I have only been to Beijing once, back in 1994, when the metro system was unreliable and had limited stops. We resorted to using taxis and buses, which often seemed to take us in the wrong direction, and sometimes the buses were so packed, we were pinned in the middle of the bus and could not alight. I plan to return to Beijing in October, with my 10-year-old son. Have things improved, and how should we get around? Anthony Ahmoye, by email

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Things haven't changed all that much I'm afraid, except that you'll find that many of the taxis are now smart new and air conditioned Hyundai's.

There are still just the four main underground lines, with a new extension to the Olympic park, with several more due to open later this month, followed by a suitably Chinese mega-target of 19 lines operating by 2015.

You'll probably find the taxi's a bit more use this time, and still very cheap, but it feels like only one in a hundred drivers that can speak or read English. It's a good idea to always carry the business card of your hotel in your pocket, as this will have your address written in Chinese, and also the Lonely Planet series of guide books helpfully include the Chinese script next to the English on all the main places and recommendations ­ perfect to point at when in a taxi. Mind you, you should try and avoid the rush hours if you can, when the traffic snarls up and journey times can quadruple.

Paper tickets were phased out on the subways in May, so you now buy a plastic card loaded up with a pre paid amount of money. The system uses a flat fare of 15p per journey, which includes as many underground changes as you like. It is a very efficient system, but many of the tourist sites don't have a tube station close by, and remember to try and steer clear of the rush hours.

The buses are very tricky to fathom for the short-term visitor, and you are right, they become impossibly crowded. You'll soon get the hang of the tube and taxis, which combined are the best way of getting between the main sights.

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