Temple of Heaven before it stops at Beijing South Railway Station, whose worn, nostalgic look is subject to an on-going renovation project.

3. Bus Te 1-from Beijing West Railway Station to Sihui:

The air-conditioned bus route cruises along almost the entire length of Chang'an Avenue, arguably the most famous street in China. Five stops from Sihui, you will come to the Dabeiyao marked by the skyscrapers of the China World Trade Centre, Motorola Building and the China Merchants Tower that are signature buildings of the Central Business District (CBD). Continuing westward, you will see the colossal Oriental Plaza spanning between Dongdan crossing and the south end of the Wangfujing Street. Then you will pass by Tian'anmen Square where the Great Hall of the People, the Gate of the Heavenly Peace (Tian'anmen) and the nearly completed National Grand Theatre are in sight. You will also pass Xinhuamen, the formal gate to the Zhongnanhai, and the military museum.

4. Bus No 24-from Beijing Railway Station to Zuojiazhuang:

This route mainly wanders through the streets reclaimed from the old hutong neighborhoods including Waijiaobu Jie, Lumicang, Yanyue Hutong and the east ends of the numbered hutong in the Dongsi area such as Dongsi Liutiao, Dongsi Jiutiao.

5. Bus No 120-from Zuojiazhuang to Tiantan Nanmen:

This route provides a temporary trip from the modern to the past as it takes you from one of the city's night life zones near the Workers' Stadium to pass by Wangfujing, Tian'anmen Square, Qianmen, Dashilan and finishes at the Temple of Heaven.

6. Bus No 365-from Minzhuangnanli to Yongfengzhan:

This bus belongs to the suburban route that runs within the northern part of the city. You can get on at Remin University and then pass by Zhongguancun, China's silicon valley, and the Shangdi area where many domestic and foreign IT companies are headquartered. Continuing northward you will arrive at Hangtiancheng for China's space aviation centre, where all three of China's astronauts were trained.

7. Bus No 103-from Beijing Railway Station West to Beijing Zoo:

The trolleybus passes the municipal government quietly located at the Taijichang Lu and turns west at the north end of Wangfujing after it enters the bustling pedestrian street from the south. Then you will see the China National Art Museum en route along the Jingshan Qianjie that runs between the north entrance to the Forbidden City and the south entrance to Beihai Park before you pass by the lake of the Zhongnanhai on your left. After two stops, you will also see the White Pagoda Temple (Baitasi).

(China Daily 05/05/2006 page15)