Taxis

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

The base fare for taxis in Ningbo is ¥10 for the first 3.5km and ¥2 for each kilometer thereafter. From 11pm to 5am, the fare increases to add ¥0.4/km regardless of the distance traveled. Thus, for a 5.5km trip at midnight, it would cost ¥10(for 3.5km) + ¥0.4X5.5 + ¥4(¥2X2km) = ¥16.2.

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 two types of taxis in Ningbo:

• Ordinary taxis. These are yellow, green, and blue. Mostly Volkswagen GL and Santana 3000. Few of Ningbo's pre-2005 red taxis remain.
• 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.
• The dreaded double-price white Audi taxis have been removed.

When taking a taxi from the airport, insist that the driver use the meter. If there is not a taxi meter visible, get out of the taxi. If the driver tells you that it costs ¥100 to go to the city - this is not true! The real cost is about ¥50. Get the taxi driver's license number (located on the front passenger side) and call 96520 to complain.

Local taxi drivers can be very honest, they will return lost mobile phones, purses, wallets, and even cash.