Question

Asked by Ms.Kathy from australia | Feb. 28, 2009 06:20

About:Xian Travel

Be careful with Xian taxi drivers. The taxi driver who we hired to drive us from the airport used the meter but drove us a much longer way than necessary to the hotel. The next afternoon it seemed all the taxi drivers were refusing to take passengers. We saw people holding out money and one woman on her knees begging a taxi driver to take her. When we finally did get a taxi to stop for us, he then refused to take us to our hotel, but quickly changed his mind when we started to get out. He also drove us much further than necessary to get to the hotel.

We had been going to catch a taxi to the airport, but decided that the airport shuttle was a much better option. It was certainly much cheaper!

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Answers (3)

Answered by Ms.Jessy | Mar. 01, 2009 08:11

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I'm sorry for that. That's a shame on the city as it is famous for its tourism. But I think that just not all the drivers. there always have good man and bad man everywhere in the world.

But thank you for advising others. As a native here, I'd like to give some tips.
1.the taxi drivers refuse to take the passange: it often happened in the afternoon ,around 3-5 clock pm, because in Xi'an, most taxi has 2 drivers, each of them worked for 12 hours, so the time above is the right time for them to shift work. they always meet at a certain place. so at that time ,if you are on the way of their shifting point, so ,you're lucky, otherwise, you will be refused and have to wait. that's a trouble for the native too, I have no way to solve but to explain to you. and most of the drivers do not know English, I think that's also one of the reasons that why they refuse to take you, they are nervouse for they don't know how to communicate with foreigners.

2.most of the drivers are kind and honest, they use the meter and charge for a reasonable price. in case that you meet a bad guy unfortunately, you have the right to ask for the invoice, and there's a tel. for complainning and once confirmed, the driver will be pay twice the fare for you.

it's better to hire one taxi for all you jouney in one city, which will lessen the trouble.

the local goveners are taking many methods to prove the tourism service quantity in every parts.

welcome back to Xi'an ,I'm sure you'll have a nice trip then.

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Answered by Ms.Kathy | Mar. 02, 2009 17:33

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I've been thinking about your explanation Ms Jessy. I don't think it excuses the taxi drivers in Xi'an.

I have caught many taxis during my stay in China, in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Qingdao and Guangzhou. None of the drivers has spoken English. I have had excellent service everywhere except in Xi'an.

I do not think your explanation that the drivers are afraid of communicating with foreigners is valid. We did think it was that until we saw all the locals being refused service too.

Using the meter does not guarantee good service. Both of the taxi drivers we used in Xi'an used the meter.

This is definitely an area that the local governors would be able to make a significant improvement in tourism.

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Answered by Ms.Jessy | Mar. 03, 2009 03:25

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Thank you for pointing out their mistakes.

My explain is not to expulcate the drivers from their mistakes. They do refuse to take the passangers during the shifting time, for they just want to save time. So the people who's destination is on the opposite way of their shifting point is quite unlucky.

You are right, it's the very time for the local governors to take actions. Beeing a citizen here,I'm looking forward to see the change.

There's a Chinese saying which means that the effective medicine always tastes bitter. Thank you again for your criticize.

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