The Common Mistake That Will Cost You When Catching A Taxi At A Chinese Airport

The food, the temples, the teahouses, the modern buildings — China offers endless unforgettable sights and experiences for visitors. But before you begin exploring and immersing yourself in the vibrant culture, you'll most likely start your journey at the airport, where you'll have to work out how to get to your hotel. We don't want to sound dramatic, but the decision you make could significantly impact your entire trip.

Like in many other destinations, you should pay attention to airport scams while visiting China, particularly when looking for a ride. Getting into a black taxi — the name for an unofficial taxi driven by a shady scammer — can leave a taste in your mouth more sour than the vinegar in hot and sour soup. Often, the biggest giveaway a taxi is unlicensed is that the driver or a representative for the taxi approaches you, pressuring you to accept their ride. Trustworthy taxis will often use a ride-hailing app or simply pull into the taxi stand to find passengers. Scammers may also try to negotiate the cost of the journey until you settle for their offer, and then they charge more once they reach your destination. Simply put, one of the many things you should never do when visiting China as a tourist is agree to ride in a black taxi.

The main concern when accepting a ride from an unofficial taxi driver in China is that they will overcharge you for the journey. In these cases, it's not unusual to be charged double or even triple the standard cost. This can quickly sink your travel budget and leave you with less money for hot pot and silk souvenirs, leave a decidedly bad taste in your mouth.

Unfortunately, the scams don't always stop there. If you pay with cash, some sneaky drivers will take your bills and swap them with counterfeit ones. They may, for instance, claim your note is fake and hand it back to you, demanding a different one. But when they hand the note back, they're actually giving you a counterfeit bill they had stashed in their pocket or beside their seat, and they kept your original (authentic) one.

Another taxi scam involves the driver dropping you off and purposely driving away with your luggage. They may even come up with an elaborate story to pull this trick off, such as claiming their car has broken down and asking you to get out and help push it. Once you're outside the vehicle and they're back in the driver's seat, they make their getaway with your bags inside.

One of the easiest ways to avoid taxi scams at airports in China is to use only the official taxi stand or a well-known ride-share app, such as DiDi, to catch a ride. However, this strategy isn't the only way to protect yourself. Before entering the car, confirm the taxi driver has a meter and that their vehicle is outfitted with an official license plate (this can vary by city, so research your destination's taxis in advance).

There also shouldn't be anyone else in the car besides the driver. Sometimes, a second person may pose as a stranger needing a ride when they're in on the scam and only there to pressure you into coughing up more money later. In other instances, they're working with the driver, helping to put your bags in the trunk and collect your payment at the end. But similar to the first scenario, their main function is to facilitate the scam.

Once you've accepted a taxi ride, remain vigilant until the end. Have a mapping app ready on your phone to make sure the driver isn't taking the scenic (read: the longer and more expensive) route. Baidu is one option that works locally in China. Once the ride is complete, the driver should accept contactless payments, not only cash. Paying with WeChat or AliPay can be safer than handling physical notes. Finally, if you use DiDi, verify that the driver completes the trip at your destination to avoid overpaying.