Forbidden City Taxi Ride: Got Schooled by a Beijing Cabbie! (You've Been Warned!)
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Wow, I just arrived in Beijing for the first time, and I was immediately scammed by a taxi driver right outside the Forbidden City! It's just maddening!
- We had emerged from the Shenwu Gate, which is the north gate of the Forbidden City, tired and hungry, with the intention of quickly finding somewhere to eat.
- We learned from a local guide that the Dashilɑnr, or Great Wall Street (famous old commercial street), located at the Qianmen District, has more street food and we wanted to taste the Beijing specialty 'expanding tripe'—a dish cooked quickly using beef or lamb stomach that comes out crispy and tender.
- A taxi driver happened to park on the roadside at this moment.
- I climbed into the cab and told him that we were heading towards Qianmen.
- He immediately said: "Oh no, it's really jam-packed over there with gridlocks!"
- Then switched his tone of voice, "I can recommend a great place, we locals often go and it's not far from here, you would only have to pay one base fare!"
(The driver stressed that he was indeed a local with a nearby residence) - I then asked how much it costs per person, to which he replied, "$100 plus?", He further added, "We locals don't even look at the menu, we just place our orders!" (sounds extremely authentic)
- Result:
- Once we reached the restaurant, he demanded 20 yuan ($base fare).
(As visitors, we hardly knew what the base fare in Beijing was!!) - Entering the restaurant, I almost dropped my jaw, as the diners comprised of travelers of various accents with not even a single Beijing native in sight!
- So I asked the table a seat away who had just finished eating, "Excuse me, did the driver refer you here?" And as I expected, they confirmed!
- Just then, a couple entered and said the same, "The driver recommended this place to us as well!"
- I rushed and enquired how much it cost for them to get a taxi from the 'Tian' an Men' nearby. One replied $13, and the other mentioned $14. What gives? How could there be multiple base fares?!
- Once we reached the restaurant, he demanded 20 yuan ($base fare).
- Truly beyond comprehension! We immediately departed, completely ruining the mood.
️ Important reminder: Beware of Scam Taxis! ️- High-risk Locations:
- Be especially cautious about hailing taxis at crowded tourist areas like the north gate of the Forbidden city, namely the Shenwu Gate.
- Schemes Used By Drivers:
- The drivers would use excuses like 'traffic lockdown' or 'impossible to go where you planned due to traffic jams'.
- Then recommend something 'exclusive' to locals and cheap, as well as being a short distance from here - a base fare fee only.
- These so-called 'local restaurants' mostly consist of misled tourists who may pay higher than reasonable for the meals and higher than normal for the taxi fees.
- Prevention Tactics:
- Perseverance with original plans: Ask whether there could be alternatives if drivers tell you it's jam-packed or consider switching to another regulated taxi.
- Use Rideshare App: Applications like 'DiDi', available across China, with clear charges and records, and thus more secure.
- Familiarize Yourself with Base Fares: Know the base fare and charge rules of the taxicab within your city.
- Caution with Recommendations: If the driver zealously recommends a place, especially if he tells you it's somewhere 'locals go,' conduct some extra research prior, such as using a pocket map to check the distance and reviews.
- Get off Taxi When You Have Doubts: If you feel uneasy about the driver before entering the taxi or if you hesitate on the destination, make an excuse and get off early.
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Just don't bother with taxis in Beijing; ride-hailing apps are so much more convenient.
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I've experienced that myself.
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Any driver daring to park and wait for fares around the Forbidden City is definitely not legit. They're not even supposed to stop there...
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That's so true. If they're waiting for passengers near the Forbidden City, they're almost certainly unlicensed cabs.
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Can you really trust what ride-hailing drivers say? I'd recommend Siji Minfu near the Temple of Heaven.
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Never heard of 'Siji Mingfu,' only 'Siji Minfu.' For open-oven roast duck, I'd recommend Quanjude (Hepingmen branch), Beiping Shengshi, Jingweizhai, Da Yali, and others. For the closed-oven style, Bianyifang is the place to go.
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What a total rip-off! That awful restaurant hasn't even been open a year. The Doumanjiang Korean BBQ next door has been around for over twenty years; that's the spot where locals actually go.
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Same scam, same shop today. Luckily, I checked the reviews right after sitting down and got out of there.
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Definitely avoid taxis that are parked and waiting for passengers; they're practically scammers, and never take their recommendations. It's like this in every city. Last time we went to the Qingxi Mausoleums, we paid for a licensed guide. We drove, she rode with us, and her commentary was absolute rubbish. Then she just kept pushing us to go to this banquet or that feast. When we insisted on not going, she got all sulky.
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If it's a legitimate taxi, you should just file a complaint.
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Shouldn't you check a review app first?
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Let me put it this way: Beijing locals rarely take taxis because they're such a rip-off; watching that meter climb is heartbreaking. Just use a ride-hailing app. Don't go to places recommended by taxi drivers like that; they get a kickback if you spend money there. I had the same experience in Hangzhou: the taxi driver would try every trick in the book to persuade you and take you to a silk shop. It's usually not far from your actual destination, but they'll drive you straight to a nearby silk store instead.