Taxis: Etiquette and Meters

Quick Answer (30 Seconds)

Two ways to get a cab in China: hail from the street (look for taxis with a lit "kōng chē" 空车, "available" sign on the roof) and call via DiDi/Amap (phone app, transparent pricing, more recommended). Taxis must use the meter (jì jià qì 计价器), flagfall is roughly ¥10-16 (Beijing: ¥13 for the first 3 km, varies by city), with a ~20% surcharge from 23:00-5:00. Always confirm the meter is reset to zero when you get in — if the driver says "no meter, flat rate," that's a scam brewing. Politely get out and find another cab. Have your destination in Chinese ready to show the driver. No tipping — getting exact change is normal. If you get taken for a ride or overcharged, note the license plate and call 12328 (national transport service supervision hotline) to complain. It works.

Remember: Meter is the rule. Flat rate is the trap.

Full Guide

After taking taxis in China for years, I've boiled it down to one law: if you can call a car via app, don't hail from the street. It's not that hailing is unsafe — it's that app-based pricing is transparent, there's a navigation record, and if a dispute arises, you have evidence. Hailing is for when your phone dies or it's late at night and no apps have drivers available.

Ways to Get a Taxi

Street hailing — Look for a taxi with a lit "kōng chē" (空车, "available") sign on the roof, stick out your hand to flag it down. Get in after it stops. During rush hour and rain, it's very hard to hail one — be prepared.
DiDi (滴滴出行) — China's biggest ride-hailing app, similar to Uber. Supports English interface, can register with international phone numbers. Upfront price estimates, no haggling with drivers.
Amap/Baidu Maps ride-hailing — Map apps have built-in ride-hailing that aggregates DiDi, T3 Chuxing, and other platforms — whoever accepts fastest gets your ride. Most foreigner-friendly: search your destination on the map first, tap to call a car, and the destination is auto-filled.
Taxis vs ride-hailing — Taxis: hail from the street, metered fares. Ride-hailing: app-based, upfront pricing, driver ratings visible. Ride-hailing is generally more hassle-free.

The Meter: Using It Is Iron Law

Licensed Chinese taxis must use the meter (jì jià qì 计价器). Flagfall varies by city, roughly ¥10-16 (including the first ~3 km), then ¥2-3 per km.
Beijing: Flagfall ¥13/3 km, then ¥2.3/km (rises to ¥3.45/km after ~15 km), 20% surcharge 23:00-5:00.
Night surcharge — Most cities add about 20% from 23:00 to 5:00. The meter adds it automatically — this is normal.
Fuel surcharge — Some cities have a ¥1 fuel surcharge. Also normal — it appears on the meter or receipt.

Watching the Meter: Avoid Getting Scammed

First thing after getting in: confirm the meter shows zero (starts from the flagfall amount).
If the meter is off, or the driver says "the meter's too expensive, I'll give you a flat rate" — this is the opening move of a scam. Politely say "no thanks," get out, and find another taxi.
Glance at the meter occasionally during the ride. If the numbers are jumping abnormally fast, speak up.
At your destination, the fare is whatever the meter says. Ignore any verbal price the driver quotes.

Cash Preparation

China is basically cashless now, and taxis accept WeChat/Alipay QR payments. The QR code is usually stuck behind the rear-seat headrest or on the center console.
But older taxis and taxis in smaller cities may only accept cash. Keep some small bills handy (¥10/¥20 denominations) just in case.
When scanning to pay, check the amount before entering your password — don't accidentally add an extra zero.

Destination in Chinese

Prepare your destination's Chinese name and address in advance (ask hotel front desk, or copy from Dianping/Meituan).
Show your phone screen to the driver and say "qù zhè lǐ" (去这里 — "go here").
Drivers not knowing the way is totally normal — Chinese cities are enormous, and many drivers rely on navigation. Don't panic, just let the driver follow the nav.

After getting in, keep your navigation (Amap/Baidu) running. If the driver takes a detour, you'll notice immediately.
If the route is clearly unreasonable, politely say "qǐng àn dǎo háng zǒu" (请按导航走 — "please follow the navigation").
Most drivers won't intentionally detour, but airports, train stations, and tourist areas are detour hotspots — keep an eye out.
Ride-hailing apps record your trip trajectory. If you discover a detour afterward, complain in the app and the platform will refund the difference.

Arrival and Tipping

After arriving: confirm the meter amount → pay via QR code or cash → ask for a receipt (yào fā piào 要发票). The receipt has the license plate number, company name, and complaint hotline — it's your evidence for disputes.
Tipping? No. There's no tipping culture in China, and taxi drivers don't expect tips. If you overpay, the driver will be confused. Change is given in full.

Complaint Hotline: 12328

12328 is the national transport service supervision hotline established by the Ministry of Transport. Taxi refusals, no-meter, detours, overcharging — all can be reported here.
When complaining, have ready: license plate number (on the car and receipt), time, route, amount, and receipt.
Processing time: Complaints are generally responded to within 10 working days. If verified, the driver faces fines and must refund overcharged amounts.
You can also use the 12345 government service hotline, or file an in-person complaint at a "Transport Enforcement" window at subway stations.

Disaster Manual

Disaster Scenario 1: Driver Won't Use the Meter, Quoting a Flat Rate

Problem: You're getting a taxi from the airport, and the driver says "no meter, ¥500 to downtown." The meter is off.

What to do:

Firmly decline. Don't get in, or if already in, politely get out.
Airports and train stations have designated taxi queue areas — go there for metered taxis.
Or open Amap right there and call a ride-hailing car — transparent pricing.
If you've already gotten in and then discover the issue: photograph the driver's service supervision card (displayed in front of the front passenger seat), note the license plate, pay a reasonable amount at your destination and ask for a receipt, then call 12328 to complain.

Disaster Scenario 2: Driver Takes a Detour, Fare Doubles

Problem: A 3-km ride turns into 8 km, and the meter is showing a heart-stopping number.

What to do:

Keep navigation on after getting in — you'll catch detours in real time. If the driver says "traffic," point to your nav: "please follow the navigation."
Already arrived? Note the trip, license plate, amount, get a receipt, and call 12328 to report the detour. If verified, the overcharge will be refunded.
Ride-hailing is even simpler: the app's trip trajectory is your evidence. Complain about "detour" in the app, and the platform will automatically calculate and refund.

Disaster Scenario 3: Left Something in the Taxi / Overpaid

Problem: After getting out, you realize your phone is still on the back seat, or you entered an extra zero when paying.

What to do:

Get a receipt every time! Without one, you can't even find the car.
With a receipt: contact the taxi company using the company name and phone number on the receipt, explain the time and location, and have them contact the driver.
Or call 12328 with the license plate number to help locate the vehicle.
Overpaid via QR code: contact the payment platform's customer service + the taxi company. Most of the time you can get it back, but it's a hassle. Lesson: check the amount before entering your password.

Information verified: August 2026 · Sources: Beijing Taxi Fare Adjustment Plan (Xinhua/People's Daily), Ministry of Transport "12328 Transport Service Supervision Hotline Management Measures," DiDi App · Flagfall and meter rules vary by city — check local transport department announcements.