Shanghai Taxi Guide: Fares, Apps, and Scam Prevention
Everything you need to know about Shanghai taxis. Fare tables, DiDi tips, foreign card payment, and how to avoid common scams.
Shanghai Taxi Basics
Shanghai taxis run 24/7. You can hail them on the street or book via app.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Major Companies | Dazhong (大众), Qiangsheng (强生), Jinjiang (锦江), Haibo, Bashi |
| Colors | Light blue (Dazhong), Orange+Green (Qiangsheng), White (Jinjiang) |
Fare Table (2026)
Base Fares
| Type | Flag Fall (first 3km) |
|---|---|
| Regular Taxi (Day) | ¥14 |
| Electric Taxi (Day) | ¥16 |
| Regular Taxi (Night 23:00-05:00) | ¥18 |
| Suburban Taxi | ¥11 |
Additional Charges
| Distance | Day Rate | Night Rate (+30%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-15km | ¥2.7/km | ¥3.5/km |
| 15km+ | ¥4/km | ¥5.2/km |
| Waiting (per 4 min) | ¥2.7 | ¥2.7 |
Surcharges
| Occasion | Extra |
|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | +¥10 |
| Labor Day/National Day | +¥5 |
| Peak hour surge | Up to 5% |
| Phone booking (Dazhong) | ¥4 |
Estimated Fares
| Route | Est. Fare |
|---|---|
| 5km in city | ¥35-45 |
| 10km in city | ~¥70 |
| 20km in city | ~¥120 |
| Pudong Airport → People’s Square | ¥160-200 (day) |
| Hongqiao Airport → People’s Square | ¥70-100 |
Payment Methods
Foreign Card Tap (Since 2024!)
Dazhong Taxi has 2,000+ vehicles equipped for foreign card tap payment.
| Card | Supported |
|---|---|
| Visa | ✅ |
| Mastercard | ✅ |
| American Express | ✅ |
| JCB | ✅ |
| Diners Club | ✅ |
| UnionPay | ✅ |
💡 Look for foreign card logo stickers on the taxi
All Taxis Accept
| Method | Supported |
|---|---|
| Alipay/WeChat Pay QR | ✅ (scan driver’s QR) |
| Cash | ✅ (change for ¥100 or less) |
| DiDi app payment | ✅ (auto-charged) |
⚠️ If paying cash, watch for fake bill switch scams. Electronic payment is safer.
How to Get a Taxi
Option 1: Street Hailing
- Look for green “空车” (vacant) sign
- Wave to signal
- Tell destination in Chinese or show address on phone
- Say “请打表” (qǐng dǎ biǎo) - “Please use the meter!”
- Pay meter fare on arrival
Pros: Meter rate (no surge pricing) Cons: Hard to find during rush hour/night, drivers may refuse certain destinations
Option 2: DiDi App (Highly Recommended!)
DiDi (滴滴) is China’s Uber. 100% English support!
Pros:
- 24/7 availability
- English interface
- Driver info recorded (safety)
- Enter destination in English
- No cash needed
Cons:
- Surge pricing at peak times (1.5-2x)
- Requires internet
DiDi (滴滴) Complete Guide
App Setup
- Download “DiDi” from App Store/Google Play
- Sign up with your foreign phone number (no Chinese number needed!)
Payment Methods
| Method | Supported |
|---|---|
| Visa | ✅ |
| Mastercard | ✅ |
| JCB | ✅ |
| American Express | ✅ |
| Discover | ✅ |
| Apple Pay | ✅ |
| Alipay | ✅ |
| WeChat Pay | ✅ |
Service Types
| Service | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Express (快车) | Most common, regular cars | 💰 |
| Express Pool | Carpooling | Cheapest |
| Premier (礼橙专车) | Premium vehicles | 💰💰💰 |
| Premier 6-Seater | SUV, for luggage | Premium |
| Taxi (出租车) | Official taxis | Meter rate |
How to Use
- Open app → Enter destination (English OK)
- Choose service type (Express recommended)
- Check estimated fare
- Adjust pickup location
- Tap Confirm
- After match: Check license plate, driver photo
- Before boarding: Verify driver’s face matches photo
- Auto-payment on arrival
DiDi Safety Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🚨 Emergency button | Direct 110 police connection |
| 📍 Trip sharing | Real-time location to friends/family |
| 📞 Number masking | Your phone number hidden from driver |
| 🎙️ In-car recording | Automatic dispute evidence |
| ✅ Driver verification | 24-hour background checks |
💡 Set emergency contacts in the “Safety” tab before your first ride!
🚨 Scam Prevention Guide
Black Taxis (黑车) - Most Dangerous!
What: Unlicensed illegal taxis
Red flags:
- Approach you at airports/stations saying “Taxi?”
- No official markings (roof sign, company logo)
- No driver ID card
- Quote flat rate instead of meter
- “Meter is broken” excuse
Risks:
- 2-10x overcharging
- Rigged meters
- Fake bill switches
- Worst case: robbery
Prevention:
- Never take taxis that approach you
- Use official taxi stands only
- Use DiDi app
Meter Manipulation (表跳得快)
Scam: Meter runs abnormally fast
Prevention:
- Check starting fare (should be ¥14/16/18)
- Track route on Baidu/Gaode Maps
- Compare to DiDi estimate
Refusal to Take Passengers (拒载)
Situation: Driver refuses your destination
Response:
- Note license plate
- Photo driver ID
- Report: 962000
Fake Bill Switch (换假钱)
Scam:
- You pay with ¥100
- Driver claims “This is fake”
- Switches with actual fake bill
- Demands payment again
Prevention:
- Use electronic payment (Alipay/WeChat)
- If using cash, mark your bills
- Watch driver’s hands
Scenic Routing (绕路)
Scam: Unnecessarily long route
Prevention:
- Track on Baidu/Gaode Maps
- Say “走最近的路” (take the shortest route)
Luggage Theft (行李骗局)
Scam: Put bags in trunk → driver claims “car trouble” → drives off with your stuff
Prevention:
- Keep luggage with you in back seat
- Don’t exit until you have everything
- Photo license plate before loading
Identifying Legitimate Taxis
Official Taxi Checklist
| Check | Details |
|---|---|
| Roof sign | Company name + “空车/待运/停运” display |
| Company logo | On vehicle body |
| Driver ID | Photo ID on dashboard |
| License plate | Starts with 沪 B, C, or D |
| Meter | Mounted on dashboard |
Major Companies
| Company | Color | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 大众 (Dazhong) | Light blue (cyan) | Largest, most reliable |
| 强生 (Qiangsheng) | Orange+Green | Second largest |
| 锦江 (Jinjiang) | White | Major company |
| 海博 (Haibo) | Navy blue | Legitimate |
| 巴士 (Bashi) | Green | Legitimate |
Useful Chinese
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Where to? (driver asks) | 你要去哪儿？ | Nǐ yào qù nǎr? |
| I want to go to… | 我要去… | Wǒ yào qù… |
| Use the meter please | 请打表 | Qǐng dǎ biǎo |
| Straight | 一直走 | Yīzhí zǒu |
| Turn left | 左拐 | Zuǒ guǎi |
| Turn right | 右拐 | Yòu guǎi |
| Stop here | 停在这里 | Tíng zài zhèlǐ |
| Slower please | 请慢一点 | Qǐng màn yīdiǎn |
| Shortest route | 走最近的路 | Zǒu zuìjìn de lù |
| Receipt please | 请给我发票 | Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào |
💡 Always get a receipt (发票)! You’ll need it for lost items or complaints.
Taxi vs. DiDi Comparison
| Feature | Street Taxi | DiDi App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Meter rate | Possible surge |
| Availability | Hit or miss | 24/7 anywhere |
| Language | Chinese only | Full English |
| Safety record | Receipt tracking | In-app records |
| Payment | Cash/Card/QR | Auto-charge |
| Best for | Short trips, daytime | Tourists—highly recommended |
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 (English available) |
| Taxi Complaint | +86-21-6323-3215 |
| Taxi Management | +86-21-6323-2150 |
| Dazhong Booking (English) | 96822 |
| Government Services | 12345 |
Safety Checklist
Before Every Ride
- Install DiDi app with payment method
- Set emergency contacts
- Use official taxi stands (ignore touts ❌)
- Check license plate & driver face before boarding
- Confirm meter starts at ¥14/16/18
- Track route on maps app
- Use electronic payment (avoid fake bills)
- Get receipt (发票)
- Keep luggage with you in back seat!
Red Flags 🚩
- Driver approaches you first
- No roof sign/company logo
- No driver ID visible
- Won’t use meter or quotes flat rate
- Other passengers in car
- Drops you somewhere unexpected
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