I know you have hundreds of reasons not to take public bus in Beijing: traffic jam, always crowded, language barrier, SARS, H1N1 and so on. It’s not a surprise that more than 75% travelers from western countries do not have public bus experience in Beijing, but public bus is where you can best touch and feel the real China and ordinary Chinese. Just try to avoid the rush-hour; you will have a comfortable and unique public experience in Beijing.

(Please visit www.bjbus.com/home/index.php (English version) for checking Beijing public bus.)

Take 375 Lu to visit universities:
375 is regard as the most “intelligent” public bus in Beijing—- starts from Xizhimen in the south to Hanjiachuan in the north; it links more than ten universities ( they are “key” univerisities in China), such as Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing Normal University, Beijing Film Academy, China University of Political Science and Law, Beihang University,  China University of Petroleum, China University of Geosciences, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Peking University, University of International Relations and Party School of the Central Committee of C.P.C. and so on.

There was a saying: 8 out of 10 passengers in 375 are PHD or professors.  The saying is maybe a little exaggerated, but it’s absolutely right that 375 is the most “intelligent” public bus in Beijing, at least 8 out of 10 passengers in 375 are bachelors (college students).
Note: the highest price(whole) for 375 Lu is 2.5RMB.

Take 7 Lu to experience Hutong:
Hutong is the heritage of old Beijing, many public bus stations once was named after the Hutong they are went through. With more and more Hutong is disappearing, it’s becoming rare to find a Hutong public bus, 7 Lu is one of the rare.

7 Lu starts from Beijing Zoo, in the next 29 stations, there are 7 stations named after Hutong: Xinkai Hutong(新开胡同), Baochan Hutong(宝产胡同), Baozi Hutong(报子胡同), Fengsheng Hutong(丰盛胡同), Picai Hutong(辟才胡同), Xirongxian Hutong Xi(西绒线胡同西, Xirongxian Hutong Dong(西绒线胡同东). Most of these Hutong are famous and preserved very well. What’s more, there another 10 stations are located in (or near) old Beijing, Hutong area, such as Zujiajie(祖家街), Baitasi(白塔寺), Liulichang(琉璃厂) and so on.
Note: The highest price (whole) for 7 Lu is 1RMB.

Take 728 Lu to enjoy the beauty of Chang’an Street. 
 With the Tiananmen Tower and the Tiananmen Square as its centers, The Chang’an Street stretches 46 kilometers between the Tongzhou Canal Square in the east and the eastern gate of Beijing Capital Steel (Shougang) Group in the west. As the widest and longest street in the world, it is the political and cultural hub of China. Many departments of the Central Government and a host of cultural sites occupy both sides of the boulevard.

728 Lu is the best choice for Chang’an Street sight-seeing, by taking 728 LU you can see many landmarks and famous sites of Beijing: China Millennium Monument, China Military Museum, Central Bank of China, Capital Museum, Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing, Silk Market, Beijing Railway Station, Gaobeidian Village.
Note: The highest price (whole) for 728 Lu is 4.5RMB

Take Te 8(特8路) to feel the rich-poor gap between different parts of Beijing:
Beijing is a city which east part is more prosperous than west, north part more prosperous than south. By taking Te 8(特8路), you can see and feel the gap. 

Take Te 8(特8路) is a two-floor public bus on the Third-Ring Road, it runs a circle at a time. East Third-Ring is the most prosperous area in Beijing or even in China: International Trade Center, CCTV Headquarter, hundreds of five-star hotel, hundreds of foreign embassies. Southwest Third-Ring is a “broken” area, hundreds of messy wholesale center, hundreds of farm product markets. We can use another word to express the gap: East Third Ring Area is in 21 century, Southwest Third Ring is still in late 20 century.
Note: The highest price (whole) for 728 Lu is 5.5RMB