Edited and translated by Wang Xin, People' Daily Online.
Taxi is
considered as a city’s "business card" as its development reflects the progress
of the city. The scales and type of Beijing's taxi cab has undergone big changes
in 30 years: from yellow minivans, to Xiali, Fukang, and Jetta, and then Hyundai
running everywhere in the city today; now hybrid electric taxi and barrier-free
taxi already hit the road.
Taxi service had experienced fast growth in
1980s, and it served only people from other cities or foreigners, because taxi
fare was high comparing with people’s income in 1980s. Taxi fare from 1984 to
1996 was 10 yuan for 10 kilometers. The taxi cabs in service were mainly yellow
minivans, which people called “miandi”. And fare for a ride was 10 yuan for the
initial distance of 3 kilometers, and 2 yuan per additional kilometer.
With the increased taxi volume in Beijing in 1990s, taxi fare
remained low. From 1996 to 1998, taxi fare was different relying on different
type of car. The lowest price was 1 yuan per additional kilometer, and the
highest is 2 yuan per additional kilometer. Although different type of taxicabs
met the needs of different passengers, it was hard for the government to manage,
and different types and colors was not good for the appearance of the city
either.
In 2006, Beijing increased the taxi fare. It rose from 1.6 yuan
to 2 yuan per kilometer, but 10 yuan for first 3 kilometer remained unchanged.
Hyundai and Volkswagen taxi cabs gradually replaced Xiali and Fukang to win taxi
market.
Taxi fare in Beijing had remained unchanged for seven years
until new policy was announced by Beijing Development and form Commission on
June 6, 2013. The starting fare will increase from 10 to 13 yuan for the first 3
kilometers and fare per subsequent kilometer increased to 2.3 yuan, and 1 yuan
was charged for fuel surcharge per ride. The new price plan took effect on June
10, 2013.
