Getting into the Chinese public transport is a completely new chapter in the book. You can actually find long distance busses that are modern, clean and seats can put almost into a horizontal position (Less modern version unfortunately also exists). The only weird thing while traveling by bus is that they stop for no apprehend reason for 3-4h in the middle of the journey and that the air condition is set to 17dg making the journey a little uncomfortable.
Going and coming from Tourist sides by bus on the other hand isn’t really fun. The loneyplanet usually gives good advice for transport but practically it is not always obvious were busses go from and to and the chinese signs for destinations aren’t really helpful.
Asking around usually helps, but sometimes (as everywhere) you just get pointed in the wrong direction. We had special fun going back from the Terracotta Army. We thought that we just hopped into one of the normal busses, Bus 914. Not really. The conductor was all the time screaming at people to get into the bus. We spent more than half an hour picking up people somewhere to fill up the bus and when the police drove by everybody in the aisle had to kneel down (still pretending to at least know the rules).
While going by train, getting into the
train station is fun by it self. You need a train ticket to get inside meaning you can’t just pick up your wife when she comes back from a journey. Than you get in a big waiting room where you have to stay until the check in begins (no we are not in an airport). Finally you get checked a third time by the conductor at the train. By now you ticket had three stamps. The trains are like the busses very comfortable, but take consideration to Chinese travelers. Meaning again air condition is set to autumn temperatures and toilets are just wholes in the floor.