Taxis

Phone for taxi complaints: 96520
Phone to summon a taxi: 0574-8789-0890 (Chinese only)

The base fare for taxis in Ningbo is ¥9 for the first 3km and ¥1 for 0.5km.
After 11pm, this increases to ¥9.80 for the first 3km, and ¥1 for 0.3km.

Always enter a taxi from the passenger side. Both doors on the driver's side will not open. Around 5 - 6pm every evening, the daytime taxi drivers finish work, and the evening taxi drivers begin. It is difficult to get a taxi at this time, because the daytime taxi drivers do not want more passengers. It is a frustrating experience, if you can't avoid it. Hotels are always a good place to get a taxi during this time. Seat belts in taxis are sometimes inaccessible, so be careful. Always get a receipt! [Chinese language: Fa(1) piao(4) 发票] Make it a habit, even if you don't need the receipt for business purposes. The receipt identifies the taxi, the time and the date. If you forget an item in the taxi, or the taxi driver gives you counterfeit money in change, you can identify him.

There are several types of taxis in Ningbo:

• Red taxis. These are the older taxis, and not very clean. Volkswagen Santana. Few of these are left in Ningbo.
• Yellow taxis. These are the newer taxis, mostly Volkswagen Santana 3000. An average local taxi.
• Green taxis. Also new, mostly Volkswagen GL and Santana 3000. Some green taxis are Volkswagen Passats, very nice.
• Blue taxis. Same as the green taxis. The Passat is the best taxi model.
• Blue truck taxis. These are mostly for transporting cargo, though you can take one as a passenger if you wish. The base fare is ¥12, but if you are a passenger, you can negotiate the fare down to ¥9.
• White taxis. These are luxury Audi A6 taxis. They are more expensive, the base fare is ¥15. Typically they can only be found at 5-star hotels or at the airport. They are usually avoided due to the extra expense.

IMPORTANT WARNING! Recently, the taxi drivers at the airport will attempt to overcharge you. The white Audi taxis are especially bad. Insist that the driver use the meter. If there is not a taxi meter visible, get out of the taxi. The driver will tell you that it costs ¥80 - ¥100 to go to the city - this is not true! The real cost is about ¥30 - ¥40. Get the taxi driver's license number (located on the front passenger side) and call 96520 to complain.

Usually, there is no problem with taxis in the city, only at the airport. Local taxi drivers can be very honest, they will return lost mobile phones, purses, wallets, and even cash. It is only the "bad apples" at the airport who are dishonest.