Taxis in Shenzhen

Introduction

Shenzhen has 4 different taxis which service different parts of Shenzhen. Some can move freely and some are restricted to specific zones. There are 2 zones in Shenzhen, Inside the Special economic Zone and outside the Special Economic Zone. Below you can find out about these taxis, also their relevant fares and how to deal with bad service or complaints.

Red Taxis

The Red Taxis are taxis that can service any part of the city, whether it is inside the Special Economic Zone and outside the Special Economic Zone. They can move freely within both areas. What this means to the user is you can get into this taxi in Louhu and travel to Bao’An with ease and vice versa.

Red Taxi Fares are as follows:

  • Flag fall: 10rmb for first 2500 meters
  • Travel Rate:
  • Waiting Time:
  • Fuel Surcharge: 2rmb add onto all fare, separate receipt is available.

Yellow Taxis

The Yellow Taxis are taxis that can only service inside the Special Economic Zone. They can only move within this area. They are not allowed to enter outside the Special Economic Zone.

What this means to the user is you can get into this taxi in Louhu but you cannot travel past one of the Special Economic Check points located in Buji, Meilin and Nanshan. A yellow taxi cannot take you to the airport.

Yellow Taxi Fares are as follows

  • Flag fall: 10rmb for first 2500 meters
  • Travel Rate:
  • Waiting Time:
  • Fuel Surcharge: 2rmb add onto all fare; separate receipt is available.
  • The Yellow Taxis are being phased out and will not exist by the middle of 2011.

Green Taxis

The Green taxis are the taxis that can only service outside the Special Economic Zone; they can only move within this area. They are not permitted inside the Special Economic Zone.

What this means to the user is you can get into this taxi in Bao’An or Buji or the Airport but you cannot travel past one of the Special Economic Check points located in Buji, Meilin or Nanshan. A Green taxi can not take you from the Airport to Downtown.

  • Green Taxi Fares are as follows:
  • Flag fall: 7rmb
  • Travel Rate: 1.6rmb
  • Fuel Surcharge: 1rmb add-on to all fare; separate receipt is available.

Eco (or Green) Taxis

BYD has launched a program where is is supporting the Green movement by subsidizing companies who want to run their new BYD electric car.

How to deal with bad taxi service

Generally, in Shenzhen, the taxi services are not up to par with the international standard we have come to expect back home.

If you ever experience a bad situation in a taxi, the best thing to do is to get the receipt from the ride. Once you have this receipt, then you can call the company (Chinese only) and report your complaint using the Taxi ID Number and Fare Identity Number.

If they wont give you the receipt, you may take a photo of the driver’s ID on the dashboard and record the taxi number and do the same with the company name.

Remember, in China always stay calm; getting angry with the Chinese may not be the best solution as possible negotiation will finish in dead-end.

Good to Know

  1. Baoan and Longgang District are not included in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
  2. The night-driving taxi fare is CNY16 for the first three kilometers after 23:00.
  3. Part of Shenzhen taxis can pay by Shenzhen Tong Card which is issued by the government for people to take public inner city transportation. It is mainly used while taking subways and city-buses in the past with some discounts. Recently, some of the taxis accept the payment by this kind of card.
  4. There are not motorcycles operating within the special zone, which can be found outside the zone. You had better not taking them for the sake of safety.
  5. It costs around CNY120 to take taxi from Shenzhen Baoan Airport to Luohu Boarder.
  6. It costs around CNY70 to take taxi from Shenzhen Baoan Airport to the Window of the World
  7. It costs around CNY50 to take taxi from Window of the World to Luohu Boarder.

Sources: wikipedia.com, wikitravel.com, shenzhenstandard.com