Getting a taxi in Beijing
Getting a taxi in Beijing is extremely easy, as there are over 67,000 taxis roaming around the streets 24/7. Beijing taxis are usually two-toned, usually featuring a yellow stripe with a dark maroon or green top, and all have a ‘TAXI’ sign on top, so they are easy to see in the street. Your taxi fare in Beijing will be calculated using a taximeter based on distance. Taxi rates in Beijing are usually quite low; however, due to the long distances you will likely need to travel, they can quickly add up.
You can easily get a Beijing taxi service by hailing one in the street, walking to a taxi rank, calling a phone dispatch taxi, or using a Beijing taxi app. For important rides with flexibility, such as your Beijing Airport transfer, you can also pre-book your rides in advance through a private company.
With so many taxis operating throughout the city, it’s important to only travel with official taxi drivers. Be sure to check for the “B” prefix on their license plate and a clear ID matching the driver in the car.
Hand picked & english speaking drivers
Same price as a regular Taxi from the line
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WHAT ARE BEIJING TAXI PRICES?
| Taxi prices | Day time (05:00 - 24:00) | Night time (00:00 - 05:00) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROM BEIJING AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER | 18 € | 23 € | 40 MIN |
| FROM BEIJING AIRPORT TO GREAT WALL OF CHINA | 27 € | 30 € | 50 MIN |
| FROM CITY CENTER TO OLYMPIC VILLAGE | 6 € | 7.50 € | 19 MIN |
| FROM CITY CENTER TO SUMMER PALACE | 8 € | 10 € | 35 MIN |
| FROM TEMPLE OF HEAVEN TO FORBIDDEN CITY | 7 € | 8.75 € | 23 MIN |
What's the taxi rate in Beijing?
Taking a taxi around the city center of Beijing is very affordable compared to many other Chinese cities, however, they do become more expensive the further you travel. Your Beijing taxi fare will be calculated using a taximeter based on both time and distance. You will also be charged an additional 20% per kilometer when traveling at night (23:00 to 05:00). You can expect your Beijing taxi price to be calculated as follows:
- Base fare (including 3 km): €1.60 (RMB 13)
- Price per km day: €0.29 (RMB 2.30)
- Price per km night: €0.35 (RMB 2.76)
For example, taking a taxi from Beijing Airport to the city will take 40 minutes and will cost €18 (RMB 150) during the day and €23 (RMB 180) at night. The 50-minute journey from Beijing Airport to the Great Wall of China will cost around €27 (RMB 220) during the day and €30 (RMB 250) at night.
For long-distance rides, you will also be charged an extra 50% per kilometer after the first 15 km.
Finally, travellers should know that carpooling is not only allowed but also encouraged in this capital, due to the city’s environmentally friendly policy. In an effort to decongest the busy streets, Beijing taxi companies accept taxi-sharing. In that case, 40% of the normal fare is charged for each passenger.
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How to get a taxi in Beijing
The transportation industry is very well developed in Beijing, thus, you can easily get a Beijing taxi pretty much everywhere. There are several ways to pick up a taxi in Beijing. You can hail a taxi in the street or easily spot official taxi ranks outside airport terminals, major hotels, train stations, and at many locations scattered around the city (most commonly near major landmarks or touristic areas).
If there are no vehicles near the taxi stands, you can call a phone dispatch taxi company or use a Beijing taxi app. Pre-booking important journeys, such as your Beijing Airport transfer, is also a great option.
How to get a taxi from Beijing Airport
There are currently two terminals in operation at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): T2 and T3. If you land in Terminal 2, you will see the line of taxis waiting outside Gates 5 to 9 on level 1F. For Terminal 3, the taxi rank is located just outside the Arrivals Hall. These ranks are open 24 hours a day, and the taxis will use a meter to calculate your fare. You can expect to pay around €18 (RMB 150) during the day and €23 (RMB 180) at night when taking a Beijing Airport taxi to the city center.
How to get a taxi from Beijing Railway Station
The central Beijing Railway Station is located between Jianguomen and Chongwenmen in the Eastern Second Ring Road of Beijing. The train station has a taxi rank that is located to the left of the main exit doors. This taxi rank is open 24 hours, however, it’s easiest to find taxis during the hours of 05:00 to 01:00. All taxis from this rank will use a taximeter to calculate the cost of your ride.
Using a taxi app in Beijing
If you’re traveling at night or want to avoid walking around the busy city streets looking for a taxi, using a Beijing taxi app is a convenient alternative. There are a few different options available, with DiDi, My China Taxi App, and Meituan Taxi being the most popular.
Although Beijing taxi apps are available 24/7, there can be long wait times and price spikes during peak hours. To avoid this, we suggest pre-booking your rides with a trusted company such as Welcome Pickups.
Calling a taxi in Beijing number
If you’re dealing with spotty Wi-Fi, you can choose to have your hotel or restaurant call a taxi for you. As most phone dispatch officers don’t speak English, calling a taxi in Beijing number yourself isn’t advised; however, if you do, the following are the most trusted: +86 10 96103 or +86 10 96106.
Individual taxi stands around the city also have their own numbers. The first two numbers refer to the specific district (for example, 01 stands for Dongcheng District, 02 for Xicheng District, 03 for Chaoyang District), while the last 4 digits are the numbers of that particular taxi stand.
Benefits of booking a Beijing taxi in advance
Although local Beijing taxis are available 24 hours a day, their fluctuating prices and long wait times can become frustrating. Miscommunication is also very common in Beijing, as not all drivers speak fluent English.
Pre-booking your Beijing taxi service with a trusted company such as Welcome Pickups will eliminate these worries. All Welcome drivers are polite, helpful, and have advanced English and communication skills. We also offer competitive fixed-fare rides, guaranteed on-time pickups at the location of your choosing, and have a 24-hour customer service line.
So book your door-to-door taxi service with Welcome and enjoy Beijing to the fullest during a curated ride in China’s most colorful capital.
Beijing taxi tips
- Some drivers in Beijing can speak a little English, but most cannot. When picking up a taxi in Beijing, we suggest that you show your driver your destination on Google Maps.
- Try to avoid ‘black taxis’ as these aren’t official and have very high rates.
- Some Beijing taxi drivers may try to offer a fixed rate. It’s best to refuse this, as it’s usually higher than a taximeter rate.
- To make sure you avoid any hidden charges, you can ask the driver to turn on the taximeter at the beginning of the ride, and request a receipt when leaving the taxi.
- Please bear in mind that under no circumstances are you allowed to smoke in a Beijing taxi.
- Traveling at night will incur a 20% higher fare per km.
- You can pay for your taxi either in cash or via a Beijing Transportation Smart Card, Wechat, Alipay and UnionPay. However, international credit cards are not usually accepted.
- Pre-booking your Beijing taxi service will give you the peace of mind of guaranteed on-time pickups, hand-picked local drivers, competitive fixed-rate fares, English-speaking drivers, and 24/7 customer support.
Wheelchair accessible taxi in Beijing
There are vehicles available in Beijing that are specially designed for people with disabilities. In fact, ever since the Paralympics, Beijing has installed 70 ‘special taxis’ which can accommodate wheelchair users.
The rates for these wheelchair-accessible taxis will be the same as regular taxis, and you can book by calling +86 68 373399. Keep in mind that you will need to book this service at least 2 hours in advance.
Beijing taxi safety and complaints
Beijing taxi drivers are polite, professional, and always willing to help travelers. However, you may encounter vehicles that are non-official taxis and more often than not, try to overcharge passengers, especially tourists who are not familiar with the taxi system of Beijing.
To avoid this, make sure to only travel in official two-tone taxis with a “B” at the beginning of their license plate, and request a receipt before exiting the cab. If you think you may have been overcharged, we urge you to note down the license plate and head to the local police department to make a complaint.