Night trains are inside track for success

I have a friend who keeps inviting me to see his band play in Beijing. He must have asked me at least four times now. "What time are you on stage?" I ask, quickly adding, "If it's not before 11 pm, forget it - I don't want to miss the last train."

I'm a slave to public transportation. I've never liked using taxis, so buses and the subway are my main conveyance in the city. However, Beijing Subway runs only until 11:45 pm, including weekends, while night buses cover just a few routes. It's the same in Shanghai, although I can't say I've ever seen a bus after 11 pm whenever I've visited.

This means my nights out tend to end sharply, with me making a mad dash for the nearest subway station before it closes.