Getting a Taxi in Beijing: A Foreign Visitor’s Guide to Taxis and Ride-Hailing

In Beijing, you can take a licensed cruising taxi or book a car through the travel services in Alipay or WeChat, or through a ride-hailing platform with English support. When using ride-hailing, set your pickup and drop-off points first, then check the vehicle model, license plate, and driver information before getting in. To take a cruising taxi, hail one where stopping is permitted. After getting in, make sure the meter is running properly; when you arrive, pay the metered fare and ask for a receipt. Mobile payment is available, but you can also ask the driver in advance whether cash or bank cards are accepted. Allow time for traffic when traveling to an airport or railway station, and save your destination’s Chinese name and address on your phone to make communication easier. Do not use unmarked vehicles soliciting passengers, and consider sharing your trip details with a companion at night.