By Taxi in Shanghai

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By Taxi

Taxis are plentiful, easy to spot, and by far the most comfortable way to get around Shanghai, though increasing traffic means they're not always the fastest. Almost all are Volkswagen Santanas or Passats, and they come in a rainbow of colors, which reflect the company they work for. These include teal (Dazhong; most locals' first choice), green (Bashi), yellow (Qiangsheng), red (Premium cab), dark blue (Blue Union), and white (Jinjiang). All are metered.

There's a base fee of Y11 for the first 3 km (2 mi), then Y2 per km for the first 10 km (6 mi), then Y3 per kilometer thereafter. After 10 PM the base fee goes up to Y14, and there's a 20% surcharge per kilometer. You also pay for waiting time in traffic. Tipping is unheard of -- indeed most taxi drivers return even the smallest change. In compact central Shanghai, outrageous traffic drags out otherwise short cab rides.

Drivers usually know the terrain well, but as most don't speak English, having your destination written in Chinese is a good idea. (Keep a card with the name of your hotel on it handy for the return trip.) Hotel doormen can also help you tell the driver where you're going. It's a good idea to study a map and have some idea where you are, as some drivers will take you for a ride -- a much longer one -- if they think they can get away with it.

Taxi Companies

Centralized Taxi Reservations (Chinese only. 021/96965). Dazhong Taxi Company (021/96222). Jinjiang Taxi (Chinese only. 021/96961). Qiangsheng Taxi (Chinese only. 021/6258-0000). Shanghai Taxi Authority (021/6323-2150).