As foreigner traveling in China, you will often give the

As foreigner traveling in China, you will often give the taxi drivers a big "tip", even though you won't know it.

Outside of the large cities, the taxis do not have meters. You negotiate the price before you start the trip. As a foreigner, you have little idea how much to pay, so you will always end up paying far more than a local person would. Even if you think you've made a good bargain, you are still paying extra.

The taxi drivers also get a "commission" from hotels when they bring a tourist to the hotel. Some drivers are very aggressive about taking you to a hotel that pays them, instead of the hotel you ask for. In Hangzhou I had a taxi take me to the wrong hotel. I then showed him the key to the room in the hotel I was already staying at. (I had my pack with me, so he assumed I had just arrived.)
Posted by chmilar at 2005-01-14 07:42:34
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Top Two Differences in China