When taking a taxi in China, the first things worth checking are not the route, but whether your payment method will work and whether the car is an official taxi. Once those two points are clear, getting in, communicating, and paying are usually much smoother.
Taxi
In China, taxi rides are usually straightforward if you can identify an official cab, prepare payment, and confirm the meter is running.
Do not assume taxis accept overseas credit cards. In most cities, the more common payment methods are still cash in RMB, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. For visitors, the safest preparation is:
- Carry some small RMB notes in case change is needed
- Make sure Alipay or WeChat Pay is already working before the ride
- Tipping is usually not expected in Chinese taxis
Step 1: Identify an official taxi first
Taxi colors vary by city. Beijing taxis are often yellow, Shanghai taxis are often turquoise, and Shenzhen taxis are often blue. The color may change, but official taxis usually share the same basic signs:
- A clear roof light, often showing the Chinese word for taxi or the word “TAXI”
- If the roof light is on, it usually means the cab is empty; if it is off, the car usually already has a passenger
- The front cabin area usually displays the driver's ID or supervision card
If a car has no roof light, the driver approaches you first, or the vehicle is hard to identify, do not rush to get in.
At airports, railway stations, major attractions, and large malls, follow the official “Taxi” signs to the designated queueing area whenever possible. Do not leave the official line with strangers who approach you first. Those rides are more likely to skip the meter, overcharge, or create communication problems.
Step 2: Check a few key things when you get in
On ordinary streets, if you see a taxi with the roof light on, you can usually hail it from a safe curbside spot. At airports and railway stations, follow the official queueing process instead.
The easiest way to communicate your destination is to save the hotel name, attraction name, or full Chinese address on your phone in advance. Showing the Chinese text to the driver is usually more reliable than trying to explain it out loud.
The single most useful thing to confirm after getting in is whether the driver starts the meter. If the driver says the meter is broken, asks for a fixed price, or wants to move somewhere else before discussing the fare, the safest choice is usually to leave and take another official taxi.
These are the 4 things worth remembering:
- Prepare cash, Alipay, or WeChat Pay first, and do not assume overseas cards will work
- Look for the roof light, driver card, and official taxi queueing area
- Save the Chinese destination address on your phone before the ride
- Confirm the meter is running, and remember tipping is usually unnecessary