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  4. Hangzhou Taxis: JUST. DON'T. DO. IT!!!

Hangzhou Taxis: JUST. DON'T. DO. IT!!!

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Madeline Hermann III
    wrote last edited by
    #1

    Hangzhou Taxis: JUST. DON'T. DO. IT!!! 2

    Hangzhou Taxis: JUST. DON'T. DO. IT!!! 1

    Hello, everyone! I had a trip to Hangzhou recently and had some experiences that have to be shared with all of you, especially for those who are going there for the first time!

    • While staying at Mandarin Oriental Hotel by West Lake, the location was really great.
    • Planning to try "LouWaiLou" restaurant on the shore of the lake (this famous place is renowned in Hangzhou), we were able to take a taxi straight from the hotel lobby.
      • It is surprisingly nearby: just a couple kilometers from Mandarin Oriental to LouWaiLou.
      • On the way, my friend suggested trying a local delicacy,"DongPo pork", which is slow-cooked with wine and soy sauce, and extremely aromatic!
      • The driver echoed happily about how delicious DongPo pork can be, while also complaining about not-so-good reviews of another local delicacy, "KaoHua Chicken".
    • Approaching the West Lake, I casually asked the driver, "What kind of flowers are blooming around the West Lake?"
      • The reply was something like, "I drive a taxi. I am not obligated to serve as a tour guide." I felt slightly awkward then.
    • There was moderate traffic on the journey that day, taking around fifteen minutes to get from the hotel to LouWaiLou.
      • My friend appeared more excited and took the lead to step off the car first.
      • Then, asking the driver how much it was, he turned off the meter without showing the actual number.
      • He then said, "Including the introduction fee, pay me 100 yuan".

    Looking back now, more and more doubts arise over the experience! All he did at that moment was saying it was not his responsibility to be a guide.

    !! Important reminder !!

    • Watch out for "introduction fee":
      • Problem: Some drivers may ask for this fee, which is beyond meter display, once you start asking questions or they initiate further chats.
      • Solution: During the taxi ride, if the driver starts talking enthusiastically, listen politely but only pay the amount shown on the meter display later. If there comes another fee, claim to make a complaint to the police or request an invoice (invoice/receipt).
    • Watch out for the meter:
      • Problem: Some drivers would deliberately turn off the meter during the whole journey or ask for an unnecessary high price when you get down without meter display.
      • Solution: First of all, confirm that the driver has started the meter up before taking the cab. If you spot him turning it off midway, point out immediately. And remember his license plate if you can.
    • When you feel cheated:
      • This whole process felt very much like I was being taken advantage of while being a non-local visitor with little travel experience.
      • Suggestion: Stay vigilant against such possible scams while taking taxi in Hangzhou. Alternatively, using Didi or other ride-sharing apps may sound safer with more transparent pricing.

    I hope my experience can make you well-informed. Travelling happily is definitely the topmost, but keeping one’s guard up is still important!

    #HangzhouTaxi #HangzhouTravel #WestLake

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    • D Offline
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      Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert
      wrote last edited by
      #2

      Then you should file a complaint through the 'Zheli Ban' (Zhejiang government service) app and submit your payment proof. As long as it wasn't an illegal taxi, they should be able to track down the driver.

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      • M Offline
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        Marion Barrows
        wrote last edited by
        #3

        A hundred yuan isn't a lot, but I just don't want others to fall into the same trap.

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        • M Offline
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          Mattie Lockman
          wrote last edited by
          #4

          Nice story. You could just change the city name and keep pumping these out.

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            Madeline Hermann III
            wrote last edited by
            #5

            I absolutely didn't make this up. I have a payment screenshot.

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            • D Offline
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              Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert
              wrote last edited by
              #6

              You should call 12345 to file a complaint. With a payment record, they can definitely track it down.

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              • M Offline
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                Ms. Wanda Kilback
                wrote last edited by
                #7

                It's been a while, can I still do that?

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                • J Offline
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                  Jermaine Satterfield
                  wrote last edited by
                  #8

                  Did you get the license plate number? Try to recall the time and location. If you call 12345, they'll transfer you to the transport authorities for the scenic area.

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                  • K Offline
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                    Karen Zulauf
                    wrote last edited by
                    #9

                    Hangzhou taxis have driver ID cards displayed. There are voice prompts during payment, and they even announce the complaint hotline. Taxis provide machine-printed receipts; even if they turn off the meter mid-trip, a receipt can still be issued. Even if you were too afraid to ask for one, you could have photographed the license plate when you got out. At the very least, if you felt scammed, you could have called the police and asked them to check surveillance footage! You did none of that and now you're spinning this story? Do you think online observers these days are that gullible? Even if you genuinely didn't manage to do any of those things at the time, you could have posted on Xiaohongshu (XHS) as soon as you got back to your hotel. So why post from a different IP address?

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                    • R Offline
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                      Reginald Ziemann
                      wrote last edited by
                      #10

                      He turned that off at the time, and I didn't notice. It was also very late when I got back to the hotel. I don't consider a hundred yuan a huge amount of money, I just don't want others to make the same mistake.

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                      • M Offline
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                        Marion Barrows
                        wrote last edited by
                        #11

                        Normally, even tourists wouldn't just pay that 100 yuan without questioning it.

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                          Misty Anderson DDS
                          wrote last edited by
                          #12

                          Because I was scared, and frankly, a bit naive.

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                            Rosemarie Sawayn PhD
                            wrote last edited by
                            #13

                            Report it to the police and file a complaint against him. Even though many taxi drivers aren't from Hangzhou, since he's operating here, we can't let one person tarnish the city's image. I always take taxis in Hangzhou, rarely use ride-hailing apps, and I've never experienced anything like what you described. So, since this happened to you, don't let him get away with it. You can use your payment proof to file a complaint on the 'Zheli Ban' platform.

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                              Theresa Sporer
                              wrote last edited by
                              #14

                              I don't know what Hangzhou taxis did to you for you to smear them like this.

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                                Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert
                                wrote last edited by
                                #15

                                If anything I've said is untrue, I'm willing to face legal consequences. This is the truth.

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                                  Barry Kuphal
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Why post today and not a few days ago? Why didn't you report it to the police at the time, but are posting on Xiaohongshu now?

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                                  • I Offline
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                                    Israel Koss
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Because I was on a business trip and was very busy. What I said is absolutely true.

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