Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fares and
F
ā
piào
During the day, the taxi flag fall is RMB10 for the first three kilometers, and then RMB2
per kilometer for the rest of the ride. After 15 kilometers (9.32 miles), you'll notice the
meter start going a little faster as the charge clicks over to RMB3 per kilometer.
From 11pm to 5am the flag fall is RMB11 for the first three kilometers, then RMB2.4
per kilometer, then RMB3.4 per kilometer after 15 kilometers. If you come to a standstill
in traffic or ask a driver to sit with the meter on while you run into a building, you'll be
charged the equivalent of 1 kilometer per 5 minutes.
If your journey exceeds 3 kilometers, you'll also have a RMB2 fuel surcharge added to
the total price, which won't be shown on the meter or your receipt. There's no need to try to
calculate the kilometers—if the meter still says 10.00 when you stop (or 11.00 late at night),
then you won't pay extra. If it's more than this, add RMB2 when you hand over the money.
If you do need a receipt for this extra RMB2, the driver can provide you with one. If you go
through any tolls, such as from the airport into the city, toll fees will also be added to your
total fare.
Further, if you want to avoid confrontation, be sure to have change (
língqián
). You'll
make their day if you have the exact fare. You'll probably hear the driver say
“Yào piào
ma?,”
meaning “Do you want a receipt?.” If you do, say
“yào”;
if you don't, say
“búyào.”
It's good to get into the habit of taking your
piào
. These not only record the details of your
driver and journey, which can be helpful if you lose something or have problems, but taxi
receipts are a common form of collectible
f
ā
piào
to offset taxes.
Smoking is prohibited in taxis. You shouldn't smoke in them, and neither should your
driver, but you'll definitely get the occasional driver who will. You have the right to have
him or her put it out. If they won't, you can take their photo, note down their ID number,
and report them by calling the hotline service on 10/6835-1150 or 10/6835-1570. Other pos-
sible times when you might have difficulty with taxi drivers is when you're only going short
distances from particular places, such as the airport. If you only need to take the 10-minute
drive from the airport to Shunyi, your driver may launch into a full-scale tantrum and try to
refuse to take you. They've probably queued for 20 minutes or more outside the airport and
don't like getting the dud fare. If you stay your ground they should take you—you'll just
have to put up with them grumbling and complaining for the entire distance.
And a final tip: If you want to turn off the terrible advertising screen that is right in front
of your face in the back seat, tap the volume button once to put it on silent and a second
time to turn it off!
