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[pjmuggsie]

I'm flying to Beijing on the 20th for the TEFL training the following week and will be arriving around midnight. I'll be staying in the Federal Experts Building, which seems to be a short drive away, but I was wondering if there's anything I should be concerned about when I take my first taxi late at night.

[Borkya]

I just spent over a week in Beijing and I would say no worries. I've taken a lot of taxis in a lot of cities and beijing really seems like the least shady place to do it. Out of maybe 15 taxi rides (I had my elderly dad with me) we were only attempted scammed once (outside the summer palace) and only told no, by one taxi (in Hangzhou they almost always turn you down). But in Beijing they were pretty spot on and classy. I think they were well trained for the olympics.

[The Local Dialect]

No worries unless you're bring a LOT of stuff with you, in which case the taxis at the airport might try and refuse to take you, saying you should take the little minivans instead. You'd have to have more stuff than would fit in the trunk though. Otherwise no issues. Cabs in Beijing generally don't try any funny business, as ripping someone off for a few extra RMB is not worth the fine they'd get if they get reported (a cabbie here in BJ once told me that they get fined if someone reports them no matter whether the report is BS or not -- not sure if that is 100% true or if he was exaggerating but in any case they tend to be fairly straight up in these parts).

[randyjac]

PJ, in China a person can feel more confident about safety than almost anywhere else. Of course, one should always try to remain aware of their surroundings, especially in a strange place. The worst you might expect would be a route less than direct, taxi drivers being taxi drivers all over the world.

[pjmuggsie]

Good to hear guys thanks for the info! Sounds like I have nothing to worry about

[Escaped Lunatic]

Almost nothing to worry about.

Not sure about BJ, but in other places, taxis from bus stations and airports like to decline to use the meter and charge a LOT more than what the fair should cost.  Also, if possible, have some small change with you.  Taxi drivers have a bad reputation for giving fake change to tourists.

When you pay, ask for a receipt as you hand over your money.  That will reduce the chances of getting counterfeit change.

[china-matt]

Beijing airport has an official taxi stand with an actual line to get a taxi. I assume they still have it late at night. You will pay a higher rate because of the time, but it shouldn't be too bad. As for luggage, I managed to fit myself, my parents, and brother plus luggage into one regular taxi even though the taxi stand insisted that we take a van that cost more than twice as much. When we went through again with my wife, we just took two taxis.

[dragonsaver]

There are 'black' (illegal) taxi's too.  People that will come up to you while you are in a line and suggest you use their taxi.  DONT.  Go to the official taxi line, wait in line, and take a real taxi.

Yes, have small bills, 20's and 10's preferably. If all you have is 100's from the exchange counter (and the money exchange doesn't give you smaller bills), buy a coke to get smaller bills. If you give the taxi a 100rmb bill they may say they have no change or may give you a counterfeit 50 in change.

[Escaped Lunatic]

There are 'black' (illegal) taxi's too.  People that will come up to you while you are in a line and suggest you use their taxi.  DONT.  Go to the official taxi line, wait in line, and take a real taxi.

Unless you are in Guangzhou.  The pirate taxis there charge about what the meter should come to.  The "legitimate" ones in the taxi line all demand about twice what the meter would come to.

GZ Taxi Drivers
First against the wall when I become the Supreme Ruler of Earth!

[The Local Dialect]

I've never seen black taxis at the airport in Beijing. I am pretty sure the real taxi mafia and the traffic cops that are there shoo them off. You have to wait in line at the airport a long time to get into the taxi lineup though and sometimes the taxis don't want to take you if they feel like your fare isn't going to be worth it.

Beijing taxis always, in my experience, use the meter. Again, if they don't use the meter you can report them and they will be fined. I've never, in 3 years, had one even try to do it. Fares in Beijing are generally high (the airport to almost anywhere is going to be like 50rmb minimum) and any sort of profit you'd make from not running the meter is not worth the risk of a fine. Smaller places aren't the same but since the Olympics Beijing has been pretty tight on the taxi regulations, thankfully.

[Nolefan]

As they all said, you'll be fine!
the worst thing that could happen is you being taken on the scenic route which might cost you an extra few kuais.. just do get in an official taxi.

LD, there are a few heichi's around PEK international. They're just discreet about approaching.

[The Local Dialect]

LD, there are a few heichi's around PEK international. They're just discreet about approaching.

So you'd sort of have to be looking for them, they wouldn't come looking for you, I take it? I've never seen one bold enough to approach the taxi line in any case. I've noticed the real taxis can be pretty aggressively territorial around the airport, and although the mianbaoche are techically "black," they seem to be in cahoots with the real taxis.

The mianbaoche are absolutely ridiculous though, whatever you do do not let yourself be conned into taking one. My parents cluelessly got in one to come from the airport to our place in Haidian and the stupid thing cost more than 3 regular taxis would have cost. 

[nicenightforawalk]

And generally...even if you do get slightly over-charged/taken a scenic route etc...its still going to be relatively small change compared to taking a taxi from the airport in your home country.

When I first went to work in Hainan I took a taxi from the airport, and spent the entire 40 minute journey thinking 'wow, its only like £30!!!' ..... turned out I had actually been overcharged by around double! But it still felt cheap at the time.

[The Hiphoppopotomous]

taxis at the airports in the early hours can be bastards.


the only time i ever had trouble with a taxi was just after christmas, i got back and got in the taxi.

to my home the standard price would have been about 120rmb (12 squid) and before we were even a 5th of the way, the meter was up to 150, so i told the guy to stop and we got into a huge argument, which culminated with him calling the police, me trying to explain (in my very limited chinese) what happened.


in the end the policce got pissed off with him for trying to scam a foriegner, but still, it wasn't a nice ordeal at 3am.


but beijing is probably a lot better

[zero]

I just spent over a week in Beijing and I would say no worries. I've taken a lot of taxis in a lot of cities and beijing really seems like the least shady place to do it. Out of maybe 15 taxi rides (I had my elderly dad with me) we were only attempted scammed once (outside the summer palace) and only told no, by one taxi (in Hangzhou they almost always turn you down). But in Beijing they were pretty spot on and classy. I think they were well trained for the olympics.

What is the reason for the refusals? Because you are a foreigner, or ...?