Living in China
Taking a Taxi in China Without Getting Overcharged (2026)
By the 17Talk teaching team - certified Mandarin teachers, 8+ years of classroom experience, 3,500+ students in 40 countries
Last updated:
Quick answer
Use a ride-hailing app (DiDi) whenever you have data - the fare is fixed before you get in. For street taxis, say 打表 (dǎ biǎo, "use the meter") and check the driver starts it. Airport taxi queues are metered and reliable; the risk is touts who approach you inside the terminal. Keep the receipt - it carries the plate number.
The two sentences that prevent almost every overcharge
Chinese city taxis are metered, and the meter is the price - it is not a starting point for a negotiation. The whole scam, in practice, is a driver who offers a flat price instead of switching the meter on, usually to an airport or a tourist site.
So two sentences carry the entire defence: 请打表 (qǐng dǎ biǎo) - please use the meter - said as you get in, and then check with your own eyes that the number starts moving. If a driver refuses the meter, get out. That is not a negotiation, it is a known pattern.
App or street taxi: which to use when
The honest answer is that they solve different problems: apps protect you on price, street taxis protect you on time.
| Ride-hailing app (DiDi) | Street taxi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Fixed when you book, before you get in | Metered - watch it start |
| Surge | Possible at peak times, shown upfront | No surge, but night rates apply |
| Language | In-app, with the destination typed in | You must say the address; show it in Chinese |
| Payment | Linked to Alipay / WeChat / card in the app | QR code or cash - ask before the ride |
| Best for | Anywhere you have data | When your phone is dead or there is no network |
At the airport, the risk is inside the terminal
The official taxi rank - the queue outside arrivals - is the safe option: metered, regulated, usually with a starter fee and an airport surcharge printed on the meter. The people who walk up to you inside the terminal asking "taxi? taxi?" are the problem, and their price is typically two to four times the meter.
Follow the signs to 出租车 (taxi) rather than accepting an offer, and if someone insists your hotel is "far" or "no taxi today", that is the script, not information.
Paying, receipts, and what to do if it goes wrong
Pay the meter. Almost every taxi takes QR payment through Alipay or WeChat; cash is still accepted, so keep some small notes. Ask for the receipt (发票, fā piào) - it prints the plate number, the date and the distance, and it is what a complaint needs.
If you have been overcharged, the national transport service hotline is 12328, and each city's taxi operator also has a complaint line printed on the receipt. In practice: keep the receipt, note the time, and report through your hotel front desk, who can call for you in Chinese.
The charges that are real (so you do not argue about them)
Not every extra on the meter is a trick. Overnight hours carry a surcharge in most cities, airport pickups add a fee, and highway tolls on intercity runs are added on top of the fare. These appear on the meter or as a printed addition.
What is not legitimate: a flat price agreed at the kerb, a "broken meter", or a demand for extra cash at the destination. Those are the cases worth refusing.
Street-taxi survival details
Have your destination written in Chinese - a screenshot from a map app works, and it solves both the language and the pronunciation problem at once. Sit in the back. If you are travelling with luggage, mention it before the driver stops, because boot space is not guaranteed.
And take the receipt even when nothing went wrong: it is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy, and it takes two seconds.
Common questions
Is DiDi available in English?
Yes - DiDi has an English interface and accepts foreign phone numbers and overseas cards in many cases. Set it up and add a payment method before you land, because registration is easier on a stable connection.
Do taxis in China take credit cards?
Assume not. Most take QR payments (Alipay or WeChat) and cash. Carry some small notes for the case where a driver's QR code does not work.
Should I tip the driver?
No. Tipping is not expected in Chinese taxis, and rounding up is not a custom. Pay the meter and leave.
What if the driver says the meter is broken?
Get out and take another taxi, or book through an app. A broken meter is one of the two classic patterns - the other is refusing to start it.
How do I give the address if I do not speak Chinese?
Show it written in Chinese. A map screenshot is enough; the address in Chinese characters removes any need to pronounce it. For hotels, most front desks will write the name and address for you.
Are taxis safe at night?
Yes - regulated taxis are metered and tracked, and night surcharges are normal. The practical precautions are the same as anywhere: use the app where you can, and share the ride details with someone.
How much should a taxi cost in a Chinese city?
Without naming a city: short city trips are cheap by European or American standards, and the fare is entirely on the meter. If the number you are asked for is not on the meter, it is not the price.
Read next
- Your First 24 Hours in China: An Arrival Checklist (2026)
- How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreigner (2026 Setup & Payment)
- How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner (2026 Setup & Fees)
Sources
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