Transport in Beijing - By Taxi

There are some 68000 taxis in Beijing, so getting one within a couple of minutes should be no problem even in the middle of the night (you might have difficulties finding a free cab when it is raining, though). They are also quite cheap. Prices have been unified recently and all taxi’s now cost 10RMB for the first 3 km and 2 RMB for every additional km or for every 5 minutes you are stuck in traffic.

Between 11pm and 5am fares increase by 20%, and rates start at 11 RMB, not 10 RMB. Taxi capacity is 4 passengers. Occasionally they might take more, but if they get caught the driver will be fined, so he has every right to refuse to take more than 4 people.

Do not go with unofficial taxi drivers. Sometimes random people with cars will stand on the side of the road and shout “Hello taxi!!!” Make sure that they all have meters, and taxi driver registration or licenses. Also take the receipt at the end of the trip. Just in case you left something (like your mobile phone) in the car, this is your only hope to recover it, assuming you had an honest driver.