Beijing Travel: HUGE Pitfall Alert! Seriously, THIS ONE's a Must-Know!

[Helen Gleason]

Sure, I'd be happy to share this story with you and help you avoid such issues in the future!

It happened like this:

• Last weekend, we were a group of four who left from the north gate of the Forbidden City, which is the Shénwǔ Gate. The place was incredibly crowded!
• We hurried to the bus stop, considering taking the No. 109 bus to some other place just for the purpose of escaping the ‘sea of people’. Then, we planned on getting a taxi to head over to Guāng'ān Gate, where we wanted to enjoy the renowned ‘Big Duck and Pear’ roast duck restaurant.
• Just as conveniently, a taxi cruised by. We thought: "Well, if it means spending more money but arriving directly at our destination for the sake of convenience, that’s just fine!" In all actuality, upon hearing our request to go to Guāng'ān Gate, the driver immediately remarked, "Hm, that place is unreachable right now! We received word via a recent group chat that due to the approach of a significant foreign VIP, traffic control began at the West Second Ring Road, and will last for approximately fifty minutes!"
  • When hearing this, I responded, "Alright then, Master. Would you mind driving us to the nearest subway station where we could then use the metro?"
  • But he somewhat dragged his feet and seemed not particularly willing to take that alternative route. Instead, he asked what our purpose of going to Guāng'ān Gate was. My friend replied, saying, "We came here for roasted duck. Upon our departure, we need to catch a high-speed train."
• Upon hearing that, the driver added "Oh, my girls, why would you eat duck from Big Duck and Pear?! You see, let me give you a suggestion." He recommended "Sky Beyond Sky," and even added, "This one is loved locally!"

After the meal, when we ordered a ride through a mobile app, its driver told us:

• "Eh, that taxi driver must not have wanted to take that short distance. Must've probably been waiting for another big assignment to an airport or farther region."
• "Besides, even if there really was a VIP visit, routes are kept confidential beforehand. How would they manage to notify the specifics of the route in a chat group? What happens in case of an urgent matter? Unless absolutely necessary for traffic control, it's usually no longer than half an hour. If needed, people just resign to their fate."

Finally, we understood everything!

Oh dear, we couldn't believe it! Although we didn't spend much, being treated like fools was simply infuriating! It was an unpleasant experience.

Travel Tips! Beijing Cabbing Prevention Guide:

• If a driver excuses refusal to carry or directs you elsewhere using excuses of "traffic jams" or "important figures passing through,"
  • Simply say in the car to him: "Master, I’ll contact the authorities at Traffic Management Bureau for verification." In many cases, even dishonest drivers would change their minds.
  • Foreign friends may not realize "Traffic Management Bureau" is an official police body responsible for urban road administration.
  • Keep in mind important individual itineraries are confidential details— the cab drivers don’t get a heads up with specifics.