All posts by Sean Upton-McLaughlin

Sean is a business and communications professional based in Shenzhen, focused on China, culture, and cross-border work. His writing explores how language, incentives, and organizational structures shape real outcomes when Chinese and overseas teams work together.
LIFE IN CHINA

How to Successfully Take a Taxi in China

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One thing that stands out about China is its massive size, not just the country but its many mega cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Therefore, knowing how to get around quickly is important for getting by. Thankfully, there are many transportation options that foreign visitors can take advantage of, including subways, buses, bikes, taxis, not to mention walking (though it may take you a while).

You can also take a taxi, though in my experience this can be one of the more difficult ways to travel, as unlike other modes of transportation, directing a taxi to yourself, as well as your destination, requires a much greater degree of communication in Chinese. Therefore, based on my own experience with Chinese taxis, I’d like to share what I consider essential tips for foreign visitors in China, especially those that speak little of the local tongue. So take a few minutes to read through the below tips and before you know it you’ll be an expert at taking a taxi, Chinese style.

Hailing a taxi on your own

  1. Choose a good location: The first step to having a good “China taxi experience” starts with actually getting one. And for those not familiar with the often chaotic conditions of Chinese traffic, it may not always be clear where the best place is to find a taxi. Based on my own experiences some of the best places include intersections (corners), bus stops, and subway stations exits, and outside major shopping centers. It’s also useful to remember that some, but not all, higher-end hotels can help guests call a taxi, or even have a queue outside where guests (or anyone) can wait.
  2. Avoid the crowds: One thing many visitors to China are not prepared for is the sheer amount of people. It is not uncommon to see five to ten different people at a single location waiting for a ride, especially during peak hours and at busy locations. One way to improve your chances of grabbing a taxi is to shift locations. At popular locations that draw lots of taxis you can simply walk along the road in the direction cars are coming from to stake out a less competitive spot. Another option is trying a different intersection to try for better luck.
  3. Be proactive and visible: Another issue that defines life in China is many people competing for a scarce amount of resources. Therefore with taxis it’s first come first serve. Out on the dusty streets of urban China, few people care if you were there first, and there is no line to wait in. Therefore, if there is a free taxi coming (light on and no yellow placard indicating they were reserved by an app) you have to jump out and get it. Also, when waiting by the side of the road, it’s important to make yourself as visible as possible – so step out into the road a little (when safe) and wave your arms to get a driver’s attention.
  4. Have your address written down: There are never any guarantees that a driver will be able to speak English (almost never) or even understand any Chinese phrases you know. The safest bet is to always keep a list of addresses (or even just place names in Chinese) on your person at all times. If you are coming to China for a business trip or tour, make sure you prepare the Chinese names of your hotels and intended destinations.

Hailing a taxi with an app

  1. Download Didi Chuxing: The first step to using a ride-hailing app in China is of course to download the app. Didi Chuxing is the main ride-hailing app in China, and therefore the one you’ll want to use no matter what city you’re in. The nice thing about this app is that it comes with an English version, making it easy for visitors to China to start using, right off the bat.
  2. Know how to say your starting location in Chinese: A major issue that will prevent visitors to China (who don’t speak Chinese) from successfully using ride-hailing apps is the language barrier. Not only do most Chinese drivers not speak English, but there is an enormous reluctance to rely on customers’ GPS locations. As such most drivers, almost without exception, will immediately call a customer upon accepting a fare to ask where they are. So it doesn’t matter if you switch on a ride-hailing app’s English version, the driver will still call you and ask in Chinese for your destination. Therefore, the easiest way to resolve this issue is to learn the Chinese names of the places you often frequent, such as your home, office, and favorite hangouts.
  3. Have a Chinese friend help you out: An even easier way to use a ride-hailing app for non-Chinese speakers is to enlist the aid of a Chinese friend or coworker. And while it certainly is easier, it is not something I would recommend over the long term, simply because it prevents you from being able to get around Chinese cities, independently. However, if you’re ever in a rough spot and can’t describe a specific location, this technique can save you a lot of time.
  4. Wave and show your phone: Interestingly, many drivers will assume a foreigner cannot use a Chinese ride-hailing app, even if you’re not able to converse in Chinese over the phone. I’ve therefore found it useful to not only wave to get an incoming driver’s attention (after spotting their license plate) but to wave while clearly showing my phone. This makes it much easier for drivers to understand that you are their fare, and prevent them from continuing down the street and missing you.
  5. Enable phone payments: I personally recommend that anyone in China for a few months or more enable payments via their smartphones. This is usually fairly easy enough to manage providing you open a Chinese bank account. Once you have a Chinese bank card, you should be able to link that card directly to difference payment services, such as WeChat Pay or AliPay.

Additional Tips

  1. Know where different colored taxis can go: Some large Chinese cities restrict certain types of taxis to certain areas of the cities. For example, in Shenzhen all green-colored taxis are not allowed to enter the city center, while red and blue taxis have free run of the entire metropolis. This is important to be aware of, not just due to differences in price, but because a very small minority of drivers may try to take advantage of passengers by taking on fares they know they cannot complete, and simply dropping them at the boundaries of their no-go zones.
  2. Learn some Chinese: In the end, the more Chinese you can speak, even only simple sentences, the easier it will be for you to give more complicated directions to taxi drivers. So it’s worth putting in a little more time, if only to make your time in China more enjoyable. To start you off, I’ve listed some simple yet important phrases below that you can using when taking a taxi.
  3. Make use of hand gestures: Even if you don’t speak Chinese, there is a lot of communication that can be achieved via a liberal use of hand gestures, especially when combined with basic directions in Chinese. This can help you get to your destination quicker, especially when you are familiar with where you are going and the driver may not be.
  4. There is no tipping in China: While it may be second nature in some countries like the United States, tipping is basically unheard of in China. And while there are certainly no laws that prevent you from doing so, I would recommend disabusing yourself of the habit while in China. Basically, there is no sure way of knowing how someone will react. Some Chinese certainly will be happy to accept extra money, but many more will be embarrassed and refuse to accept your generosity.  Therefore, when in China, do as the Chinese do.
  5. Don’t be a jerk: By and large I have had pretty positive experiences with Chinese taxi drivers over the years, with only a small amount of bad apples. It’s useful to note that many of my bad experiences have been with drivers who themselves have clearly had bad experiences with foreign passengers (e.g. drinking and/or yelling). So please do all visitors to China a favor and treat your driver well (or at least don’t treat them badly). They are simply working to get by, and how you treat them could have a significant impact on the next foreign passenger they meet.

Useful Chinese phrases when taking a taxi

These Chinese phrases are by no means the only ones you could use when speaking to a Chinese driver, but they are the ones I use by far the most on an everyday basis. And if you’re not quite sure how to pronounce some of these Chinese words, you can check out my article on Chinese Pinyin for some in-depth tips.

  1. I don’t speak Chinese (wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén; 我不会说中文)
  2. I’m a foreigner (wǒ shì lǎo wài; 我是老外)
  3. Please look at the GPS/navigation system (qǐng kàn dǎo háng; 请看导航)
  4. Here (zhè lǐ; 这里)
  5. Turn right (yòu zhuǎn; 右转)
  6. Turn left (zuǒ zhuǎn; 左转)
  7.  Make a u-turn (diào tóu; 掉头)
  8. Stop on the right side of the road (kào yòu biān tíng; 靠右边停)
  9. Drive straight (zhí zǒu; 直走)
  10. Do you have spare change? (yǒu líng qián má; 有零钱吗)
  11. I want to pay with my phone (wǒ yào shǒu jī zhī fù; 我要手机支付)
  12. Thank you (xiè xiè; 谢谢)

In conclusion, taking a taxi in Chinese can be an unfamiliar and sometimes daunting experience, but if you follow the above tips you’ll have a much better chance, not just of reaching your destination, but of enjoying your trip. Happy trails!

Thanks for reading!

Do you have any additional questions about taking a taxi in China? Do you have any personal experiences you would like to share? Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section. You can also send a send a message directly to the author on social media.

WORK IN CHINA

8 Tips for Surviving the Holidays in China

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As Christmas and the Chinese Spring Festival have already come and gone, I thought it might be a good time to address a topic that can easily frustrate foreigners living and working in China. Basically, what the heck are you supposed to do during the holidays?

This can be a complicated issue as different companies have different rules on vacation time and there are different cultural norms between Chinese and Western firms. It’s also often a long and expensive flight home, often requiring more than half a day in a stuffy, cramped, and bacteria-filled plane cabin.

However, no matter how stressful and uncomfortable making the trip home for the holidays can be, it’s still an important part of many of our lives. After all, what’s more important during the holidays than spending time with family? And with that in mind I’ve prepared a few pointers based on my own experience in the Middle Kingdom. Take a look and it may lead to easier and more relaxed holidays in the future!

When you CAN go home for the holidays:

The best situation possible, in my opinion, is when you have both the time and means to travel home for the holidays. However, for those living and working in China, there are several unique challenges to be aware of.

  1. Book plane tickets early: As in other countries, it is common for the price of plane tickets to begin increasing in the time leading up to major Chinese holidays, especially Chinese New Year and National Day. Sometimes during the last several weeks, prices can skyrocket to extraordinary levels. This is partly due to the extraordinarily large number of people on the move in China during this time of year. Therefore, in order to be able to pay a reasonable price, it’s important purchase a plane ticket early, at least 60-90 days in advance in my experience.
  2. Make sure you have a multi-entry visa: One very easy, yet extremely wasteful mistake to make is leaving the country only to return to discover you can’t get back in due to a single-entry visa. One reason this can occur is because many Chinese companies’ HR departments have yet to get their act together in terms of hiring foreign talent, and most staff members display an amazing lack of awareness of what needs to be done on the visa side of things. On the other hand, for those coming over on a tourist visa, it’s important to make sure you take charge to a certain extent and ensure you have the correct visa.
  3. Make sure you can get time off: This one is the kicker, and often overlooked by foreign talent in China. When working in China, it’s easy to forget that most Chinese companies don’t schedule time off for non-Chinese holidays. This can be compounded by the fact that many departments in Chinese companies are unlikely to employ more than one foreigner (if any). So not only is there no pre-scheduled time off for the holidays, but there may be no one available to cover your shift if you do want to go home. It’s therefore crucial to have an early and upfront conversation with your manager, otherwise it may be impossible to get time off in the future.

When you CAN’T go home for the holidays:

Unfortunately, not all of us can make it home for the holidays every year. Sometimes money is tight, and at other times it’s impossible to get away from work. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stay at home by yourself .

  1. Don’t spend the holidays alone: This is a very important point for visitors to China, as we all suffer from certain degrees of culture shock, which can get worse over the holidays. This is a time of year we are taught from birth is supposed to be spent among friends and family, and not doing so, especially while in an unfamiliar country and culture, can feel very draining. So do what you can to be around people if you find yourself in China over the holidays – go to a mixer, have dinner with coworkers, meet up with local friends for coffee – every little bit helps.
  2. Get a good meal: One nice thing about many larger Chinese cities that can make culture shock easier is not only growing expat populations, but also more and more foreign-owned restaurants. Many family-centered foreign holidays (e.g. Christmas and Thanksgiving) also have a big focus on food. And missing out on that can be a big disappointment if you’re staying in China over the holidays – I always think of my family’s signature stuffing over Thanksgiving! So do a little checking in advance, and see what restaurants are planning to serve holiday specials.
  3. Decorate a little: Sometimes it’s the simple things that can help you get by. No matter if you are putting up colorful turkeys for Thanksgiving, scary ghosts and goblins for Halloween, or a cheerful tree for Christmas, a little extra color can make a holiday alone feel that much easier to endure. And this is made very easy by the fact that many decorations are available on Chinese e-commerce sites – they’re just a few button taps away (Chinese translation assistance may be required).
  4. Don’t forget to call home: Another easy way to cope while feeling under the weather in China during the holidays is to just make a call home. In addition to cheaper than ever overseas calling plans offered by Chinese carriers, there are a number free online services, Skype chief among them. So when you’re feeling down, comfort is just a phone call away.
  5. Create your own China holiday tradition: After living in China for many years, I’ve found that not only have I adapted to the a new holiday schedule, but my family back home has as well. To date, I’ve never really had the time to make it home for Christmas. So instead of feeling bad during Decembers in China, I simply wait excitedly for a few more months to pass, until the Chinese Spring Festival rolls around. In practice, this Chinese holiday is my Christmas – it’s the key time during each year when I get to travel back to the USA to see my family. And that i what I’ve found is really important to me – not what specific date I’m back home, but being able to spend time with family at all.

Final Thoughts

In the end, there are multiple way to ensure you aren’t feeling down in the dumps over the holidays. This partly requires some pre-planning and early communication. It also needs a little extra effort to step out the front door and go do something. No matter where you are in China, there is always a way to cope and to get through the holidays largely happy and intact.

I also think this potentially difficult issue is something that must be faced squarely and openly – culture shock is a horrible feeling, and one that not only strikes unexpectedly, but also takes away from the wonderful experiences and memories China can provide. And while my own experience tells that culture shock does indeed fade over time, it never really truly leaves  completely. Or perhaps it’s better to say that a part of us will always remain in our beloved homelands, making our hearts ache whenever the holidays roll around.

Therefore, I hope the above tips can be of use to China travelers young and old, new and experienced, so we can all enjoy our time in China a little bit more. So happy holidays in advance – for next time!


Thanks for reading!

Do you have any comments or questions on staying in China over the holidays? What do you usually do when returning home for the holidays? Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below.

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CULTURE BASICS

Don’t Let Assumptions Define Your China Experience!

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Picture this: you have just arrived in China and are excited to try out the Chinese you have learned. You pop into a local corner store and ask something simple: “这是多少钱?” (zhè shì duō shao qián; how much is this?). But to your dismay, the clerk merely stares at you blankly, before asking in halting English, “Can I help you?” So what happened? Was your pronunciation off? Did you use the wrong tones? Did you completely waste your time studying Chinese only to fail epically on your very first attempt? In fact, it may be none of these things.

This perplexing phenomenon has been experienced by many of my non-Chinese friends who live and work in China, who have also attained a fairly high mastery of the Chinese language. We have all experienced this type of reaction from Chinese locals in our daily lives, and have all been unsure about what, on certain occasions, made our spoken Chinese completely incomprehensible. After discussing the issue with a number of Chinese friends and colleagues, a possible answer emerged: according to certain Chinese people, many locals simply accept as fact that the Chinese language is more or less “impossible” to learn for non-Chinese, and therefore fail to comprehend when a foreigner actually speak understandable Chinese. In short, they expect foreigners to be unable to speak Chinese.

While I’m sure this is not the case every time a Chinese person cannot understand a foreigner speaking Chinese, it explains many of my own experiences, and also raises another interesting question: how much does the same thing happen to foreign visitors to China?  How often do we unconsciously make a decision about a situation before we actually experience it? How often do we judge Chinese people before actually letting their words and actions speak for themselves? How often do we pass judgement before making any effort to understand Chinese culture or history? How often are our negative experiences in China the result of the influence of negative media coverage, or the negative stories of other foreigners?

My suggestion: anyone who truly wants to enjoy a positive experience in China should try to really listen and observe as much as possible, and try to do so in an unbiased manner. If we shut out those voices (e.g., our friends, parents, coworkers, politicians, the media) that are constantly trying to tell us what China is like, and simply try and experience China for what it really is, we may surprise ourselves, and discover a China we never knew existed.

Thanks for reading!

Do you have any comments or questions on communicating effectively in China? Do you have any stories you can share in which you overcame your assumptions when communicating with the Chinese people? Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below.

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