Welcome to Beijing Taxi

Taxi is the most convenient way to get around in the city. Numerous taxis are running in Beijing. When you get into a Beijing taxi an automatic message will welcome you. But don’t expect any more English than that greeting note.

You have to communicate with the driver, so you need to be accurately pronouncing your destination name. If you don’t speak Chinese you can write the destination name in Chinese characters and show it to your driver. There are many apps to translate English names into Chinese characters. 

Tip: Every western thing and place has a Chinese name including stores, hotels, and even actors. Chinese people often used the Chinese name to call any person, sight, or destination. So learning Chinese names can be helpful for you.

Try to learn the Chinese names and their correct pronunciation. Most taxi drivers don’t speak English, so don’t expect that a taxi driver will understand what you mean. However if you have the destination name written in Chinese characters, this will quite helpful for the driver to recognize the location.

Every taxi driver doesn’t know every Beijing area, so they may ask you about directions. If you don’t speak Chinese, the driver may call someone who can direct the driver about your destination. So for foreigners, it is very important to learn the basic direction instruction in Chinese.

Official Beijing taxis

In Beijing, official taxis have a sign on the roof. The red illumines sign near the back-view mirror shows that the taxi is available for a ride. Most Beijing taxis are Hyundai Elantra sedans. Sometimes the small size cabs are half-full with the driver stuff. 

Most taxi drivers are smooth but slow. They want to get to your destination without any trouble. So they can get the next passenger quickly. 

If you sit on the front seat you should use a seat belt. However, in the back seat, the seat belts are usually not required. 

In Beijing finding a taxi is not always easy, especially in rainy conditions taxis are very hard to find. To find a taxi you have to simply stand at the road corner or side of the street. There the driver will able to find you. 

Taxis in Beijing are cheap

In Beijing, the taxi fare is often 13 RMB for the first 3 km and 2.3 RMB for each km after 3 km. The traffic jam can increase the fare and every five minutes of waiting will charge you the amount equal to 2 km. 

From the airport, the fare will be 100 RMB or more. It is depending on your destination. In addition, the expressway toll is added to the fare and you have to pay it. 

In Beijing taxi drivers usually charge by the meters. While in rush hours or some busy locations where people don’t have many choices, some drivers increase the fare higher than the metered price. Moreover, taxi drivers don’t accept credit cards. But you can pay through WeChat. 

Alternatives to Beijing taxis

There are some local ride-hailing apps. But these local apps don’t have an English interface, they are totally in Chinese. Moreover, you need a Chinese bank card to pay your fare. 

Didi is one of the most convenient and fastest ride-hailing services in China. This app is available in English so foreigners can easily use it to find taxis. However, with Didi, you can pay through WeChat.

Beware of Black Cabs

The official taxis are often with a yellow stripe. But, you will also find some black taxis on the road. These black taxis are unlicensed private cars. The car owner runs them only to make money. The fare of private taxis is usually higher and you may have to bargain on the price. These taxis are not insured so if you forget anything in the taxi it will seem impossible to get back.

Safety and Scams 

Some fake drivers might cheat you by overcharging. Make sure to check the meter and compare the fare with the meter's price. They may charge you higher than the actual fare. Make sure the taxi is licensed. Check the taxi sign and driver’s registration card before getting in.