How Many Has This Noodle Bowl TRICKED?! Southerner's First Northern Oil-Splashed Noodles = Total System SHUTDOWN!

[Leon O'Keefe]

Wow, I was truly shocked! Can you believe it? Even at the taxi stand right outside Guangzhou South Railway Station (a massive railway station where many high-speed trains stop), we were taken advantage of by a legitimate taxi driver!

Here’s how it happened:

• We arrived at Guangzhou South Railway Station via high-speed train during the May Day holiday, an important public holiday in China when many people go out for travel.
• After exiting the train platform, I turned right and went to the official taxi queuing area to wait for a ride.
• We got into the car at 3:11 PM, and arrived at our hotel at 3:25 PM—an approximately 14-minute journey.
• However, the driver charged us 45 RMB! And he collected the money using a Didi payment code—Didi is a very popular ride-hailing app in China, but properly licensed taxis should charge based on the metered fare and allow passengers to pay via cash or payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay. This payment method didn’t seem right at all.
• The driver didn’t give us a proper receipt either—the type printed from the fare machine. When I asked why the fare was so expensive, he said that prices were just high there.
• At the time, since I had two kids with me and needed to check into the hotel quickly, I didn’t argue with him much.
• Later, with help from my hotel, we looked up the surveillance footage and found the taxi’s license plate number.
• I had already filed a complaint by calling 12345—it’s China’s municipal service hotline—but so far, I haven’t received any reply. This is really beyond belief!

This is the first time in years of traveling I’ve encountered such a thing, especially in Guangzhou…It’s simply too chaotic!

️ A reminder for those planning to use taxis at Guangzhou South Railway Station, especially foreign friends:

• Be wary of overcharging when taking a taxi: Even at officially designated taxi sites, you may encounter dishonest drivers.
• Insist on the meter reading: Once seated, make sure the driver starts the meter before starting the trip. If he decides not to use the meter or quotes a flat rate, it’s preferable to switch to another taxi.
• Request an invoice: Upon disembarking and paying the fare, be sure to demand a printed receipt (fapiao). This will serve as proof if any issues arise later.
• Beware of personal QR Code payments: If the driver asks you to scan his personal Alipay or WeChat QR Code or the ‘Didi Payment Code’ which doesn't follow a proper payment processing procedure within the Didi app, beware! Usually, this indicates passenger exploitation.
• Take down information: If something feels off, make note of the taxi’s license plate number and the driver’s identification number (usually displayed near the dashboard).

[Madeline Hermann III]

12345 replied, confirming the charges were indeed unreasonable! I wasn't exaggerating at all. I even said I don't need the overcharged amount back, but this kind of behavior must be penalized. Otherwise, what would the other honest, hardworking drivers think? (Maybe the fines could even be used to reward honest drivers.) If everyone constantly tries to take advantage and cut corners, society will just descend into chaos.

[Kelvin Shanahan DVM]

I got overcharged by a taxi in Guangzhou too. The driver complained about waiting at the train station for over an hour, saying how tough it was for him. When we got to the destination, he didn't even bother to open the car door and demanded an extra 10 yuan. I was furious!

[Cathy Gulgowski]

Wow, this kind of thing still happens? Taxis at Chongqing airport and train stations are supposed to use the meter. This is the first time I've encountered a taxi from a designated stand intentionally inflating the fare. If there's a clearly posted surcharge, that's one thing. But if they feel the wait time is too long, they simply shouldn't queue up at these places for passengers.

[Tanya Bogisich IV]

I got ripped off too. It seems like there's no regulation for taxis in that area. I'm never going back.

[Mattie Lockman]

Perhaps the city is just too big, with a large transient population, making it tough for authorities to manage... We just have to be extra careful. I'm quite surprised, as I haven't encountered anything like this in years.

[Faye O'Conner]

Are you sure that wasn't a regular ride-hailing car rather than an actual taxi?

[Dana Sanford]

No, it was a taxi. But weirdly, the payment screen showed 'Didi Taxi.' I contacted Didi customer service, and they explained it was just a Didi payment QR code used by an offline taxi. I really regretted not booking a ride-hail car instead... For the rest of my time in Guangdong, I stuck to T3 Chuxing. I've lost trust in taxis.

[Hugo Witting]

For an international metropolis, and this being my second visit to Guangzhou, maybe Guangzhou doesn't particularly need one tourist like me, but their efficiency in handling the complaint was truly impressive! Hopefully, nothing like this happens on my next trip to Guangzhou. I'll definitely try to stick to ride-hailing apps.

[Jo Douglas]

To think these kinds of things still happen in China today! That driver even boasted he was from Henan and implied he was some kind of tough guy, not to be messed with.