China intercity taxi / taxi-like transport

I'm wondering how to move in an easy and fast way between main cities in China to more apart or countryside places.

Is it usual/easy/cheap to arrange a trip by some kind of taxi or private transportation service at the moment? And what is the regular fare for example for 1 hour trip for those kind of services?

–I know some countries where is quite easy to catch a driver on the street or the surroundings of public stations.

Thanks!

P.S. Having in mind we don't speak any word of Chinese and will try to communicate with Mobile apps/dictionaries/maps.

china taxis

Best Answer

Yes, you can take a taxi to nearby cities, etc. A taxicab driver in Beijing once told me that he had even taken someone to Shanghai. If you get a taxicab in large cities, the likelihood that the taxi driver (rudely) refuses to carry you is small; in smaller cities the chances are much larger.

However, keep in mind that most cities have a rule that, if your trip is too long, or to remote/countryside areas, such that the taxi can't get a return trip, you need to pay for the return trip as well. Usually, this means you pay a 50%-100% surcharge.

If your trip is really one hour, I estimate that your fare will be anywhere from 200-500 RMB. Taking the surcharge into account, you'll need to pay anywhere from 300-1000 RMB. It's probably better to get a rental car with a driver from a local travel agency in this case.