Popular tourist attractions - watch your wallets! and other Beijing, China Warning Or Danger Tips

This is an old one, but can still happen to you!
Be really careful when visiting most popular tourist attractions such as Temple of Haeven or Forbidden City. They are also the most common places to get mugged. So NEVER carry your wallet, documents and other important things in front pockets of your rucksack or your bag or in your pockets (even if they have zippers). Put those things somewhere REALLY safe.

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Most common and the cheapest taxis in Beijing are Red Taxis. They are also officially licensed and you can check that by the large license-card with photograph of the driver on the dash-board. They also have the taxi-meter below the license-card and are of a truly trustable Beijing Taxi. Their price differ from 1.20 to 1.40 yuan/km, starting price is 10 yuan (a bit different are prices at night). The rate is displayed on the red license sticker each registered taxi has on a window.
Then you have un-licensed Black Taxis or illegal taxis. They are usually just normal cars, most of the times their windows are shaded (that's why Beijingers call them "Black"). You may find them (or usually they find you) in non-central parts of Beijing and on nightlife hot spots. If you know the approximate price of the ride and then bargain for a price - then you can take it (it is usually even cheaper then the licensed taxi). Otherwise - don't! They will most certainly rip you off.
And then there are pedicabs. They are the cheapest (if you know how to bargain – remember, ALWAYS bargain real hard, when you reach your limit turn around and walk away to make your point – most of the times they will come back after you, otherwise you can always get another around the next corner) but really appropriate just for the short distances.
The only real problem with drivers in Beijing is that chauffeurs usually don't speak English. The easiest way to solve the problem is to get someone to write you down the address in Chinese or to carry a map of Beijing with you.

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Website: http://www.drben.net/TheChinaReporter/Beijing/Beijing-City_Public_Transportation_System/BeijingTaxi-Info.html