Mannerisms 1

Trying to get on the train? Running late? Worried about getting to point b on time? 

Ya, trying to get on the train but at the same time staying alive!

When you are getting on the train the first few times, your concern is whether or not you are going to get on alive. 

Once you are on the train it's not dangerous or bad, just super crowded. The train here stops running at 7 or 8ish (19:00 or 20:00) so people rush to make it home before they have to cab. 

Cabs are a whole different ball game. They can be super cheap and use the meter or they can be super expensive and be a flat rate. Some drivers speak a lot of English while others are just familiar with numbers and ripping you off to cover their cost. 

The best thing to do for price is always take a motorcycle taxi. Of course you won't be able to be going from ikea or metro to your place because of the lack their of storage space, but for short or small luggage trips they are cheap. Keep in mind china gets chilly in October, only gets colder until probably March? Not sure, but I'm sure I'll write about it in the future :) for me, the wind chill and winter don't bother me :p 

Summer is a great time to take motorcycle taxis though, unless you have many items and going greater distance.

Taxis in bugger cities will start a meter and begin at 10 RMB in which they go up insignificantly every 2 blocks or so. Cabs are great if you are out if smokes and need one in between trips, they know you are paying more than you need to and they smoke. They will gladly give you one of you ask. You smoke, so will they :p

What you need to be weary of, are black taxis, not because your life is in danger but because your money will not be well spent, they have more comfortable cars and nicer looking as well nice cigarettes but it's significantly more expensive, they also usually speak more English or at the very least understand it, if they say they don't, they are playing you for more money. 

A trip with a black taxi is more appealing to travellers and forgieners so sometimes they will say a number without the currency, in which you agree because you are surprised at how incredibly heap it is, as you approach the destination they ask for payment, you hand them it in RMB and they are furious, they will start to show their English, but you had a deal, of you have RMB in your wallet you will not be a target or held accountable for your ignorance. I recently had a run in like this one day with the girlfriend and a friend. We were approach by a taxi at a shopping centre, they asked us where we were going, showed him the business card to the hotel we were staying at for the weekend and then he offers 20 in Chinese (ar-shi) without saying currency, they asked if we were American (miguay) as we were driving. Now, while living here you are used to everyone trading RMB currency, so when they say a number, especially in Chinese...bahahaha this fool thought he was getting 20 American dollars! Boy how he suffered dearly for his rudeness. He got 25 RMB, do the conversion and you will laugh as well.

So ya, taxis that are blue and white or orange and green. Good deal, unless they ask you flat rate, usually you pay flat rate when travelling from district to district, so example, dalian to jinshitan can cost anywhere from 150-200. The reason for this is because the meter will not cover the trip at a fair rate for the driver, the driver would need to drive back to the pick up when he is aware that where you are going, he may not find another date in that area on the return trip. If the roads are open as well, they speed and the time is not how the meter goes up, usually....it's the distance, but if you come across a time meter, well you can understand the unfairness. 

Yes, all taxi fares regardless of the vehicle or place is negotiable. Yes, sometimes they will pick up other fares with you and yes sometimes they will transfer fares with other cabs which will still get you to where you are going. 

If you find a private driver, you will notice that their prices vary on time of the day and time needed for or number of stops and usually they are pretty fair, usually you find them through friends of friends and it's usually a fleet, so you won't always get same driver but the important part is you are safe and they know where they are going. :)

Well if you need more information, email more or read on. I'm sure I'll write more as time goes on. :)

Cheers!

Carm