Taxis/Rickshaws, Beijing

When you go to the airport by taxi, we have to go through the airport toll (10 RMB) and it is the passenger who has to pay for it. So, the taxi driver would just pay and then add 10 RMB to the taxi charge.

BUT some dishonest taxi drivers would ask 20 RMB saying that they have to go back downtown. Argue with them !!! They should only get 10 RMB !!!

Lookout for people "brokering" taxi services. They are not licenced taxis and you will pay too much. Real taxis have state issued plaques attached to the cars. Ask to airport personel where to catch a licenced taxi. I payed $45 for a ride from the airport the the hotel downtown. I later rented a taxi for the entire day for $20 through the hotel.

Fun Alternatives: Real taxis have state issued plaques attached to the cars and will show the fare class. Ask to airport personel where to catch a licenced taxi. I payed $45 for a ride from the airport the the hotel downtown. I later rented a taxi for the entire day for $20 through the hotel.

If you ever decide to take the taxi, be aware that the driver could try to fix the meter so he can charge you more for the fare. I have heard of a few incidents when Taxi drivers have tried that trick on tourists in China. Since most of the signs will be in chinese characters they know that you'll be more focused on finding your way around town and therefore vulnerable to trickery.

Bicycle rickshaw in Tiananmen Square. Offered to take two of us for a certain amount in RMB. When we got there he demanded the same figure in Dollars! I was very lucky to be with a Chinese companion who was both reasonably fluent in Manderin and very tough-minded! When the guy wouldn't accept her protestations that a figure had been agreed in RMB, she blew her top at him and launched into a pavement diatribe which I think included 'you are a disgrace to the Chinese race, you let all us Chinese down' and 'I am now going to ask this passer-by where the nearest police station is'.... Needless to say, the guy slunk away very quickly...

But, seriously, this was a one-off occurence. See my report on Tianjin for the more positive side.

I went with a Chinese Malaysian friend who despite the southern accent speak mandarin quite well. But we were cheated on taxi fare. The amount requested upon arrival was different from the amount thought to be agreed. So be careful.

Try and avoid taxis that are more than willing to offer you a ride from the airport to your hotel - they often overcharge and demand extra fees. If you need to take a taxi, get one from the official stand in front of the airport, left.

Using a taxi in Beijing is very cheap, but be careful they can also cheat you or if they don't understand where you wanna go they might just take you somewhere and ask you to pay...sometimes I felt that drivers didn't even know how to read the map....best way is to write down the place you wanna go in chinese or ask somebody to do it