My theory has always been that this is intentionally designed to protect the taxi drivers in each town, by making taking a taxi the most convenient and direct way to get anywhere meaningful in town. China’s politicians know that they do have to connect the airports by public transport as well, but they do that only for those that cannot or will not usually afford a taxi. So those can take the subway, and to them - based on the logic of the politicians - time is not an important factor, hence why a slow connection with many stops to the airport doesn’t matter. Finally, in the case of the Maglev or the proposed HSR, again there is a balance of a recognition that it makes sense to build these for reasons of greater productivity and to show off China’s modernity, but again the terminal stations are usually way outside the city centre (An annoying fate which you can see at most of the HSR stations). Why? Again, probably a combination of factors, including protecting the taxi industry, as well as different interests at play by the various stake-holders involved in approving, building and managing different parts of public infrastructure. Strikingly reminiscent of an episode in Yes, Minister (Or was it Yes, Prime Minister?), which satirises the same lack of a coherent policy approach to public transport in the UK.

Will subway line 2 be the only public transportation alternative?