Taxi start rate for the first 3 kms is 10 Yuan.(Beijing). In other cities the start rate is cheaper: Chengdu 5 Yuan, Guilin 7 Yuan, Kunming 8 Yuan and Shanghai 9 Yuan.

Per additional kilometer between 1-2 Yuan will be added. In the evening and at night the prices are a bit higher.

A daytime taxi ride from the Beijing airport to downtown Beijing should cost you between 80 and 100 Yuan (summer 2007). Besides the name of the hotel and the address, it is a good help to show the taxi driver a map with the location of the hotel (printed from the internet or a travel book).

At airports, becarefull with people who approach you in the arrival hall and tell you that they are taxi drivers. Don't go with them because you probably will be overcharged and pay several times the regular fare.

On the airport, the official taxis are outside. In Beijing, just line up in the queue. When it's your turn, an official will show you a suitable taxi. Our hotel was close to Tianman Square and we paid 98 Yuan for this one way trip. (around 13 USD)

Allways pay attention that the meter is running when you leave. When you have arrived at your destination, the taxi driver will put the sign "taxi for hire" back up and a receipt is then automatically printed.