Hello everyone,

I would like to go Beijing and Shanghai for my upcoming holidays and there I have a very specific question regarding communication especially in transport. One my friend told me that he had quite a hard time when he was in Beijing to communicate with taxi drivers.

My friend introduced me two websites: Guanxi and Geogini which provide you location information in Chinese and English via SMS/internet or something like that …

Anyone has ever tried those services? Do they work on foreigners mobile? I went on their websites but it’s not very clear and I would prefer some feedback to know if it’s really useful or just a crappy mobile/internet tool.

I know it’s somehow a small detail and perhaps I shouldn’t bother with that but I had my amount of troublesome taxi misunderstandings when I was in Vietnam

Thank You for your answer

Cheers,

Emilie

emilie, you will certainly have a communication impediment, let's say, if you don't speak Mandarin, but we took many taxis in both cities and seldom had a problem.

We always (well, almost always, which is why I said "seldom" rather than "never" had a problem) had the name of our destination written in Chinese characters with the help of such of our hotel desk staff who spoke English. Or we pointed out our destination on a good city map, which I suggest you buy ASAP after arrival.

In almost all cases we simply flagged taxis down on the streets, and actually became fans of Chinese cabbies, who we found almost invariably cheerful, honest and obliging. The main exception was when in a fit of stupidity which I won't be allowed to forget in a hurry I allowed a tout to put us into an unlicenced cab at the Summer Palace.

I think you need a local card for Guanxi. I buy local sims but stopped as I cant bloody load them myself without the help of my Chinese pal. All you really need is the name of the place written in Chinese. As neil states above the hotel does this for you on their card and when you want to return point to the hotel address on the card which is usually in Chinese and English. I speak basic words in Chinese and manage by myself to get around to all my appointm,ents. Oh and Neill is right they are theives outside the summer palace! We got lost and went out a side entrance and hopped a cab inthe street...long trip back to Beijing centre when you have jet lag and its busy traffic

I rarely found a driver that spoke english but a few last october had basic expressions from the Olympic season like hello good bye etc. I only had one bad experience in Shanghai and I cant really post it. Needless to say I am still unsure what this person was up to and vow to jump out of any taxi in future if I get weirded out.

Siobhan- You can't tease us with a good story, then not post it.....

No need for a high tech solution for a low tech problem. Like Neil, I simply had the hotel staff write my destination on one of the hotel cards (which you'll need to get back to the hotel). When I was going multiple places, I'd have them write my destinations on separate cards. I never had a problem. Neil's warning about unlicensed cabs is a good one. You only want a "real" licensed taxi.

Well...I had an appointment on my own and got a taxi from another hotel back to mine and was timing it so we did not hit rush hour. Got in and his phone rings and he starts SCREAMING like a lunatic into the phone. I thopugh he was going to have a heart attack or stroke from the anger coming out of him. He was talking after handing up and I think annoyed about traffic I think etc. Then he make a call after 5 mins and starts SCREAMING at someone again and it scares the heck out of me. Its starting to freak me out as he is driving and we are on the upper level highway and he is not paying attention and cutting people off and driving angry with one hand. When we get off the upper level to the lower level he freaks at the traffic. The at a light the taxi is stopped and starts shaking. I am thinking is he just hopping mad juming up and down and then I think what the F**K!???? And then the light changed and we took off until the next red light and then the car stopped started going up and down...I though the hell with this I am getting out but I was in the middle of 5 lanes and the cars were too close and I am getting furious now. We were just near my hotel and I am thinking maybe I am wrong but is this guy enjoying hiself at the stop lights? I don't think I am wrong and got to my hotel and threw the money at him and jumped out. My colleagues were waiting for a taxi and I held them back and told them he will either kill you with speed or do something odd. I was shocked and forgot to get his taxi number to complain. My Chinese friend was horrified and did not know what to make of this. This will not happen to you anymore more than anywhere else. Maybe he liked blondes but it shook me a bit. I feel very secure in China especially shanghai as I been a few times now. We had aa good laugh later that night over a few beers! Yuck Perv!