Taxis

Taxis in China are similar to those in other countries. You can wave down a taxi on most streets. While you can call a taxi by phone, it’s not very common.

At airports and train stations, you’ll find taxi waiting areas. Just line up, tell the driver where you’re going, and you’re good to go. You can pay with cash or digital payment, but remember, drivers might not have change.

Car-hailing( 网约车, wǎng yuē chē ) apps are even easier. Set up Alipay, use the taxi service feature, enter your destination (you can type it in pinyin), and wait for your ride to arrive. The payment happens after the ride.

Notes:

• Always check the car’s license plate before getting in. Green license plates are for electric cars, which are very common.
• Taxis in China are cheaper than in many other countries. If you’re not on a tight budget, using a taxi will make your trip much easier.
• Be mindful of peak hours in major cities, as it can take 3-4 times longer to reach your destination.
• If you’ve used Uber Taxi before, the process is similar. At airports and train stations, car-hailing pick-up areas are usually in parking lots, so it might take a bit of time to find them.
• Locals often use apps like DiDi(App Store, Play Store), which not only offer car-hailing but also let you rent bikes directly from the app. However, you’ll need a local phone number to use these services. Actually, Alipay integrates with DiDi as the service provider for car-hailing services.