Not really dangerous but a culture shock. Firstly taxi drivers (if you get one from Beijng Airport ) if they know your are foreign, will try and be very helpful and carry your bags to their car in order to make you feel welcome. Then they will try and make you pay an extortinate amount from the airport to town ( I was asked to pay €150 which is ten times the normal price, or the equivalent in Yuan, his selling point being that he and his partner worked very hard, had a nice cab and brought my bags to it). The solution to deal with this is to get out of the car and take your bags, and to be EXTREMELY persistant, along with telling them that they are a digrace to their nation if they refuse to listen or acquiese. This way the potential loss of a client is something they wish to avoid as they lose your far and lose face, thus willing to make concessions and tip the balance in your favour. I am happy to pay about €1.50 per mile and its about 10 miles from the airport to the city so bargain below that until they come up to the total.
Also on my trip into the city my cab driver was zipping back and forth between ONCOMING traffic, so ensure your nerves are strengthened up. You wont get killed, but you might feel close to your maker!
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on Jun 5, 2004
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