Taxis in Shenzhen
In Shenzhen there are three types of taxi - red, green, and yellow. The red ones are allowed to go everywhere, the yellow ones just within the downtown city limits, and the green ones have to stay outside the SEZ checkpoints. The most numerous are red taxis, with a flag fall of 12.50 RMB
You will also see numerous lost taxis from Dongguan and Guangzhou, and if looking to bargain a cheaper ride, there are plenty of private hire cars (i.e. illegal taxis) which will oblige.
In contrast with the stricter rules in Hong Kong, with all taxis in Shenzhen you can usually bargain a lower price off the meter, for long journeys or trips after midnight.
Shenzhen Taxi Facts and Figures:
- There are 73 taxi companies in Shenzhen.
- 68 of these operate almost all of the taxis in the city - currently (2006) 10,305 of them
- Each taxi usually has two assigned drivers so the car can be kept running 24/7
- The evening changeover for the taxi drivers occurs between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, yes, exactly the time everyone in the city needs a taxi to go home - grrrrr
Filed under: Shenzhen Info —